The Green Business Program (GBP) assists, certifies, recognizes and promotes businesses (primarily small and medium - sized businesses), government agencies, cities, counties and non-profit organizations that volunteer to operate more environmentally responsibly. To be certified "green", participants must be in compliance with all regulations and meet program standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution and minimizing waste. The Program offers motivated businesses and agencies an easy-to-use framework for improving environmental performance.
The Program provides one point of contact – the Coordinator. Applicants must demonstrate regulatory compliance and implement a specified number of practices to meet the Program standards. Checklists provide menus of practices from which applicants select to achieve certification and plan the continuous improvement they must demonstrate to be recertified every three years. In exchange for certification, participants earn the right to use the Program logo and receive free onsite compliance assistance, access to retrofit rebates and other incentives, and public recognition. Besides helping the environment, Program participation improves the "bottom line".
The Green Business Program (GBP) began in 1996 with the Bay Area Green Business Program (BAGBP), developed by the Association of Bay Area Governments in partnership with local agencies, Cal EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control, US EPA and the business community. Initially, the Program certified auto repair shops in two counties. Now offered in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties, the Program has certified over 300 businesses in 18 industries. San Francisco expects to join early in 2004. Arizona and Hawaii are offering the Program and Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Diego and Sacramento counties are preparing to launch soon.
The US EPA, with Cal EPA/DTSC approval, has named EFC9 the Region 9 Green Business Program Coordinator. In this capacity, EFC9 is assisting US EPA, Cal EPA/DTSC and the BAGBP in their GBP expansion efforts.
Towards this end, EFC9 is providing the following information. Where indicated, the information can be downloaded or viewed on the internet, otherwise, it will be provided upon request (contact EFC9).
Checklists for:
- Hotels
- Landscapers
- Offices
- Printers
- Quick Printers
- Restaurants
- Vehicle Service Repair
- Wineries
- General Standards
Association for Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Documents
- Green Business Program Overview
- Green Government Pledge
Alameda County GBP Documents
- Alameda County Printer Policy
- Alameda County GBP Newsletter October 2003
- Worksheet designed to assist in identifying next target industry
Contra Costa County GBP Documents
- Application form
- Certification Revocation Policy
- Congratulatory letter to a certified business
- Contra Costa County GBP Annual Report for FY 02-03
- Contra Costa County GBP Directory
- Contra Costa County GBP FY 02-03 budget
- Contra Costa County GBP FY 99-00 budget
- Contra Costa County GBP Strategic Plan
- Document describing steps to becoming a Green Business
- Document for potential applicants
- Flyer about benefits of becoming a certified Green Business Green Business Program Form to initiate an inspection for GBP applicant
- Invitation to the GBP recognition ceremony
- Letter requesting program funding from local public utility
- Memo to the Board of Supervisors about GBP status
- Portion of Contra Costa County GBP Certificate
- Remarks by Robin Bidell-Waite, GBP Coordinator, to the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors about the GBP
- Report on the status of audits and inspections of GBP certification
- Survey questionnaire for feedback from newly certified Green Businesses
Marin County GBP Document
- Description of the Marin County GBP for business applicants including certification checklist
Monterey Bay Area GBP Document
- MOU between Santa Cruz & Monterey Counties establishing the Monterey Bay Area GBP
Green Business Program Training - EFC9 in conjunction with staff from ABAG, the Bay Area Green Business Programs, US EPA and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality organized and held a session entitled Green Business Program Training (Power Point Presentation) presented at the 2003 Western Regional Pollution Prevention Conference in Tahoe. Topics included:
- GBP Overview: Why Start a Program
- GB Philosophy: Small Business Orientation, Cooperation, Compliance & P2/RC
- Partnering/Organization: Benefits to GBP & Partners, Building Partnership & Organizational Structure
- Funding: Budgeting, Funding Sources & In-kind
- Business Sectors: Where to Start, Early Success & What Comes Next?
- Business Recruitment: Current Incentives, Future Incentives & How?
- Nuts & Bolts: Kick-off, Certification Process, Recognition & Recertification/Revocation
- Marketing: Targets & Partners
- Measurement
- Innovations/Future
- Next Steps: EPA/EFC9/WRPPN Services