Web Links
We've gathered a growing list of useful online links and resources. This list will keep growing all the time. Know a link to a free resource or educational tool that we're missing? Please email it to us at . For useful SR products, member-to-member discounts, and other business products, please use our Member Directory.
Community
Volunteer Opportunities
- United Way of Chittenden County has an online searchable database of volunteer opportunities; non-profits who need volunteers can register and be added to the database
Local Economies
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Vermont
- Burlington Business Association, a trade organization of Burlington businesses who advocate for business, offer networking opportunities for members, and promote the economic vitality of Burlington
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Outside Vermont
- Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), an international alliance of 48 independently operated local business networks; includes rich resources and research on local economies
Economic Development
- Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is a non-profit partnership of government, education, and business whose goal is to spur Vermont's economy by helping its small businesses succeed and grow.
- Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is a non-profit partnership of government, education, and business whose goal is to spur Vermont's economy by helping its small businesses succeed and grow.
Corporate Social Responsibility
CSR Reports
- Ben and Jerry’s 2005 CSR Report
- Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, 2005 CSR Report
- Green Mountain Power, 2005 and 2006 CSR Reports available
- Seventh Generation 2003, 2004, and 2005 CSR Reports available
- Send us a link to your CSR report and we'll post it here!
Best Practices
General CSR Links
- CSR Tools, the national BSR’s compilation of tools and resources on responsible business practices
- Vermont Business Environmental Partnership (VBEP) is a FREE, voluntary, environmental assistance and business recognition program working to promote improved environmental and economic performance and to promote public recognition of environmental excellence.
- Vermont Green Hotels Program offers both a database of green hotels and resources to help hotels become greener
Trade Organizations
- Co-op America, a not-for-profit membership organization working to harness economic power - the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace - to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
- MEBSR (Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility) a sister organization to VBSR.
- NHBSR (New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility), another sister trade organization to VBSR.
- Net Impact, a network of MBAs, graduate students and professionals committed to using the power of business to improve the world.
- Social Venture Network (SVN), a nonprofit network that connects, leverages, and promotes a global community of leaders for a more just and sustainable economy.
- Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), the national trade organization, focused mostly on larger business.
Energy
Efficiency Vermont
- Energy-Savings Tips for Businesses, broken down by business type
- Energy Efficiency Organizations & Agencies, a brief list of other organizantions, companies, and agencies who provide energy efficiency prodcuts, services, and resources
- Suppliers of energy-efficient services, equipment, and products, a searchable database of suppliers and providers
- Energy Efficient Buildings in Vermont, case studies of high performance Vermont buildings
Carbon Footprint Calculators (interactive tools that let you calculate your household’s impact on the environment)
- NativeEnergy has a calculator for individuals
- SafeClimate has a business-specific calculator
- Green Mountain Power has a calculator for homes or households
General Energy Links
- Energy Conservation Tips for Businesses, Earth 911's list of simple ways businesses can conserve energy
- DSIRE (Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency), an online searchable database of state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency; see also the Vermont-specific database
- Renewable Energy Access, a comprehensive source of renewable energy news and information
Environment
Waste Management/Recycling
- Business Waste Management Tips, Earth 911's tips with links to resources on a variety of topics, including recycling, Green purchasing, and federal and state waste requirements
- Recycling Tips, Chittenden County, information on composting, waste assessment, waste management and disposal, etc., specific to Chittenden County
Material Exchanges and Used and Recycled Supplies
- Recycled Office Supplies, a brief list of businesses in Chittenden County that sell recycled office supplies (scroll down for contact information)
- Business Material Exchange, a local service facilitating the exchange of resources and materials between businesses and individuals to help reduce waste
- Green Purchasing, with directories to businesses, tools, resources, and tips
Sustainability & Agriculture
- CERES, a national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change.
- Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), an association of farmers, gardeners, and consumers working to promote an economically viable and ecologically sound Vermont food system.
- Organic Trade Association (OTA), a membership-based business association that focuses on the organic business community in North America. OTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy.
- Sustainability Toolkit and Scorecard, the national BSR's downloadable PDF tool to help businesses meet sustainability goals (scroll halfway down the page for the description and link)
Trade Organizations
- Builders for Social Responsibility, a group of Vermont building professionals and others who are concerned with the impact of their work on their communities and society.
