fragile oasis

Green Business Initiative

Green Business Initiative is a project of the Syracuse University Students in Free Enterprise (SU SIFE) team in partnership with the Green Core Company, working directly with local businesses in the city of Syracuse. The businesses span across many different industries, and include a restaurant, an office furniture supplier, an interior design firm and a credit union. Our team works hand-in-hand with the owners and managers of these businesses to implement environmentally friendly practices, with the ultimate goal of graduating from the program and achieving a “green business certification.”

Over the course of the semester, student-teams for each business utilized a comprehensive matrix of different green initiatives, covering over 300 items on topics such as waste-reduction, environmentally responsible purchasing and energy efficient practices. The teams visited the businesses weekly to track their progress and consult with the businesses to help them see the results of these practices positively impacting not only the environment, but their bottom line as well.

In order to help impact the environment without negatively affecting their bottom line, one of our student-teams was able to secure a $1,000 grant for their business to help execute many of the initiatives covered in the matrix. One specific result of these environmentally friendly practices was the reduction of heating costs, saving one business over $300 annually. In late May, six of the businesses we worked with will be graduating from the program as “green business certified.”