GreenStar Hub Launches GreenStar NYC, an Award-Winning Smart City App and Sustainable Group Buy Website

NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenStar Hub (GSH) has launched GreenStar NYC, a smart city mobile app to help NYC consumers and businesses achieve their sustainability goals. Through the app, New Yorkers can find geo-tagged GreenStar Certified businesses, locally made green products, women- and minority-owned businesses, and a citywide green events calendar.  Businesses can access a database of tenders or bidding opportunities, energy incentive programs, and news feed that showcase sustainability practices throughout NYC to millions of residents, businesses, and visitors. 

Local businesses can use the app or visit the Sustainable Group Buy (SGB) website (www.sustainablegroupbuy.com) powered by GSH to participate in community group buy by joining or creating a new community.  GSH's patent pending algorithms optimize savings for businesses with varying buying power.  Consequently, big and small buyers have incentive to join communities to benefit from special discounts from vendors.  Organizations with built in memberships such as non-governmental agencies, Chambers of Commerce, minority trade associations, and business improvement districts are ideal for combining purchasing power, while keeping its members private and promoting sponsors or internal buying.  "We are excited to have Tam Phung, GSH CEO, on our Energy Committee and also be partnering with GSH to leverage buying power of our members to increase adoption of green products, particularly local products and services our member's provide" said Jack Friedman, Executive Director, Queens Chamber of Commerce.

A signature feature of the app is the Green-In.  Green-In publishes content from the GreenWall, a GSH proprietary social media platform allowing businesses to showcase green goals, projects, services, and its own storefront.  Locals and tourists can now learn about how the public and private sectors throughout NYC are going green by simply "following" the businesses.  The timing of the app launch comes weeks after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that NYC is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent over 2005 levels by 2050; it is a sweeping plan to retrofit public and private buildings to dramatically reduce the city's contributions to climate change.  The app currently showcases projects and products installed such as solar, LEED buildings, and energy retrofits.  Best practices such as recycling, energy monitoring, and bike sharing initiatives are also shared.

"GSH's app provides useful information on Local Laws (i.e., LL87, LL84), City, State, and Federal incentive programs.  Alongside with aggregated sourcing for green building materials, showcasing and outreach of local projects will be invaluable for designers, facilities managers, and owners" said Murray L. Levi, LEED AP, Principal, M(tA) Architecture, Interiors, Sustainable Design and Chairman, International Facilities Management Association, NYC Sustainability Committee.   

NYC has 305,000 women-owned and 403,000 minority-owned firms, the largest and most diverse clustering of such businesses in the U.S.  These clusters of businesses are fragmented and lack access to technology and resources to take advantage of tenders, incentive programs, and competitive pricing on goods.  GSH is committed to working with these underserved businesses by providing multi-language app support (Spanish and Mandarin) and empowering them with buying power and resources. 

Other languages and additional cities globally will be added with San Francisco and Silicon Valley planned for 2015, where there is much excitement.  Marianna Grossman, Executive Director, Sustainable Silicon Valley states "GreenStar apps lead the way to help people and businesses buy green certified products, while getting a great deal at the same time."

The app can be downloaded in the Google Play and iTunes App Store. 

About GreenStar Hub:

GreenStar Hub (GSH) is a U.S. based company with offices in NYC and San Francisco. GSH offers a group-buy marketplace for sustainable products and services. GSH's marketplace differentiates itself from other B2B marketplaces with its proprietary GreenStar Rating using 1-5 leaves.

GSH is also a technology provider for businesses and governments, and partners with leading technology providers to deliver web services and mobile apps. GSH provides mobile and web platforms for e-procurement, community buying, content management, and smart city enabling technologies. GSH's global green resources include databases for certifications and standards, tenders, green policies, and building materials.

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SOURCE GreenStar Hub

Related Links

http://www.greenstarhub.com