greening your business: resources
News and Events:
The Sustainable Enterprise Conference 2008 will be held on Friday, May 2, 2008 in Rohnert Park, featuring expert speakers and workshops for businesses ranging from start-ups to large companies. Carpooling encouraged!
A grassroots effort by Sonoma Valley hair salons is underway to donate hairclippings to MatterOfTrust.org, a Bay Area based nonprofit that recycles them into hair mats used in clean-up of oil spills.
Energy Conservation, Water Conservation, and Waste Reduction:
707-565-7257
A program of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, the BEA has a variety of resources for businesses looking to go green, including “how to” guides, links to useful websites, and “best practices” information from Sonoma County businesses. The BEA coordinates free, no-obligation water efficiency assessments through its Business Water Project and will provide a water conservation plan tailored specifically to your business. The BEA also administers the ABAG Green Business Certification program for
Small Business Energy Al
Free on-site evaluations by energy efficiency experts are available to
Lodging Savers
888-846-5050
Free comprehensive energy survey for lodging properties; subsidized retrofit programs. Pre-screened contractors and post-job inspection; rebates paid directly to the contractor to minimize your capital outlay.
Other helpful web-based resources for the lodging industry include the Green Hotels Association, Green Lodging News, and information from the California Waste Management Board on waste reduction for hotels and the California Green Lodging program.
Sonoma County Waste Management Agency Eco-Desk Hotline: (707) 565-3375
For answers to your questions about disposal of hazardous or recyclable materials at work, call the Eco-Desk Hotline or visit the website and click on “Business Recycling”. You can also call the hotline to find or donate reusable materials at SonoMAX, the Sonoma County Materials Exchange Program. SonoMAX is a free service helping local businesses find or donate reusable and recyclable materials that are typically discarded, such as empty containers, building materials, or manufacturing by-products. The goal is to reduce the amount of landfilled waste while giving businesses an opportunity to save on disposal costs.
Other Water and Energy Efficiency Programs:
Both the City of
The Rinse & Spray Nozzle Replacement Program installs pre-rinse spray nozzles in restaurants, grocery stores, and other food industry businesses free of charge. A low-flow pre-rinse spray valve is one of the easiest and most cost effective “green” steps that a food service business can take, resulting in savings of up to $1,000 per year. Contact the City of
Commercial ultra low flow toilet rebates of up to $260 per toilet replaced are also available to qualifying businesses. Contact the City of