It has been a busy year for Green Business recertifications! Our Green Business program provides recognition to the businesses in our county that continually show their commitment to the environment, customers, and employees. It's been inspiring for our team to get out in the community and learn more about the work our Green Businesses are doing! Read on for information about some businesses we've been lucky to learn more about during this recertification season.

WaferTech

WaferTech is part of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's family of manufacturers that comprise the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry operation and provides the industry's leading-edge foundry services. They are committed to reducing their impact on global warming by reaching 85% greenhouse gas abatement by 2025. In the coming year, WaferTech hopes to continue to increase their water recycling rate by reuse on site, find more efficient alternatives for pumps, filters, and lights, and continue to offset their emissions.

Columbia Credit Union

Columbia Credit Union is a community-minded financial cooperative that's been serving the residents and businesses of the greater Vancouver and Portland areas since 1952. Their branches and operations center are LEED Gold and Silver certified, and purchase100% renewable energy through the Clark Public Utilities Green Lights program. In the coming year, Columbia Credit Union plans to continue to work towards energy efficiency, increasing composting and recycling trainings, and grow their Green Team's role in the company.

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center is constructed with energy conservation as a priority throughout its design and build. In the coming year, they want to make their sustainability initiatives system-wide, continue to push their employee recycling program, and work toward achieving their climate pledge goals.

Mackenzie

Mackenzie works across a range of design disciplines including architecture, interior design, structural, civil and traffic engineering, land use planning, and landscape architecture. They are committed to investing with their communities in the health of our shared planet, respecting the ecosystems, recognizing their duty to improve wellness for all, and designing a better built environment for today and future generations. In the coming year, Mackenzie plans to continue pursuing climate pledges that include reaching net zero emissions in the built environment and achieving net zero embodied carbon structures by 2050.

Briz Loan and Guitar and Reverb Rehearsal Studios

Briz Loan and Guitar and Reverb Rehearsal Studios are dedicated to providing local musicians with good used musical gear and rehearsal space. They continue to pursue sustainable alternatives in their managerial work and office space. In the coming year, they plan to continue to find ways to recycle and engage in sustainable initiatives.

Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store

The Clark County Habitat for Humanity Store accepts donations of new and used building materials, furniture, appliances, and home goods, to sell in the store to raise money for Habitat home-building projects. They continue to pursue as many recycling avenues as possible, especially with metal, plastic, and fibers. In the coming year, they plan to continue working toward less waste going to the landfill and want to involve their community even more in their sustainability initiatives.

Exquisite Crystals

Exquisite Crystals is an online and retail sales collectible of crystal and mineral specimens. They find creative solutions to decreasing waste and emissions through various recycling programs, sustainable packaging, and commitments to climate pledges. In the coming year, they plan to work toward their goal of reducing emissions by finding two areas every year to improve on.

Jacobs

Jacobs is a wastewater treatment plant operator that encourages community engagement by sponsoring the Water Resource Center and the Watershed Alliance Beach Cleanups. Additional stewardship activities include battery recycling, waste oil analysis/recycling, scrap metal recycling, plastic film recycling, on-site composting, and small electronics recycling. In the coming year, Jacobs plans to transition their incinerator to renewable fuel from conventional diesel, with the possibility to do the same with the backup generators and pumps. They would also like to increase pollinators around sites they manage.