In a time when environmental concerns are at the forefront of global conversations, Montgomery County’s Dayton Regional Green (DRG) initiative stands out as a practical way to get involved in Southwest Ohio. At the heart of this movement is the organization’s Green Business Certification program, an initiative that connects businesses with sustainable practices, promotes environmental stewardship and cultivates partnerships that ripple out across communities, including Centerville.
In 2007, Montgomery County Commissioners held a public meeting to gauge the region's interest in sustainability. To their delight, about 200 people attended, a good portion of the attendees representing local business interests.
According to Director Lamees Mubaslat, “When I was assigned by the county to launch and manage DRG, there was a task force that was in charge of the initiative. Most of the stakeholders were from the business community, and they had decided that this initiative needs to be regional to serve all businesses, governments and individuals in our region.”
The task force collaborated with organizations on the West Coast to replicate proven models and developed the Green Business Certification program. The priority became demonstrating the value to businesses who considered getting involved, allowing expansion and easy maintenance. They had 14 organizations engage in the first year. In 2012, AES partnered with DRG and agreed to provide free energy audits and increased their energy efficiency rebates by 50% for Green Certified Businesses.
The DRG Green Business Certification program was reimagined in 2015 as the Bring Your Green Challenge. This online platform is open to all (not limited to Montgomery County) and allows participation for organizations and individuals.
Now there are more than 1,000 buildings in the program that are certified.
DRG also works with local government agencies to help them reach their environmental goals and add value. Centerville has embraced DRG’s mission with open arms. Local businesses and organizations have taken the initiative to become certified, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can align with operational success.
“Since adopting a resolution in support of DRG’s mission in 2013, the City has made meaningful progress, including installing public EV charging stations and achieving DRG certification for public facilities. These steps reflect Centerville’s commitment to environmental stewardship and regional collaboration," shares Centerville Communications Director Kate Bostdorff.
Dayton Regional Green doesn’t stop at certification. The organization offers a host of educational workshops and networking events to support ongoing learning and innovation. Topics range from sustainable landscaping to renewable energy and waste diversion strategies. These sessions are open to all, from business leaders to curious residents looking to reduce their ecological footprint.
Community members have multiple avenues to support Dayton Regional Green’s mission and make an impact:
- Patronize Certified Businesses: Look for the green leaf logo or check the DRG website to find certified businesses. Supporting these companies reinforces the value of sustainability.
- Adopt Green Habits at Home: Try Bring Your Green-Greener Lifestyle Challenges and learn how small changes like composting and switching to LED bulbs can have a collective impact.
- Attend DRG Events: Workshops, quarterly sustainability luncheons and community events offer hands-on ways to learn and contribute.
- Spread the Word: Encourage local organizations to pursue DRG certification or explore eco-friendly upgrades.
According to the Centerville-Washington Park District Environmental Education Supervisor, Katy Lucas, "The Centerville-Washington Park District received the Green Business Certification from Montgomery County's Dayton Regional Green Initiative several years ago. It was an extremely helpful process to raise staff awareness about ways to reduce our carbon footprint. It is easier than you might think to make a big impact here at home!"
Centerville’s connection to Dayton Regional Green helps build a future where economic development and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. For more information, visit BringYourGreen.com.
Spark Eco-Innovation in Classrooms
Teachers who are looking for a fun and impactful way to get their students excited about sustainability can create a team and dive into Bring Your Green Design Projects. These projects are designed to be super engaging and, best of all, they're all linked to standard alignments, making them easy to incorporate into class curriculum. BringYourGreen.com/Challenge/Go_Greener_Projects.cfm