Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau  500 Jefferson St. Waterloo IA, 50701 (319) 233-8350 or (800) 728-8431    info@greencedarvalley.com
 
 
What is Green Certification?  
Green Certification through the Green Cedar Valley Initiative means that your business meets minimum requirements toward reducing your negative environmental impact, promotes earth-friendly choices and encourages healthy lifestyles. Upon certification, your business will receive a window decal, use of the ‘certified’ logo for print or web, and a certificate for each year you are certified. The GVCI will also promote your certified businesses locally, regionally and nationally through various media sources including print, web and/or video, letting the world see your efforts toward a greener tomorrow.

Becoming Certified

To become certified under the Green Cedar Valley Initiative, a business must complete the application form, accumulating 40 points from the checklist and meeting the ‘Basic Requirements’. Once certified, the overall point total will be noted on the GCVI website with the business listing and a link to their website. Original or outstanding measures being taken will also be recognized online.

Complete and submit the form on your computer. Just dowload the pdf version, save the completed form, print or email your submission. Email to Brooke@TravelWaterloo.com or mail to 500 Jefferson St., Waterloo, IA, 50701.


Certification Renewal
To renew certification, businesses may do one of two things:

  1. Prior to the renewal date, submit a copy of the original (or most recent) application form along with a signed statement that the application is still valid and the information is still accurate.
  2. If changes have occurred since the previous application, a new application outlining new and existing efforts must be completed. This will allow the online point total to reflect changes and increase with improved efforts. Without completing a new application, there is no way for the GCVI to recognize growth. Annual completion of the application and baseline assessment are strongly encouraged and will be required of businesses receiving GCVI grant.

Certification Loss
While participation in the GCVI certification program is voluntary, it is the responsibility of the participating business to ensure that the application form and renewal letters are accurate and that the claims on such are true and maintained. Comments and feedback from the public will be taken into consideration and investigated when necessary. Should the statements of the business be found to be untrue or misrepresented, the GCVI reserves the right to remove certification, though this will be considered a last resort.

Baseline Assessment
The Baseline Assessment is meant to accompany the annual certification application to provide the business with the opportunity to collect tangible data on the environmental and financial savings they have accomplished each year by establishing how they use energy and water as well as how they put out waste. This form is optional except for those receiving a GCVI Grant. Grant recipients will be required to complete the assessment as part of their grant application to allow for measure of the project’s impact.

   
 
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