SITES-PR-Guidelines-v4 - Public Relations Guidelines for SITES Certification - Updated Fall 2023

Sep 21, 2026

Public Relations Guidelines for SITES Certification provides communication direction for projects participating in the Sustainable SITES Initiative administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). It outlines how to talk about SITES certification, use certification marks, certificates, and plaques, and distinguishes precertification from full certification. The guide also covers press release distribution, sample quotes, planning certification ceremonies, submitting project profiles, and social media promotion with sample posts and contact support.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time4 min

AccessFree to download

Public Relations Guidelines for SITES Certification

Branding Guidelines

Sample Press Release – Certification, Precertification and Recertification

Sample Quotes from GBCI

Green Business Certification Inc. Public Relations Guidelines For The Sustainable SITES Initiative Updated Fall 2023 Contents Public Relations Guidelines for SITES Certification - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -2 Branding Guidelines- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 Sample Press Release – Certification, Precertification and Recertification - - - - - - - - 5 Sample Quotes from GBCI - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 SITES Accredited Professionals - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 Sample press release – SITES Accredited Professional - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 Helpful Contacts- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 1 SITES Certified Mary Elizabeth Branch Park | Austin, TX Photo Credit: © Brandon Huttenlocher / Design Workshop, Inc. Public Relations Guidelines for SITES Certification Congratulations! You are joining an innovative community dedicated to elevating the economic, social and environmental benefits of landscapes. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) promotes sustainable and resilient landscape development. SITES can be used for development projects located on sites with or without buildings to enhance their sustainability, implement nature-based solutions and improve resilience. The program offers several ways to pursue sustainable landscape development, including SITES precertification and certification, along with earning a SITES Accredited Professional credential. Talking about SITES SITES Certification SITES certification provides a comprehensive framework for designing, developing and managing sustainable and resilient landscapes. SITES supports landscape architects, planners and others in implementing nature-based solutions. SITES projects enhance biodiversity and mitigate climate change, while conserving resources, improving public health and protecting critical ecosystems. SITES Precertification Precertification is an optional, incremental review pathway for registered projects. It offers early recognition for projects in the planning phase, demonstrating their commitment to achieving SITES certification, and its ensuing impact on site sustainability and resilience. Below are resources to help you spread the word about your achievement. Use your certification mark, certificate, and plaque Certified projects will receive a digital certification mark file, which can be added to your website and marketing resources. If you do not receive your mark upon certification, [email](email marketing@gbci.org. Plaques)[ marketing@gbci.org](email marketing@gbci.org. Plaques)[. Plaques](email marketing@gbci.org. Plaques)and certificates can be ordered through Green Plaque to promote your achievement on-site. 2 SITES Certified Grant Park Gateway | Atlanta, GA | Photo Credit: © Dorian Sky Please note, precertified projects do not have certification marks or plaques, as it is a stepping stone to full certification. They do have access to certificates via Green Plaque. Distribute a press release Once you have achieved SITES certification, please feel free to share the news! A press release template, sample quotes from GBCI, and other resources can be found in these guidelines. GBCI staff are also available to review your draft and share the corresponding SITES logo to use in your release. Please email marketing@gbci.org with any questions. Hold a certification ceremony Plaque ceremonies are a great way to celebrate your achievement and showcase your projects to stakeholders and the media. Start by finding a GBCI representative to speak or present a plaque for a SITES certification ceremony. Comple

FAQs

What does SITES certification support and enable for projects?

SITES certification offers a framework for designing, developing, and managing sustainable and resilient landscapes. It supports implementation of nature-based solutions and helps enhance biodiversity, mitigate climate change, conserve resources, improve public health, and protect ecosystems.

How should certified projects use their certification marks, certificates, and plaques?

Certified projects receive a digital certification mark file to add to websites and marketing resources. Certificates and plaques can be ordered through Green Plaque for on-site promotion.

What are the next communication steps after achieving SITES certification?

Distribute a press release, request a certification ceremony and plaque presentation, submit a project profile to feature work on the SITES project database, and promote achievements on social media using the provided sample tweets and tags.

Sep 21, 2026

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