Resources
Best Practices
Sonoma County Business Environmental Alliance (BEA)
An amazing array of new ways being undertaken by local firms as they pursue
voluntary environmental practices to
reduce costs and enhance efficiency may be found in the BEA Best Practices
publication.
Water Conservation
WaterSense:
Efficiency Made Easy
The homepage for the EPA's Water Use Efficiency Program supports efficient
water use in the commercial and educational sectors.
California Department of Water Resources
www.water.ca.gov/
This page offers water-related news stories, information on pertinent
legislation, water data, project funding sources, and more.
California Resources Agency
ceres.ca.gov/cra/
This website provides information on the state's efforts to conserve,
enhance, and manage California's natural and cultural resources.
California Department of Fish and Game
www.dfg.ca.gov/
This page is dedicated to the state's efforts to manage California's fish,
wildlife, and plant resources as well as their habitats.
California State Water Resources Control Board
www.swrcb.ca.gov/
This page is dedicated to how the state of California is achieving its
goals of preserving, enhancing, and restoring the quality of California's
water resources and ensuring their proper allocation and efficient use
to benefit the populations of today and the future.
Santa Rosa, California
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/wc/index.asp
This webpage explains the water conservation efforts of the city of Santa
Rosa, California.
Sonoma County Water Agency
http://www.scwa.ca.gov/
In addition to tips on water conservation, this website provides information
on local water providers and their projects.
Waterwiser
www.waterwiser.org
This website is a clearinghouse of information on water conservation.
It contains an extensive links page with information on education and
technology as well as conservation tips.
American Water Works Association
www.awwa.org
"The authoritative resource for safe drinking water."
GEMI - Global Environmental Management Initiative
www.gemi.org/water/
This link is to an online tool called "Connecting the Drops Toward
Creative Water Strategies: A Water Sustainability Tool." It is intended
for use by business leaders that want to understand how water conservation
could be incorporated into their company's practices. It guides leaders
on how to design and implement water conservation strategies.
Water Environment Federation
www.wef.org
Extensive website in support of the mission of WEF, which is: to deliver
high quality products and services to members and stakeholders, promote
and advance the water quality industry, and benefit society through protection
and enhancement of the global water environment.
California Urban Water Conservation Council
www.cuwcc.org
This website not only describes the efforts of CUWCC members to increase
efficient water use across California, it also offers practical information
on water conservation options.
H20Use
www.h2ouse.org/
This website was established by the California Urban Water Conservation
Council to provide tips for water conservation techniques in the home.
Water - Use it Wisely
www.wateruseitwisely.com
This is the website for an award-winning community awareness campaign
and it includes practical information on water conservation.
California Water Association (CWA)
www.calwaterassn.com/Conservation.htm
This water conservation page details the efforts of the consortium of
water utilities. There are also links to pages dedicated to other water
topics, including water quality, water rates, and legislation.
Association of California Water Agencies
www.acwa.com
This page covers a wide range of information regarding water distribution
in California, including news, legislation, regulatory issues, general
facts, and products.
US Water News
www.uswaternews.com
This frequently updated website provides news stories on the water and
wastewater industries, links to products and conferences, and more.
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Energy Conservation
Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce
www.greensantarosa.com
The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce in Sonoma County, California offers
assistance for businesses interested in taking advantage of the city's
environmental incentives, workshops and seminars, and other information
for those interested in conserving and using limited resources wisely.
US Department of Energy
www.energy.gov/business/index.html
This is the federal government's energy site for businesses. View statistics
and trends, partnership and assistance programs, and energy efficiency
recommendations.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
www.eree.energy.gov/
A branch of the US Department of Energy with information on alternative
energy sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power. "Bringing
you a prosperous future where energy is clean, abundant, reliable and
affordable."
Industrial Technologies Program
www.eree.energy.gov/industry
This clearinghouse offers a "one- stop shop" for questions about
industrial energy efficiency and renewable energy, provided by the U.S.
Department of Energy. Call 1-800-862-2086 from 9am to 8pm Eastern standard
time, Monday through Friday.
EnergyStar
www.energystar.gov/
The EnergyStar program run by the US EPA helps large and small business
perform energy efficient upgrades. Look for the EnergyStar label on certified
energy-efficient products. An incredibly useful site with industry specific
programs. Call 1-888-STAR-YES.
