Business Resources

• Business Council on Climate Change
  San Francisco Bay Area businesses partnership committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Members share ideas and case studies, identify useful tools, participate in educational forums and establish best practices.

• Business Environmental Alliance
  Promotes the economic benefits of responsible environmental practices and provides resources to enable businesses to implement these measures. Provides useful online resources for all California businesses, including a best practices guide; links to water conservation, energy conservation, and waste management and recycling resources; and links to financial assistance programs.

• Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC)
  Provides free and confidential permitting and environmental compliance assistance to businesses on behalf of local government in the greater Sacramento area, promoting business success and environmental quality.

• CA Air Resources Board's Small Business Brochure
  Provides quick information on how to be sustainable and grow your business at the same time.

• CA Air Resources Board's Small Business Workshop. This was a free one day workshop held in conjunction with the California Green Summit in Sacramento on March 16, 2010. The workshop focused on small businesses in California wanting to learn about strategies to reduce their climate impact and opportunities in the green economy. This interactive workshop featured three panels. The first panel consisted of small business owners talking about their experiences saving money by reducing energy and fuel costs, improving their businesses by “greening” their products and services, and sharing their experiences of becoming part of the expanding green economy. The second panel included business advisors discussing California’s green economy and provided examples and suggestions of how businesses can take advantage of this strong and growing sector of the economy. Businesses learned how to shape the healthy future of their business by using the programs, support, and funds available to green businesses. The third panel featured community-based assistance programs that can provide a wide variety of help to businesses. Presentations are available on the website - see link below.

• Cleantech.Org
  Online incubator for clean technologies and a resource to scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and investors interested in cleantech.

• Climate Group’s Business Guide to a Low Carbon Economy
  Explains California climate change policy and highlights key issues for businesses developing a climate strategy.

• Climate Protection Campaign
  Sonoma County non-profit organization designed to help businesses save money, access new sources of capital, and increase market exposure.

• Coachella Valley Green
  Desert Empire non-profit organization designed to help businesses save money, access new sources of capital, and increase market exposure. They provide information about how CV Cities are implementing sustainable strategies and keep you posted as to any programs or tax incentives that you can take advantage of.

• Ecogeek
  Publishes up to ten stories daily about innovations that are saving the planet.

• Ecology Action
  Nonprofit environmental consultancy that provides education technical assistance, and program implementation for initiatives that assist business, governments and individuals to maximize environmental quality and community well being.

• ENERGY STAR
  Joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

• Flex Your Power
  California's statewide energy efficiency marketing and outreach campaign with comprehensive online resources designed specifically for businesses.

• Greenbiz.com – Small Business
  Leading online news and information resource on how to align environmental responsibility with business success. Includes resources specifically designed for small businesses, including Greening your Business: A Primer for Small Companies.

• Greenopolis
  Greenopolis is a social networking site that develops online relations between everyday people, communities, organizations, schools and businesses. As an environmentally-focused social networking site, Greenopolis was created to engage users on green issues so that they might learn, explore and participate in an open dialogue about the present and future of our environment.

• OpenEco.org
  Online community is designed to help participants assess, track, and compare business energy performance, share proven best practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage sustainable business innovation.

• Sacramento Sustainable Business Program
  Regional partnership that encourages businesses to adopt environmentally-friendly and sustainable practices. Certifies and promotes businesses that take voluntary actions to conserve energy and water, reduce waste and pollution, recycle and purchase recycled products, and implement green building measures.

• Sierra Nevada Energy Watch
  A collaboration between Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Sierra Business Council dedicated to providing innovative energy efficiency solutions for local governments and businesses in Sierra Nevada communities within PG&E territory. Counties Covered: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yuba.

• Small Business California
  Proactive, non-partisan business advocacy organization.

• Sustainable Silicon Valley
  Collaboration of businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations identifying and addressing environmental and resource pressures in the Valley.

• Treehugger
  One-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream.

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