In celebration of Miami-Dade Green Week and Earth Day, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez and County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa officially launched the Miami-Dade Green Business Certification and Commercial Rebate programs on Apr. 20 at La Loggia Ristorante in downtown Miami.
The programs were kicked off by issuing the county’s first Green Business Certification decal to La Loggia Ristorante. In addition, participants toured the establishment’s kitchen to view the new Energy Star-rated freezers and food warmer purchased with a $10,000 Miami-Dade Commercial Rebate.
“With the Green Business Certification Program, we are doing our part to protect the environment, and we’re also helping stimulate our local economy,” Mayor Gimenez said. “I’m proud that our county government is helping local businesses operate more efficiently.”
With $1 million in federal funds available through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, $10,000 in rebates are available to local businesses for the purchase of certain Energy Star appliances and equipment.
This program is offered to decrease a business’ energy consumption and increase savings on energy bills by encouraging the replacement of older and inefficient appliances. To date, 62 businesses have applied for the commercial rebate, and $193,000 in federal funds has been awarded.
Rebates are available to Miami-Dade businesses by applying to become certified through the Green Business Certification Program, which has been developed to help local businesses to maximize their social, ecological and financial performance. To date, 225 businesses have applied to become green certified, and 59 currently are going through the process. This certification program is an initiative of the Vibrant Economy goal area in GreenPrint, the county’s community wide sustainability plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut energy, water and fuel consumption, and develop a more sustainable community.
The commercial rebate program is part of the county’s energy efficiency campaign, an award-winning communitywide energy education program managed by the Office of Sustainability (OOS) that engages residents to gain support for energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, and waste reduction, and serves as a catalyst for longterm behavior changes resulting in reduced energy usage. This campaign is an initiative of the Water and Energy Efficiency goal area in GreenPrint.
The community wide energy efficiency campaign is one of 12 projects part of the county’s EECBG program, which includes a mix of energy management projects, citizen outreach and education, sub-grants, pilot/demonstration programs, construction projects, and incentive programs. For more information, visit online at http://green.miamidade.gov or send email to greenbusiness@miamidade.gov.
