Rocky Mountain Chili Bowl has been recognized for their green practices. The award-winning chili restaurant in Quebec Square is the first certifiably green Stapleton business.

“It’s awesome. We started in 2009 as just a hot dog stand,” owner Matt Robinette says.

Certifiably Green Denver, started in 2009, helps Denver businesses be more environmentally efficient and recognizes those that meet “green” requirements.

“Businesses call to find out how to be more sustainable or see if they qualify as certifiably green,” Program Administrator Julie Carlton, says, adding that many businesses don’t know they can be recognized for being green.

Matt and Roberta Robinette with their son, Eli, at their restaurant when it opened in December 2011.

To date, the program has certified 91 businesses. At no cost, sustainability advisers visit businesses and educate on ways to conserve. They visit restaurants, offices, manufacturing businesses and retails, including auto repairs, printers, salons and tattoo parlors.

The program focuses on four categories: energy, water, waste, transportation and overall business management. They advise businesses with planet, people and profit in mind.

“If it makes sense for the business to do the improvements and implement the practices—then they’re going to be able to give back to the community and lessen environmental impact,” she says.

“It’s a very positive program. It helps the business as far as educating employees, and all-around awareness is heightened,” Robinette says.

Rocky Mountain Chili Bowl was already doing many “green” practices. The business breaks down and recycles boxes, recycles cans, uses low-flow toilets, shuts off lights at night, uses compostable to-go containers and the employees take RTD.

Robinette says many of these practices are cost saving, including little practices like asking instead of automatically giving a customer a napkin or bag. “If they don’t, that’s one less thing we need to dispose of.”

Robinette is looking into more environmentally friendly containers. He encourages other businesses to take advantage of Certifiably Green Denver. To sign up for a sustainability advisor to assess your business, visit www.DenverGov.org/CGD. Rocky Mountain Chili Bowl is at 7305 E. 35th Ave. or visit RockyMountainChiliBowl.com.