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Charlotte’s Green Crown Application

The City of Charlotte celebrates eating and drinking establishments that utilizes environmentally sustainable business practices

This voluntary and free program brings awareness to establishments implementing environmentally sustainable business practices, encourage further implementation, and ultimately reduces the use of natural resources in the restaurant industry.

Participating establishments must earn at least 15 points including at least 2 points in the Waste Management category and at least one point in each of the other categories (Energy and Water Conservation, Pollution Reduction, and Commitment to the Community). There are 57 points eligible to obtain, point amounts are shown in parenthesis. The recognition will be eligible for one year. At the end of each eligibility year, the establishment will be asked to fill out an evaluation report which recertification for the following year will be based upon . Tiers for certification are as follows:

One Crown: 15-20 Points Total
Two Crowns: 21-24 Points Total
Three Crowns: 25+ Points Total

Establishment Name

Contact Email

Website

Twitter account

Instagram account

Establishment Category

Restaurant

Brewery

Bar

Food truck

Other

Other please explain

We recognize some of the opportunities to gain points in this application revolve around food. If your establishment does not sell food, please check the box below. Your points will be recalibrated to align with those who do sell food.This establishment does not sell food.

This establishment does not sell food.

Health Department Rating

Do you have a grease trap?

Yes

Information on Sewer use Ordinance.

Is your grease trap in compliance with the sewer use ordinance?

Yes

Minority, Women, and Small Business Enterprises (MWSBEs) are major contributors to our state and local economies. The success of our MWSBEs is essential to providing jobs, promoting economic growth, diversifying our economy, and reaching our goals as a City. Charlotte Business INClusion.

Are you a certified MWSBE?

Yes

Sustainable Practices

Please check all sustainable practices your establishment currently performs to earn points toward your Crown. Participants must earn a total of 15 points (or more) including at least 2 points in the waste management category and at least one point in each of the other categories (Energy and Water Conservation, Pollution Reduction, and Commitment to the Community). Two of the criteria are required but count towards your 15 points. There are 54 remaining eligible points to obtain. Please note: We will be collecting your responses to vendor and best practices questions below to share with other certified Green Crown establishments for educational purposes. The City of Charlotte does not endorse or approve any vendors reported by fellow Green Crown Establishments.

I agree to have my vendor names shared with other Green Crown establishments.

Yes

These 2 criteria are REQUIRED in order to be certified and count towards your 15 points:

No Styrofoam containers (cups, plates, to go clam shells etc.) (2)

Non-essential single use items (to go bags, straws, napkins, utensils, extra condiments, other accessory items) are provided only upon request of the customer or if deemed necessary. (1)

If deemed necessary, explain:

Please explain why products are not recycled

Vendor question: Name of commercial recycling company:

Which items (must be clean, dry, empty and NOT in plastic bags) do you recycle?

Are all employees educated on these proper recycling procedures?

Yes

Are you and your staff interested in formal recycling training?

Yes

Vendor question: Name of commercial composter or explain practice:

What items are composted?

Please give an example of how you recycle or repurpose food (ie: create new dishes out of repurposed ingredients; use unusual parts of produce like squash blossoms and stems etc.); recycle food/drink waste like coffee grounds and/or grains etc.

Vendor(s) used for biodegradable or compostable take-out containers and to-go cups

Explain how repurposed building materials are used

Explain how customers are encouraged to bring in their own reusable containers/bags

Vendor(s) used for bags

Vendor(s) used for straws

Energy and Water Conservation (pick at least 1 practice; 14 points available):

Use electricity generated from renewable sources (ie: solar panels) (3)

Purchase and use low flow toilets and/or low flow (or sensored) faucets in restrooms (3)

At least two of your appliances are Energy Star or energy efficient (dish washer, refrigerator, water heater etc.); and LED light bulbs used in all light fixtures (3)

Use rain barrel for plant, herb, and garden watering (2)

Set your establishment’s thermostat to a schedule to save money and energy (check local utilities website for recommendations) (2)

Serve drinking water only upon request (1)

Please describe electricity generated from renewable sources

Energy Star information: https://www.energystar.gov/

Please list Energy Star appliances

Pollution Reduction (pick at least 1 practice; 7 points available):

Purchase and use fuel efficient delivery vehicles (3)

Offer bike racks for patrons (1)

Reward or compensate your employees who ride their bikes or take public transit to work. (1)

Offer bicycle benefits; see www.cltspokespeople.org/bicycle-benefits/ to learn more (1)

Use organic/environmentally-friendly cleaning products (1)

Need a bike rack? Check out:

The City’s bicycle rack partnership program

Reward or compensation offered to employees who ride their bikes or take public transit to work:

Other bike benefit offered:

Describe cleaning products:

Commitment to the Community (pick at least 1 practice; 17 points available):

Purchase at least 50% of products (produce, meat, liquor, beer etc.) from local or regional suppliers (3)

Offer internships for local students and residents (3)

Pay for employee community service hours (2)

Donate to, sponsor, or host community organizations, programs, or events (2)

Donate unconsumed, perishable food to a food shelter, homeless shelter, or other non-profit organization on a regular basis (2)

Participate in Keep Charlotte Beautiful’s Adopt a Street program (2)

Participate in Charlotte Mecklenburg Storm Water Services Adopt a Stream program (2)

Add a section to employee training manual about Green Crown and/or sustainability efforts to educate employees on sustainability best practices (correct recycling, turning off lights when closing or leaving a room to save energy, etc.) (1)

We purchase the following products from local or regional suppliers:

In a paragraph below, please explain/summarize your establishment’s current sustainable practices as well as any plans to become more sustainable in the future. This will be used for the website and future social media posts. (500 words or less).

Please attach your establishment’s logo as you would like it to be used on the website (png format)

Click Here to Upload

Please upload a picture of your establishment, preferably showcasing your sustainable practices, if possible. This will be used on the website and future social media posts. (jpeg or png format)

Click Here to Upload

If your establishment is certified as a Green Crown establishment, you commit to the following:

Hang Green Crown certification up in establishment

Display Green Crown Decal on door/window at your establishment.

Post yearly on social media about GC certification

Add Green Crown seal/logo to menu; add a page on your website describing your sustainability efforts (optional)

Add digital Green Crown seal/logo to your website (optional)

The program is administered by the City of Charlotte's Office of Sustainability and Resilience, who will review applications on a yearly basis. Please send any questions to greencrown@charlottenc.gov. Thank you for applying!