Featured Business:
Harmony Farm and Nursury, Sepastopol, California
Yearly Savings: $7000
Read more about businesses that Save Energy»
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Small Business Case Studies
Save Energy
Read more about Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Recycle & Cut Waste
Featured Business:
Seton Medical Center Coastside, Moss Landing, CA
Yearly Bill Savings: $2000
Read more about Recycling & Waste Reduction Businesses»
Buy Green
Featured Business:
Numi Organic Tea, Manufacturing
Yearly CO2 Savings: 235 tons (2008)
Read more about businesses that Buy Green»
Read more about businesses that Buy Green»
Use Green Energy
Read more about businesses that use Green Energy
Build Green
Featured Business:
Orchard Garden Hotel, San Francisco, California
Total Bill Savings: 20% of energy bill
Read more about businesses that have Built Green»
Many small California businesses just like you have already successfully taken steps
ranging from lighting upgrades to implementing green building strategies to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To find out more, visit case studies associated different ways to save money:
Resources
Ecology Action is a nonprofit environmental consultancy serving the Santa Cruz area that delivers cutting edge education services, technical assistance, and program implementation for initiatives that assist business and others to maximize environmental quality and community well being. Contact Ecology Action for your free consultation.
Environmental Defense Fund: California's Green Economic Boom. See how state efforts to reduce emissions are paying off. Thousands of companies are benefiting from California's leadership on climate change. Check out how these maps tell the story of companies across California involved in green business, energy generation, energy efficiency and transportation.
Ready to find out how your business can become green? Check out DTSC Green Business web page to find out:
* Start a Local Program
* Enroll your Business
* Who's Already Green
* About Being Green
The Lobster Restaurant in Santa Monica installed 54 solar panels on its south facing roof. The system cost approximately $65,000, but rebates and tax credits brought the total cost down to about $20,000. The cost should be recovered through energy savings in about six years.
Learn about financial incentives to help fund your sustainable project including rebates and loans by using our Funding Wizard!
Case Studies Table
The table below lists all of our small business case studies. Click on a heading to sort the table by name, industry/sector, by region, or by their main action area.
| Name | Industry/Sector | Region | Main Action | Teaser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fetzer Vineyards | Agriculture | Northern Region | Save Energy |
Fetzer Vineyards is not only popular for its affordable and palatable wines; the company has been a recognized role model for sustainability since it formalized its commitment to the environment...Read Case Study » |
| Sun Harbor Marina | Hospitality / Tourism | South Coast Region | Build Green |
Sun Harbor Marina, located at the America's Cup Harbor in San Diego, provides a safe and friendly docking facility to a variety of tenants. In 2003, the original marina was demolished to...Read Case Study » |
| Light and Motion Industries | Business or Professional Services | Central Region | Recycle and Cut Waste |
Light and Motion Industries, Inc. is a manufacturing company located in a converted building on Monterey’s famous Cannery Row. They design, market, and manufacture two product lines: high...Read Case Study » |
| Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa | Hospitality / Tourism | Central Region | Buy Green |
Casa Madrona, a sixty-three room hotel and spa, combines all the luxury of contemporary accommodations with the feel of a traditional inn, while staying...Read Case Study » |
| Cibola Systems Corporation | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Save Energy |
Cibola Systems is an audiovisual design firm specializing in creating business meeting environments while integrating AV technologies that inspire team...Read Case Study » |
| Atlas Disposal Industries | Business or Professional Services | Northern Region | Recycle and Cut Waste |
Atlas Disposal Industries was founded on the principles of sustainability. People, planet and prosperity are the three principles that define the way...Read Case Study » |
| Weston Miles Architects | Business or Professional Services | Bay Area | Be a Green Biz |
Weston Miles Architects, Inc. (WMA) is an award-winning landscape and architecture business that practices innovative and sustainable building...Read Case Study » |
| Three Squares, Inc. | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Recycle and Cut Waste |
Three Squares Inc. (TSI) is leading the way as a sustainable business force that maintains balance between the people, economic growth and...Read Case Study » |
| Solana Center | Non-profit | South Coast Region | Recycle and Cut Waste |
The Solana Center for Environmental Education and Innovation operates as a non-profit organization designed to teach creative solutions to ecological...Read Case Study » |
| Fresh Air Yard Care | Business or Professional Services | North Central Region | Save Energy |
Fresh Air Yard Care endeavors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing yard care maintenance using only hand powered, electric and propane...Read Case Study » |
| Audio Visual Consultants | Business or Professional Services | Bay Area | Recycle and Cut Waste |
Audio Visual (AV) Consultants is a Certified Green Business in Alameda County specializing in video production and editing. AV Consultants is reducing...Read Case Study » |
| Citadel Environmental Services Inc. | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Use Green Energy |
Citadel Environmental, an eco-friendly health and safety firm, is green inside and out. Not only is a sustainable lifestyle promoted, but its...Read Case Study » |
| Royal Hawaiian Honey | Manufacturing | Bay Area | Save Energy |
Tropical Traders Specialty Foods, LLC, which produces the Royal Hawaiian Honey line, decided it could have a positive impact on climate change. Read Case Study » |
| Norton's Green Cleaners | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Save Water |
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...Read Case Study » |
| Sapphos Environmental, Inc. | Business or Professional Services | Inland Deserts Region | Use Green Energy |
As an environmental consulting firm, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. has adopted a “walk the talk” philosophy. They have undertaken efforts to implement...Read Case Study » |
| Recon Recycling, LLC | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Recycle and Cut Waste |
Recon Recycling, LLC is located in the Barrio Logan community of San Diego. Recon Recycling provides waste diversion and customized recycling programs...Read Case Study » |
| Arkin Tilt Architects | Construction / Real Estate / Development | Bay Area | Be a Green Biz |
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...Read Case Study » |
| Hero Arts | Manufacturing | Bay Area | Be a Green Biz |
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...Read Case Study » |
| Zan Media | Business or Professional Services | Bay Area | Be a Green Biz |
Zan Media, San Francisco Bay Area film and video production specialists, caught the green buzz when producing their recent documentary on the California wine...Read Case Study » |
| Advanced Transit Dynamics | Manufacturing | Bay Area | Recycle and Cut Waste |
For Advanced Transit Dynamics (ATDynamics), helping trucking companies cut fuel costs is how it gives back to Mother Nature. A small business...Read Case Study » |
| Green11 | Retail | Bay Area | Recycle and Cut Waste |
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...Read Case Study » |
| Paragon Label & Mrs. Grossmans | Manufacturing | Bay Area | Be a Green Biz |
Petaluma-based label printing enterprise and sticker manufacturer, Paragon Label and Mrs. Grossmans, are committed to producing the highest quality...Read Case Study » |
| Hesperian Cleaners | Business or Professional Services | Bay Area | Be a Green Biz |
Concerned by the potential health hazards associated with the use of perchloroethylene (PERC), a traditional dry cleaning chemical, Hesperian Cleaners...Read Case Study » |
| The Living Christmas Company | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Be a Green Biz |
Head tree-hugger and Christmas Caroler, Scott “Scotty Claus” Martin, was once ashamed by the discarded Christmas Trees that would line the streets after the holidays. Now, thanks to the...Read Case Study » |
| Arya Cleaners | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Be a Green Biz |
Sassan Rahimzadeh set out to create one of the most technologically advanced and environmentally sustainable dry cleaning services around. He succeeded when he opened the doors of...Read Case Study » |