Local green-minded companies have established a network that compliments their respective development projects in the region.
Collectively known as
Sustainability Partnership of Cincinnati , it's the brainchild of Ben Haggerty, owner of Green Streets. His company specializes in storm water mitigation and vegetative roofs. The other companies are complimentary to Green Streets, and vice versa and include Environmental Services, specializing in water conservation and landscaping; Greener Stock, construction materials and workshops; Eco Environmentals, geothermal systems; Tre Sheldon, environmental law expert; Patterned Concrete of Cincinnati; and Greenbau, architecture and construction.
"We're very new," Haggerty says in reference to the Partnership that was established last fall. It's looking to secure its first collective bid, he adds, but the companies involved have seen an uptick in referrals.
"This is baby steps without a doubt, and I honestly think this is a franchisable business model," Haggerty says. "Our ideal scenario is that we are approached by an individual who is looking to build and we are able to provide them with two architects, all the green building materials they could wish for and almost every complimentary and environmentally friendly service that anyone could ever wish for. It's almost a one stop for design and build, even though we're separate companies."
Haggerty says he got the idea of forming a green network after he met a solar panel expert at a home and garden show.
"It became apparent that he wasn't aware that when you place solar panels around a vegetative roof ... it actual makes the solar panels more efficient because you're lowering the roof temperature by a significant amount."
The light bulb turned on, he remembers. "Why not trade off on that relationship and create a reciprocal one in that respect?"
Greener Stock was one of the first companies to join the Sustainability Partnership, as it and Green Streets were collaborating months before. Greener Stock's owner and lead architect Heather Curless says the partnership makes perfect sense.
"We're all working in different circles, so we're all hearing about different projects at different times. The nice thing is that most of us in the partnership are one or two-man shows," she adds, "and it gives us an opportunity to bounce ideas off of people, to talk about new technologies and to get ideas from people that larger companies would have in-house."
As Greenbau's Tony Beck explains: "I can refer to others in the partnership to answer questions a client may have or refer the client to them."
For now, the partnership is meeting on occasion. Haggerty is without a doubt the most vocal member among the partnership, which he deems an honor system of sorts."This is a small community in a small town, and I'm a firm believer of doing business on a handshake. When I'm in a meeting, I pitch for every business."
Writer: Rich Shivener
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