California Small Business
http://www.energystar.gov/smallbiz
The US EPA offers an "energy-intensity calculator" that helps
compare your business energy usage with other small businesses and calculate
possible savings. This EPA site is packed with useful energy-related databases,
information and links for small businesses in the Golden State.
Energy Rebates and Incentives
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/
Locate an energy rebate that's right for your business or home with the
rebates and incentives database provided by the California Energy Commission.
California Air Resources Board
www.arb.ca.gov/ba/ba.htm
Air quality rules and regulations can be difficult to understand, especially
for small businesses. The Air Resources Board offers a program to aid
small businesses with air quality compliance and permits.
California ISO
www.caiso.com/
ISO runs the state's power grid. This site provides comprehensive information
about the power situation in California, including a report on non-operational
generators, tips for energy conservation, and current energy prices.
Flex your Power
www.fypower.org
California's PR campaign for energy conservation. Energy saving tips,
incentives, and information on how you can conserve energy and save money.
Small Business Energy Alliance
www.sbeaonline.com
Uses matching funds from the State of California to help small business
owners save energy and money. SBEA can help small business owners lower
their electric bills with services such as free energy surveys, lighting
retrofits, air conditioning tune-ups, refrigeration tine-ups, and "smart"
thermostats.
PG&E Rebate Programs
http://www.pge.com/rebates/
PG&E provides business rebates for energy efficiency and conservation.
PG&E Business Energy Analysis
http://www.pge.com/bizenergysurvey
One of PG&E's tools for small businesses concerned about energy conservation.
With this analysis tool, your business can "improve productivity
and profit, improve the comfort of customers and employees, and lower
your bill - all at the same time!"
PG&E Pacific Energy Center
www.pge.com/pec
The Pacific Energy Center provides workshops and training in San Francisco,
San Jose and Stockton. Topics include energy efficiency and conservation
in architecture, lighting, HVAC, and whole building performance.
Cool Roof Program
www.coolroofs.org
The Cool Roof Rating Council can help your business reduce electricity
demand and cooling costs. Read about the CK Mondavi Winery's new roof
in the September 2002 issue of the $traight to the Bottom Line newsletter,
available on the BEA publications page.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
http://eetd.lbl.gov
The Berkeley Lab hosts an online clearinghouse of more than 700 links
to energy-efficiency resources.
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Waste Management and Recycling
Goodwill's
eWaste Collection & Recycling Program
Goodwill accepts inoperable and outdated computers, televisions and monitors,
as well as computer printers and parts, CD & DVD players and cellular
telephones.
The
Compost Club
The Compost Club provides consulting for businesses interested in composting.
North
Bay Corporation
North Bay Corporation and Redwood Empire Disposal are proud haulers of
Sonoma County and are doing their part to provide recycling outreach to
the public. Visit their website for recycling resources specific for businesses.
Sonoma
County Recycling Guide (Recycle Now.org)
The complete resource for recycling, waste reduction and composting, and
hazardous waste disposal for residents and businesses in Sonoma County.
This site is sponsored by the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency.
SonoMax
(Sonoma County's Material Exchange)
SonoMax is designed for find reuse and recycling opportunities for materials
typically discarded by local businesses. Visit the site to view materials
currently available and wanted in Sonoma County. SonoMax is a program
of the Sonoma County Waste Management Agency.
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Financial Assistance Information
Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program provides
grants for improving the economic, environmental, and social sustainability
of farming and ranching. Grants are made to farms, universities, nonprofit
organizations, and research/education institutions or agencies. The SARE
program has funded hundred of projects to explore and apply economically
profitable, environmentally sound and socially supporting farming systems.
Business
and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program
The Business and Industrial (B&I) Guaranteed Loan program guarantees loans
by commercial local lenders to businesses in rural areas. The loan guarantee
may be used for business and industrial acquisitions, construction, conversion,
expansion, repair, modernization, or development costs; purchase of equipment,
machinery, or supplies; startup costs and working capital; processing
and marketing facilities; pollution control and abatement; and refinancing
for viable projects, under certain conditions.
