CHAMPAIGN — More than two years after launching the Illinois Green Business Association, the three young entrepreneurs behind the group are charging ahead with their plans to combat "greenwashing" and promote sustainable business practices throughout the state.

Since the group's inception, 30 businesses have enrolled in the Illinois Green Business Association's certification program, which recognizes businesses for their sustainability practices. Ten have received certification so far.

"We started as a Champaign-Urbana green business association, and before that we were a recycling organization," said Mara Eisenstein, director of marketing and special projects. The organization evolved because "we saw a need for this in Illinois: to educate businesses and customers of businesses about the value of going green and having a certified program."

If a business advertises itself as green, does that mean it recycles a few aluminum cans a week, or does it signify a more comprehensive commitment to environmental practices? How do you know a business really is green?

Earning certification from the Illinois Green Business Association signifies a credible commitment to being green, that businesses are doing what they say they are doing, said Anthony Santarelli, director of program development.

"We're pretty excited about what they're trying to do. They've made a lot of great progress in the last couple years. The biggest is being able to focus and develop the certification process," said Don Schlorff, executive vice president with Busey Bank. Schlorff also sits on the association's board of directors.

The program, which can take a few months or a year, entails a checklist of over 200 green business practices.

"We wanted certification from the start to be comprehensive," Santarelli said. "Yes, it's comprehensive, but we also help them manage that."

Busey Bank started working with the association over a year ago with the goal of each one of its locations (there are over 40, including some locations in Florida and one in Indianapolis) becoming certified, Schlorff said.

The bank has taken a number of steps so far. Small steps such as placing stickers over light switches in rest rooms that remind people to turn off the lights. And more comprehensive ones such as configuring its computer network so computers power down for most of the night, but turn on for necessary updates.

"It's been a great working relationship," he said.

Most businesses the association has worked with fall into one of two categories: an office/retail business or a restaurant/cafe, said Cassie Carroll, its executive director. But some are outside those categories, including an auto repair business and a retirement community.

Among the local businesses they've worked with are Boltini, Common Ground Food Co-Op, Ippatsu hair salon and That's Rentertainment. Two recent firms to be certified are BLDD and RATIO architectural firms.

"We think of the University of Illinois as the flagship university in the state. We can have a flagship green business program in Champaign-Urbana," Carroll said.

The group is now not only actively working with businesses and organizations in Champaign-Urbana, but also some in Bloomington-Normal and Quincy.

"Going green is not rocket science," Santarelli said. But, "it really does take time."

And some small business owners do not have a lot of time to devote to becoming certified, he acknowledged.

"That's a hurdle we're working to overcome," he said.

In response, the group has brought on interns from the University of Illinois and Parkland College. The association currently has seven interns on board and they work with businesses on their certification programs as well as develop educational campaigns.

The organization, a nonprofit corporation, receives its funding from private and public sources. Its partners are the University of Illinois, Busey Bank and One Main Development.

Some government-funded or managed sustainability programs have seen funding cut in recent years, which is why the association decided to diversify its funding sources with a mix of private and government funding, Carroll said.

Recently the organization received a $10,000 grant from the Lumpkin Family Foundation.

The Illinois Green Business Association also charges for certification, with the amount starting at $375 for businesses with one to 10 employees and 1,000 square feet of space.

In the fall, the group will start a consulting option for businesses that are not quite ready to enroll in the certification program. Also in the works is a campaign to raise awareness among consumers asking them to support businesses that commit to being green.

They're also holding monthly networking events. The next one is at 5:30 p.m. July 19, at Radio Maria in Champaign.