Chartwell School, an independent day school serving grades K through 12, has demonstrated its dedication to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through its leadership in high performance school design and operations. Chartwell is committed to creating the best possible learning environment for students by providing exceptional daylighting, outdoor views, good indoor air quality, and thermal comfort. The campus is energy efficient, conserves water, is healthy, comfortable, well lit, and contains the features needed for quality education.
Paragon Label & Mrs. Grossmans
Petaluma-based label printing enterprise and sticker manufacturer, Paragon Label and Mrs. Grossmans, are committed to producing the highest quality products for their customers in the most sustainable manner possible. Paragon Label and Mrs. Grossmans have been involved in conserving and recycling for more than a decade. Their green business philosophy is to continually improve and seek out innovative new options to reduce their carbon footprint.
Zan Media
Zan Media, San Francisco Bay Area film and video production specialists, caught the green buzz when producing their recent documentary on the California wine business, “A State of Vine”. Says partner/producer Christine Scioli, “We devoted a segment of the documentary to sustainability and saw time and time again the efforts made in the wine industry to become environmentally sensitive. It dawned on us that we took similar steps in the film and video business by becoming a 100 percent digital production company.”
Advanced Transit Dynamics
For Advanced Transit Dynamics (ATDynamics), helping trucking companies cut fuel costs is how it gives back to Mother Nature. A small business dedicated to developing the best-in-class technology for the freight transportation industry, ATDynamics works with carriers throughout North America to reduce their carbon footprint. One way it has accomplished this is through its flagship product, the TrailerTail®. In 2010, more than 480 of these devices were installed on the back of tractor-trailers, saving more than 36,000 gallons of diesel.
Green11
Meet the husband and wife green team — Marco Pietschmann and Bettina Limaco. Together the two started their small business, Green11, as part of their vision for the future of shopping. Green11 isn’t your average retailer. The duo has implemented a new retail model that minimizes consumer packaging, thereby significantly reducing waste from the traditional supply chain. This is all done through a revolutionary concept called the “closed-loop distribution model.”
Karen and Al
As soon as their kids were off to college, Karen and Al decided to downsize and move out of their large family home and settled into the idea of a home with a smaller, sustainable footprint. They explored the possibilities of buying an existing home and renovating it to fit their new lifestyle and eco-friendly inclinations. With lower real estate prices, mortgage rates, available rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades and appliances, and affordable design and construction companies, the decision was an easy one for them to make.
Arkin Tilt Architects
Anni Tilt and David Arkin began their northern California based architecture firm with a commitment to both designing and operating sustainably. Their expertise lies in designing beautiful buildings using alternative construction systems including building with straw-bale and rammed earth, renewable energy systems, greywater, and non-toxic and recycled materials.
Hero Arts
Hero Arts, Inc. has a history of sustainability that dates all the way back to the mid-70s when founder Jackie Leventhal kicked off the business. Since then, her mission has been to design products that represent self expression, all while protecting the planet and preserving its natural resources.
Recon Recycling, LLC
Recon Recycling, LLC is located in the Barrio Logan community of San Diego. Recon Recycling provides waste diversion and customized recycling programs for multi-family households, offices, restaurants and bars, retail properties, and events throughout San Diego County. Recon shares their green tactics by offering environmental consulting to companies interested in practicing sustainable business methods.
Sapphos Environmental, Inc.
As an environmental consulting firm, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. has adopted a “walk the talk” philosophy. They have undertaken efforts to implement practical and measurable green building design, construction, operation, and maintenance practices recognized by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council. The firm’s new office building in Pasadena, California serves as a model of sustainable design and has inspired visitors to incorporate green building principles into their own projects.
Norton's Green Cleaners
Norton’s Green Cleaners is leading the way in alternative dry cleaning methods by reducing their chemical waste and installing energy efficient upgrades. Norton’s Green Cleaners opened in 1971 as a dry cleaning service using the ‘less than environmentally-friendly’ perchlorethylene (chlorinated) solvent for over twenty years. In 2005, Norton’s made the change to 100 percent professional wet cleaning, thereby eliminating all chemical waste, as well as expensive and inefficient equipment.
Royal Hawaiian Honey
Tropical Traders Specialty Foods, LLC, which produces the Royal Hawaiian Honey line, decided it could have a positive impact on climate change.
Citadel Environmental Services Inc.
Citadel Environmental, an eco-friendly health and safety firm, is green inside and out. Not only is a sustainable lifestyle promoted, but its environmentally friendly office spaces feature innovative ecological design solutions that reduce operating costs, energy use, water consumption, and it’s carbon footprint. Citadel’s office building has been fully remodeled into a first-class, sustainable office with the goal of achieving a LEED® Platinum rating, as well as becoming the first privately held LEED® certified building in Glendale.
Audio Visual Consultants
Audio Visual (AV) Consultants is a Certified Green Business in Alameda County specializing in video production and editing. AV Consultants is reducing waste by using only recycled content “re-sleeves” for their CDs and DVDs. They also feature examples of their work online rather than mailing-out informational packets. AV Consultants uses web-based correspondence and production, editing and distribution of all the videos produced. Videos during the posted on YouTube to promote video sharing, while also reducing any waste that a hard copy CD would produce.
Fresh Air Yard Care
Fresh Air Yard Care endeavors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing yard care maintenance using only hand powered, electric and propane equipment. Fresh Air Yard Care uses brooms, rakes and push sweepers instead of gas-powered-blowers to clean walk ways and patios. They also use both both reel mowers and electric mowers that mulch clippings and organic matter.
Arroyo High School
At Arroyo High School, five students led by 2011 Cool California Climate Champion Elaine Lac, started composting in order to produce a viable alternative to commercial compost for the school to utilize. Composting reduces the amount of waste that is sent to the landfill while providing a nutrient rich soil to be used in a garden.
Three Squares, Inc.
Three Squares Inc. (TSI) is leading the way as a sustainable business force that maintains balance between the people, economic growth and the planet. As a globally recognized environmental consulting firm, Three Squares specializes in developing sustainability plans for corporations, government agencies and academic institutions.
Atlas Disposal Industries
Atlas Disposal Industries was founded on the principles of sustainability. People, planet and prosperity are the three principles that define the way they do business. Guided by these core values, Atlas has quickly emerged as the fastest growing waste and recycling hauling company in the Sacramento area. They strive to respond to urgent environmental challenges such as water conservation, waste reduction, and clean air.
Weston Miles Architects
Weston Miles Architects, Inc. (WMA) is an award-winning landscape and architecture business that practices innovative and sustainable building design. WMA offers architectural services for the construction of educational facilities, civic, residential, and historical renovations. WMA has been recognized for nearly a decade by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as one of the top 25 architecture and design firms in the area. Concepts from the U.S.
Cibola Systems Corporation
Cibola Systems is an audiovisual design firm specializing in creating business meeting environments while integrating AV technologies that inspire team communication.
Since 1971, Cibola Systems has embraced the accelerating changes in audiovisual and multimedia technology while remaining committed to the environment. They are recognized for their record in sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy, material and resource management, indoor environmental quality and innovation in the design process.