Green Tucson Businesses
Eco-conscious visitors will be pleased to find that many of Tucson's businesses strive to "green" their practices, with many going above and beyond to conserve water and energy while preventing pollution and making a smaller "footprint" on the Old Pueblo.
All My Own Arizona Tucson Real Estate
All My Own Arizona Real Estate specializes in selling Green-built homes and offices. Many are LEED certified, solar powered, water-harvesting system equipped, and many communities utilize composting for their vegetable gardens. We continue to be a part of all real estate continued educational programs for realtors both residential and commercial. Our office is 100% solar powered and uses many energy-efficient technologies including CFL and LED lights, high-efficient heating and cooling, energy-star certified appliances, and low-flow toilets. In addition, we utilize rainwater-harvesting, and all irrigation is grey-water captured through eco-friendly design. Our transportation fleet runs on Biofuel, and we recycle everything we can. The company shops at locally-supported farmers markets and purchases remainder of the supplies for Sunflower Grocery stores which carry locally grown products. We estimate 70% of our food is locally grown, and always prepares organic, free-range, and cage-free food. We clean our office only using natural products, such as vinegar and baking soda.
Arizona Lithographers
Arizona Lithographers is setting the bar high for eco-friendly Tucson businesses. This company is U.S. EPA Energy-Star certified, Green Seal certified, Clean Watts certified, and an EPA Green Power Partner. Beyond those stellar certifications, Arizona Lithographers is powered by 100 percent clean wind power, and uses earth-friendly vegetable oil-based inks in its work. The company recycles a wide variety of materials, and utilizes water-soluble chemicals in its cleaning products.
Rammed Earth Development
The core mission of Rammed Earth Development is to promote elegant, energy-efficient housing in Tucson. The company helps its clients select the best materials and technologies to minimize their home's energy consumption, and builds a variety of energy-efficient walls, including rammed earth, pressed earth block, adobe, insulated concrete block and more. Rammed Earth Development is U.S. EPA Energy Star-certified, and was awarded the 2002 City of Tucson Home Energy Award. In addition to recycling and using non-toxic cleaning products and chlorine-free paper products, Rammed Earth also xeriscapes and installs low-flow toilets, urinals and showers in its homes. The company puts in energy-efficient hot water re-circulation pumps, and installs solar power in many of its homes.
Rocks and Ropes Indoor Rock Climbing
Eco-conscious adrenaline junkies can get a guilt-free fix scaling the walls at Tucson's downtown rock gym, Rocks & Ropes. This earth-friendly climber's haven is on track to become LEED gold or silver certified in 2009. Currently, the gym uses water-efficient fixtures like waterless urinals, as well as recycled paper products. The office has switched to paperless billing, and actively recycles an array of materials. Rocks & Ropes uses CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs for lighting, and chlorine-free paper products.
Sonoran Adventures Outdoor Tours
Based out of Tucson, Arizona, Sonoran Adventures was founded by a team of outdoor educators and adventure guides passionate about the exploration and conservation of the natural world. Priding itself on its knowledge of the "green" movement, all staff is trained in the Leave No Trace principals of outdoor ethics. Clients are also advised on sustainable exploration and green living through tours using only human-powered energy transportation, locally grown food, and water bottles that have a useful life of 15 years (either stainless steel or Nalgene CFC-free) - no throwaway plastic containers. All products used on tours are biodegradable - including soaps - to ensure minimal impact on the environment.
Southern Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce
The Southern Arizona Green Chamber of Commerce is a professional non-profit organization advocating green/sustainable practices in our community. They provide a collective Green Voice on green business development, green education, green jobs, collaboration/networking and green advocacy. Vision Statement: we envision Southern Arizona as a leader in sustainable enterprise with a vibrant green economy committed to environmental and social responsibility. Mission Statement: to foster the success of green business and enterprise in Southern Arizona by promoting sustainable best business practices. Creates a new business paradigm that demonstrates to the business community that profit and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive; promoting policies that foster a vibrant green business community.
Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA)
The company's award-winning work includes Builder Magazine, a quarterly publication produced for the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA). The magazine recently was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an official "green" publication. Builder Magazine is printed at Arizona Lithographers with wind-powered energy. Participating in the Clean Watts program at Arizona Lithographers helps finance the growth of the wind-energy industry. For SAHBA, printing the magazine green is more than an innovative trend; it's a long-term commitment to the association's environmental awareness.
Sun Tran Transit Bus Service
The service Sun Tran Transit provides is essential to improving our region's air quality by taking cars off our busy streets and reducing energy dependence by utilizing alternative fuels. Of the 240 buses in Sun Tran's fleet, 100 percent are currently designed to use cleaner-burning fuels. The City of Tucson and Sun Tran introduced Sun Tran's first hybrid bus in 2010.The hybrid bus uses a 600-volt battery pack, which is recharged when the bus is coasting and braking, and achieves up to 60 percent better fuel efficiency as compared to a bus with a diesel engine. Sun Tran utilizes solar energy to provide lighting at many bus shelters throughout our community. Sun Tran's maintenance facility uses low-flow toilets/urinals, xeriscaping, rainwater harvesting, and gray water; and it also recycles glass, plastic, cardboard, paper, ink and toner cartridges, and uses non-toxic or chemical-free cleaning products. Construction of the company's building meets green building regulations.
TriSports.com
Some of the efforts highlighted for TriSports.com were the presence of two water harvesting tanks, allowing TriSports.com to store 36,000 gallons for use in landscaping; the current solar project now results in a 128kW system being installed to provide up to 100% of the building's energy needs; the commuter program in place to encourage employees to bike to work; the Greenbox program to allow customers to select a recycled box and packing materials at checkout; the shoe donation program which allows people to drop off used shoes for a local charity for reuse within the Tucson community; dual light controls, zoned A/C and loads of natural light to reduce energy demands; utilization of recycled products, from carpet to furniture; and an extensive recycling program throughout every aspect of the company. This is just a sampling of what TriSports.com is doing to preserve the environment.
Tucson International Airport
Tucson International Airport: TAA's environmental efforts have been evident for many years. In 1980 the Authority converted much of the airport's vegetation to Xeriscape and in 1988 received an Award of Excellence from the Southern Arizona Water Resources Association. In 1999 TAA was a Governor's Pride in Arizona Award winner for a fuel recovery system. In 2003 TAA was presented an award by the International Dark Sky Association for significantly reducing uplighting into the nighttime skies with low-level fixtures. That same year TAA was awarded the 2003 Annual Transportation Award by the Metropolitan Energy Commission for efforts on behalf of the metropolitan area to facilitate the opening and operation of Tucson's first publicly accessible Compressed Natural Gas fueling facility.
University PediCabs
The University Pedi-Cabs company provides a unique and eco-friendly form of alternative transportation using custom independently operated hybrid electric bicycles as taxi cabs. Each PediCab can carry up to 3 adults, and runs on a 250-watt 32-volt electric motor, which is good for hours of fun. PediCabs are completely clean, "green," and emissions-free. When not in use, a PediCab folds up and requires very little storage room. University PediCabs currently serves the University of Arizona and downtown Tucson areas, and also offers guided tours of neighborhoods in and around the University of Arizona and Downtown Tucson areas. University Pedi-Cabs is a service of and owned by Brillante Enterprises, LLC.
