Green Business Certification

Get Started | Get Ideas | Get Help | Get Moving

Since PABGG’s launch in 2006, we have been working closely with the Santa Clara County Green Business Program to guide businesses through the Green Business Certification process. To be certified as a “Green Business,” participants must comply with all applicable environmental regulations and then go “above and beyond,” selecting a specified number of environmental actions from a checklist of standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution and minimizing waste. Currently 31 Palo Alto area businesses, schools and institutions have become green certified, and many more are in the process. There is no charge to participants to go through the green certification process.

Benefits of Getting Certified

Enhance Reputation and Brand Image
Today’s consumers and communities demand environmental responsibility at every level of the organization and reward companies that demonstrate responsible business practices. It is therefore essential to communicate these through campaigns that demonstrate your sector leadership.

Attract and Retain Talent
Green businesses have discovered that their commitment to sustainability improves their standing in the eyes of jobseekers and that an efficient, comfortable and healthy environment increases employee satisfaction and minimizes turnover.

Increase Productivity and Employee Morale
Numerous studies have shown that a healthy indoor environment increases worker productivity and reduces absenteeism. Since labor is both the greatest asset and greatest expense of most businesses, maintaining this asset is a smart and profitable proposition.

Increase Profits
Investing in resource conservation and energy efficiency is a wise investment. By eliminating wasteful practices in your organization, you avoid tying up capital in non-productive uses, reduce waste disposal costs, and get better performance and shareholder value.

Protect the Environment
Whereas business has traditionally considered efforts to limit the negative consequences of its actions on the environment to be an onerous burden, many companies are now realizing that protecting the environment is a great way to protect the bottom line as well.

Becoming a Green Certified Business

The Santa Clara County Green Business Program is the only way to get the Green Business certification. Get Started with the details about the program. Get Ideas from other business who have gone green. Get Help from businesses who have agreed to be mentors. Get Moving with agencies who will help you achieve the tasks in the certification checklists.

Testimonials

"The initial certification process helped us identify where we were meeting our environmental performance goals and target what we wanted to improve. While the Green Business Program’s priority is environmental performance, the projects implemented along the way also saved our City $255,000 in the first year alone in energy costs, leveraged existing projects, improved communication across departments, and recognized the terrific efforts of the staff making these projects happen."

-Julie Weiss, City of Palo Alto

"Our business has improved by giving us many more marketing opportunities and lending credibility to our green practices since we have gone through the processes of becoming Green Certified."

- Barbara Pressman, Stanford Terrace Inn

"The water bill has gone down because of the low-flow toilet, we use less office paper since we use both sides of the paper, and we have also reduced our ink cartridge costs since we started getting them refilled. When other agents found out I was “green” and had recently achieved certification, they wanted to know what it was all about. I figure I can influence up to 17,000 State Farm agents around the country by sharing some of the ideas we have implemented in the office!"

- Candice Kistner, State Farm Insurance Agent

We began with a recycling program that cut our solid waste by more than 50%. We have also reduced our energy and water bills significantly by replacing inefficient lighting and installing low flow toilets. The program was been well received by all our employees and we feel we are making a difference! 

- Steve Kirksey, Operations Manager, Park Avenue Motors

We have a bit of a marketing edge because of the effort we put into making the hotel more environmentally friendly, but anyone can do it and it’s important to just do something, even if it is a small step toward improvement. 

- Bridget O’Brien, Director of Operations, Stanford Terrace Inn

I didn’t set out to get certified for the recognition. I did it because it’s the right thing to do and I believe you can always do better and get better at everything. The process is pretty easy, but it has credential and meaning to it. 

- Bob Yanofsky, Owner, My Gym

Green Resources: Energy Conservation | Water Conservation | Waste Reduction & Recycling | Pollution Prevention | Beyond Green Business Certification