- Vermont Green Building Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing Vermont’s participation in green building and to promoting the environmental, financial, community, and health benefits of green design, construction, and building operation practices.
Green Product Guides
- MetaEfficient reviews and evaluates green products and techniques
- VBEP (Vermont Business Environmental Partnership) offers a searchable database of environmentally preferable products and services
Public Policy
Economy
- The Commission on the Future of Economic DevelopmenT, created by the 2005-2006 Vermont General Assembly to identify longterm goals for Vermont economic development and job retention.
- The Next Generation Commission, a report put together by the comission outlining a plan to encourage Vermonters to live and work in Vermont.
Environment
- The Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, a UVM-based institute that unites pioneering experts, leading educators, students, and others from around the world and across a wide variety of academic and environmental disciplines.
- Friends of the Earth, the U.S. voice of an influential, international network of grassroots groups in 70 countries, defends the environment and champions a healthy and just world.
- Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, the State agency dedicated to protecting and improving the health of Vermont’s people and ecosystems and promoting the sustainable use of Vermont’s natural resources.
- Vermont Alliance of Conservation Voters, an organization seeking to make environmental protection a top priority for elected officials, candidates and voters.
- Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC), the state’s leading statewide environmental organization dedicated to protecting our natural resources and environment through research, education, and advocacy.
- Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG), the largest nonprofit consumer and environmental advocacy organization in the state, working to promote and protect the health of Vermont’s people, environment and locally-based economy.
- Vermont Smart Growth Collaborative, a cooperative effort working to foster a culture that supoorts a vision of compact settlements, separated by rural countryside, with access for all Vermonters.
Energy
- The Apollo AlliancE, an alliance working to bring Vermont the benefits of increased energy efficiency and investment in renewable energy resources.
- The Centre for Sustainable Transportation, an organization working provide leadership in achieving sustainable transportation in Canada.
- ENE Climate Change Roadmap, Environment Northeast's plan to reach regional greenhouse gas reduction goals in the Northeast.
- Governors Commission on Climate Change, a State commission working to create a Climate Change Action Plan for Vermont.
- Project Hotseat Vermont, an arm of Greenpeace that works to create in Congress champions of global warming solutions.
- Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), an organziation working to bring about an intelligent transformation from a foreign fossil fuel based economy to an economy increasingly based on our own renewable energy.
- Vermont Department of Public Service, a State agency whose charge is to represent the public interest in matters regarding energy, telecommunications, water and wastewater.
- Vermont AOT Public Transportation Plan, a project of the Vermont Agency of Transporation.
Health Care
- Bi-State Primary Care Association, an organization working to foster the delivery of primary health care services to medically underserved and geographically, culturally, and linguistically isolated persons in the states of New Hampshire and Vermont.
- Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, working to advocate for, lead, and serve their members in their efforts to develop, and sustain, high quality health services for Vermonters.
- The Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security works to provide a unified voice for Vermonters seeking real health care reform. The member groups of the coalition collectively represent 200,000 Vermonters.
- Vermont Citizens Campaign for Health (NOTE: links to a PDF download), Universal Health Vermont's January-March newsletter.
- Vermont’s Health Care Reform, the State Agency of Administration's project to make quality and affordable health care available for all Vermonters.
People & Communities
- Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Vermont Housing Awareness Campaign, a report by the Campaign on Vermont's housing shortage.
- RU12? Community Center addresses the social, cultural, educational, health and safety needs of Vermont's queer and allied communities.
- Vermont Commission on Women, the only State agency singularly focused on women’s issues and responding to the needs of Vermont women.
- Vermont Peace and Justice Center, a Vermont-based, non-profit, membership organization that works on the intersecting issues of economic and racial justice, and peace and human rights through education, advocacy, training, and non-violent activism.
- Voices for Vermont’s Children works to promote public policy that enhances the lives of children and youth in Vermont.
- Kids Are Priority One Coalition is Vermont's statewide early childhood coalition of parents, organizations and businesses committed to ensuring that every child in Vermont gets a good start.
Public Financing
- The Carsey Institute conducts research and analysis on the challenges facing families and communities in New Hampshire, Northern New England, and the nation.
- Public Assets Institute believes that a fundamental purpose of government is to help improve the wellbeing of all citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
- Vermont Legislature Joint Fiscal Office provides non-partisan information and research services to all members of the General Assembly.










