The San Mateo County
Green Business Program
Business and Government Working
Together for a Better Environment
Kim Springer, Jo Fleming, Angela Rocchio, and Sheila Peck
Green Business Coordinators, San Mateo County
Agenda
• Introduction
– Who’s here
– Description of Green Business Program
– San Mateo County Green Business Program
• Certification process
• Application specifics
• Meet your fellow green businesses (small
group breakout)
1995
California Green
Business Program
2013
We are CAGBP
NOW:
• 21 programs
• > 2,700 recognized
businesses
• ~ 1500 interested
businesses
• >50% of CA population
San Mateo
County Green
Business Program
• Started in 2007
• Part of Bay Area Green Business Program
Available in 9 County cities, and
unincorporated San Mateo County
• Currently 73 businesses certified, and
148 businesses in process
Where the San Mateo program is now…
• Restarting after 1 ½ years
• High business interest
• Limited County funds
Our solution: “Fast Track” - certify
as many businesses as possible, as
efficiently as possible
Certification Process
• Registration
• Application
– Feel free to email coordinators with
questions!
• Audits and Final Walk-through
• Certification
Free Promotion!
• Green Business online directory at
www.greenbiz.ca.gov or
www.RecycleWorks.org
• Printed regional Green Business directory
• Local media and events
• Electronic logo, window decals, wall
certificate
www.greenbusinessca.org
Log in here with your
username and password
Business Application Details Page
Click on
sections at
left for your
pages of
measures to
complete
Attach documents by
clicking on “paperclips” –
generally optional
Saving and Submitting
Save each page; click Review and Submit
only when finished with the application.
It’s okay to exit and go back to it…
Metrics
My Status
My Status
My Status Placeholder
My Company Profile
My Company Profile
My Company Profile
Placeholder
My Report Card
My Report Card
My Report Card
Placeholder
Printing
Using the Print
Filter
Application
Specifics
Waste Section
• Purpose: Reduce amount of solid waste going to
landfills
– Reduce paper use
– Reduce packaging
– Reuse, recycle, and use products with recycled
content
• Lead agency: San Mateo County Recycleworks
• Recycleworks.org
Garbage and
Recycling
- Go to
Recycleworks.org
- Click on Find Your
Garbage Company
- Find information
on garbage,
recycling,
composting, waste
audits, signs and
more…
“Recyclable” vs. “Recycled Content”
• Recyclable : Made of material that can be
reformulated and used again
• Recycled Content: Made at least partially
of material that has already been used
and recycled
Recycled Copy Paper
– at least 30% pcw
PCW= post-consumer
waste
Detailed Inputs Form
– if you receive the
garbage bill
Detailed Inputs Form
Energy Section
• Purpose: Conserve energy through
– more efficient lighting
– more efficient electronics and appliances
– weatherizing
– regular maintenance and good habits
• Lead agency: Skyline Energy Efficiency
Auditors, Rebates through PG&E,
RightLights and EnergyWatch
Energy Retrofit
Rebates
• Rebates are highest through RightLights or
EnergyWatch
• EnergyWatch is for non-profits, government
facilities, institutions, and schools
• RightLights is for small businesses
• Can use your own contractor and get PG&E
rebates as well, but not as much.
Fluorescent and LED Lighting
Fluorescent tubes
change from T12 to
T8 or T5
P.G.&E. rebates
available
Energy Star Office Equipment
Water Section
• Purpose: Conserve water
– Toilets and faucets
– Irrigation
– Cleaning practices
• Lead agency: Bay Area Water Supply and
Conservation Agency (BAWSCA)
Low Flow Toilets 1.6 Gallons or Less
BAWSCA rebates
available
Low Flow Aerators
Irrigation Savings
Pollution Section
• Purpose: Reduce pollution
– Worker exposure
– In the air, water, ground
– Safely dispose of hazardous waste
• Lead agency: San Mateo County Green
Business Program
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Universal Waste = Hazardous
“Green” Cleaning Products
Greenseal.org
Sfapproved.org
Goodguide.com
Triclosan
Wastewater Section
• Purpose: Keep storm water clean
– “Only rain down the storm drain”
• Lead agency: San Mateo County Green
Business Program
Storm Drain
Keep Dumpsters Clean and Covered
Car and Truck Washing – Keep Runoff
Away from Storm Drains
General Section
• Purpose: Integrate green business
principles into the organization
Environmental Purchasing Policy
• Buy products with
– Recycled content
– Least packaging
– Most efficiency
– Least toxicity
Small Group Discussion and Debrief
1. Introduce yourselves
2. Share one or two “green” measure/s you have instituted
3. Choose 2 sections of the application that you think will be
the most challenging
4. Review these sections with your group
5. Help each other with questions/concerns that arise
6. Bring 1-2 questions to the entire group for debrief session