1. The SCGH GreenCheck™ Process and Why It Works for Consumers Jennifer Schwab Sierra Club Green Home

2. Presentation Slides:Sustainable BrandsMonterey, CAThe SCGH GreenCheck™ Process and Why It Works for ConsumersPresented By: Jennifer Schwab, Sierra Club Green HomeJune 9th, 2011

3. Objectives Key component of our site is Green Pages Directory The Green Directory makes it easy to find vetted, reliable, sources of providers of green services or products in the environmental marketplace.

4. Objectives Continued It became clear that there needed to be a way to research, vet and/or investigate the individual contractors/suppliers Still “buyer beware” but at least this allows the consumer to have some degree of confidence that the contractor they hire uses green business practices and stocks green products This extends not only to what they are selling or providing to the consumer but how they run their own office… Do they recycle? Do they have fuel efficient vehicles? Do they manage the thermostat?

5. Developing the GreenCheck™ SCGH.com developed the concept with a cadre of academics and consultants, category by category, which was a painstaking process. We have over 100 separate articles on different systems within the home. We also have over 100 categories of contractors. Water Conservation (plumbing, landscaping, low flow fixtures) Floor coverings (sustainable tile, reclaimed wood flooring, recycled carpet tiles that are made by our esteemed colleague’s company Interface Inc.) Solar (hot water, photovoltaic's, developing technology, etc.) Energy Efficiency Contractors (energy auditors, insulation, windows) Sierra Club Green Home 5

6. Developing the GreenCheck™ Cont. So, it became clear that we needed to create the wheel if you will, to build a realistic standard that most green suppliers can meet The key is we developed DIFFERENT criteria for each category. For example, a contractor who installs countertops is asked “Do you include a tutorial on how the customer can clean the countertop in a non-toxic way using green cleaning products?” A contractor who designs and builds decks and porches would be asked, “Do you source low-VOC agri-board? Do you use wheat board composites or bamboo, reclaimed wood, recycled wood?” Are non-toxic sealants avail? Thus the types of questions for each category are very specific and apply directly to that narrow category of home repair/improvement. Sierra Club Green Home 6

7. Developing the GreenCheck™ Cont. We think this type of vetting, using our GreenCheck manual and following that up with consumer comments about their user experiences, will provide a Web 3.0 and beyond approach to helping consumers hire the right people for the job. In conjunction with the mountains of information and advice available on the SCGH site, the GreenCheck process helps consumers step into the uncharted waters of home remodeling, home improvement and even new construction with a higher level of confidence. We check in with GreenCheck providers yearly to ensure they are still on track with our standards. . Sierra Club Green Home 7

8. The GreenCheck Process looks for specific actions in one or more of the following areas for each category: 1. Indoor air quality impact2. Energy usage3. Water usage4. Material/Product usage5. Waste6. Customer education7. Provider health8. Provider business practices Sierra Club Green Home 8

9. Branding the SCGH GreenCheck™ The SCGH GreenCheck™ logo is a trademarked symbol awarded to vetted providers once they have completed and passed the SCGH GreenCheck ™ process. The Sierra Club brand is major, competitive advantage as it brings credibility in a space where authenticity is crucial. Together, The Sierra Club and Sierra Club Green Home brands collectively hold over 120 years of environmental experience, activism and trust. Sierra Club Green Home 9