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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lobster Restaurant | Restaurant | South Coast Region | Use Green Energy |
"The Lobster" Restaurant in Santa Monica has long been an unofficial historical landmark, almost as recognizable as the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier...Read Case Study » |
| Seven4One, Inc. | Hospitality / Tourism | South Coast Region | Build Green |
The Seven4One Hotel was built with the purpose of creating an environmentally sustainable hotel and reducing the carbon footprint of each guest. The...Read Case Study » |
| iBank | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Buy Green |
iBank is a small, private company that has been paperless since 1999. One of iBank’s primary business goals is to help reduce the usage of paper products...Read Case Study » |
| Brentwood Royal Cleaners | Retail | South Coast Region | Recycle and Cut Waste |
Brentwood Royal Cleaners first opened its doors in 1948 and since 2003 has offered environmentally-friendly dry cleaning. Traditional dry cleaners...Read Case Study » |
| Bowman Design Group | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Be a Green Biz |
In just two years, Bowman Design Group not only met but shattered California’s AB32...Read Case Study » |
| Old Town Trolley Tours | Hospitality / Tourism | South Coast Region | Drive Less and Drive Clean |
For this small business, clean transportation is the key to success. Over the last 20 years, Old Town Trolley Tours has provided sightseeing...Read Case Study » |
| CenterStone Communities | Construction / Real Estate / Development | South Coast Region | Build Green |
Harmony is CenterStone Communities’ first solar community in the San Bernardino County. CenterStone Communities is committed to designing homes that...Read Case Study » |
| Stater Bros. | Retail | South Coast Region | Refrigerant Management |
Stater Bros., is a privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California with facilities in six Southern California counties and has a long...Read Case Study » |
| Spirit Graphics & Printing, Inc. | Retail | South Coast Region | Be a Green Biz |
Spirit Graphics and Printing Inc. has four generations of printing and publishing experience and has been family owned and operated since 1983. Even with the...Read Case Study » |
| El Primero Boutique B&B Hotel | Hospitality / Tourism | South Coast Region | Be a Green Biz |
El Primero Boutique B&B Hotel is a quaint, locally owned and operated hotel found in Chula Vista with a grace towards historical novelty and...Read Case Study » |
| Irwindale Chamber of Commerce | Non-profit | South Coast Region | Recycle and Cut Waste |
The Irwindale Chamber of Commerce is committed to making eco-friendly decisions in the office and in the community. Through their Environmental...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 » |
| Rent-A-Green Box | Business or Professional Services | South Coast Region | Build Green |
Rent-A-Green Box is a multifaceted fast growing company with green on the brain. Spencer Brown, who embraced the green philosophy, knew that...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 » |
| 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 » |
| 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 » |
| 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 » |
| 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 » |
| 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 » |
| 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 » |
| 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 » |
| 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 » |
| The Bo Tree | Health Care / Wellness | North Central Region | Build Green |
In this Davis yoga studio, exercising is good for both you and the environment. The Bo Tree was created in 2002 by Teri Bowen as a green yoga studio and has...Read Case Study » |
| MAK Design+Build, Inc. | Business or Professional Services | North Central Region | Be a Green Biz |
MAK Design+Build, Inc. is an environmentally conscious business that emphasizes sustainable building practices. The steps MAK has taken to become green...Read Case Study » |