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Green Report: Kenwood Vineyards Inn named among greenest

Kenwood’s Vineyards Inn Bar & Grill was named “greenest of them all” last month in a Bay Area contest in search of the most eco-minded restaurants. The contest organized by San Francisco nonprofit Thimmakka recognized 10 winners out of more than 40 entries, but the Sonoma eatery tied for the title with Mixt Greens of San Francisco.

Applicants ranged from bakeries to pizzerias and pubs and were judged according to their energy use per month, per square foot; water usage; percent waste recycled; green design; and other elements.

The Vineyard Inn was recognized for consecutively receiving energy rebates for reducing gas usage, banning bottled water and cooking with organic, self-farmed and local produce. The 27-year-old restaurant also reduced its waste from a weekly five-yard dumpster to a 35 gallon residential bin since its beginnings. The Vineyard Inn was the only North Bay winner.

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Tamalpias Bank was the first bank in Marin to be certified as a green company by the county. Mark Garwood, president and chief executive officer of the bank took to the idea his employees came up with to become green and ran with it.

The idea was spawned when a Quality Improvement Team was formed. It went through all the departments to see where it could make positive changes to the company. Overwhelmingly, being more considerate to the environment was what employees and department heads said they wanted. Dan Marvier, senior accountant, spearheaded the team that got everything going.

“I volunteered for the green initiative and had to learn more about the subject matter. I didn’t know about greening a business,” Mr. Marvier said. “We finished the corporate headquarters first, and then Mark Garwood said let’s get the rest of the buildings certified.”

One of the difficulties that arises in keeping the bank green is right in the nature of the business.

“We are a business bank, and businesses often want a paper trail,” Karry Bryan, chief accounting officer, said. But clients are slowly taking to the idea that electronic statements and combining statements works as well.

“Some clients have 12 accounts,” Ms. Bryan said. “It is important to get them consolidated so they are not getting 12 statements every month.”

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Redwood Credit Union’s administrative offices on Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa has achieved silver LEED certification.

For years the credit union has used recycled paper and has provided members with options such as e-statements and bill pay. It also has offered incentives to members who make an effort to live sustainably, such as discounts on hybrid vehicles.

The remodel of the offices was completed by a combination of efforts by Redwood Credit Union, Western Builders and architect Tony Battaglia.

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Submit items for this column to

Jenna V. Loceff at 707-521-4259 or jloceff@busjrnl.com or D. Ashley Furness at 707-521-4257 or afurness@busjrnl.com