Guaranteed
Farm Ownership and Operating Loans
The Farm Service Agency's (FSA) guaranteed farm ownership (GFO) and guaranteed
operating loan (GOL) program are to help family farmers obtain commercial
credit to establish or maintain a family farm or ranch.
Jobs
Through Recycling
EPA's Jobs Through Recycling site provides information resources to establish
or expand recycling collection, processing and manufacturing.
EPA
Funding Sources
This site provides information on EPA grant funding.
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Business Environmental Groups
Redwood
Empire Small Business Development Center
520 Mendocino Ave, #210
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Background: To Provide businesses with consulting, training,
resources and referrals to small businesses
Program Goals:
- General economic development
- Generation of loans
- Creation of jobs
- Retention of jobs
Current Programs: Education: Training of small business owners
Other: Assist with environmental compliance loan programs.
SEE
Green
PO Box 307
Sebastopol, CA 95473
Background:
"See" stands for "social, environmental, and economic."The
SEE Green program promotes businesses that are trying to integrate those
types of values into their business practices. Essenes publishes the SEE
Green Directory which provides consumers with a listing of businesses
moving in that direction.
Program Goals:
- To help consumers find and patronize businesses that have values
they support.
- To promote businesses which sign onto the SEE Green
Current Programs: Publish the SEE Green Directory
Sonoma
County Coordinated CUPA-Business Advisory Counsel
Andy Rogers 789-0262
Background: This is a coordinated effort between four CUPAs in
Sonoma County overseeing six programs
Program Goals:
- Coordination
- Consistency
- Efficiency
Current Programs: Education: Public Meetings
Compliance Assistance: Peer Review Process; Mediation Program.
Sonoma
County Integrated Waste Management
575 Administration Drive 117A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Background: Formed in 1992, the Sonoma County Waste management
Agency (Agency), acting under a Joint Powers Agreement between the nine
cities and the County of Sonoma, is responsible for managing certain programs
and waste streams that could most efficiently and cost effectively be
managed on a regional basis. Each of the County's ten jurisdictions has
one representative, and each has one vote.
**Please note that the Agency is not responsible for solid
waste disposal or for satisfying Federal and State environmental protection
regulations for the landfill and transfer stations. These are part of
the responsibilities of the County of Sonoma, Transportation and Public
Works Department, Integrated Waste Division.
Program Goals: To provide recycling, reuse, education and waste
reduction programs that assist the jurisdictions in Sonoma County in meeting
the goals of the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 (AB
939) of reducing the amount of waste being landfilled by 50% by the year
2000.
Education:
Annual Recycling Guide
Eco-Desk information hotline (565-DESK)
Participation in Government Resources Environmental Education
Network (GREEN)
Sonoma County Green School Contest
Advocacy: Support of Creative Re-Use/North Bay
Research: Research and development of restaurant, large event and
institutional food waste composting and research of special events
recycling.
Recycling Programs:
- Yard debris composting and wood waste processing
- SonoMax (a local materials exchange)
- Home composting and household hazardous waste management (including
household toxics roundup)
- Business hazardous waste collection
Used motor oil, oil filters and antifreeze recycling
Sonoma
Green Business Program
401 College Ave. Suite D
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Background:
Sonoma Green Business Program began in 1992 as a compliance recognition
program for the auto repair industry. Since that time, the program has
expanded to include wineries, hotels, restaurants, offices, retail establishments,
landscapers, remodelers, and printers, in addition to fully incorporating
the Bay Area Regional Green Business Program. The expanded Sonoma Green
Business Program certifies organizations that are in compliance with applicable
environmental regulations and have implemented voluntary efforts in the
areas of water and energy conservation and solid waste reduction and recycling.
In 2007, this program moved to the Sonoma County Economic Development
Board:
Program Goals: To recognize local businesses, which are in compliance
with federal, state, and local environmental requirements and have demonstrated
a commitment to higher environmental performance by implementing voluntary
measures.
Current Programs: Recognition: Certificates awarded to local organizations
performing above environmental compliance.
Sonoma
Land Trust
1122 Sonoma Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Background:
Sonoma Land Trust provides permanent protection of land and its resources,
offering stewardship, education, and advice for the preservation and enhancement
of agricultural, natural, scenic and open lands.
Program Goals:
Increase awareness of open space preservation as essential to economic
vitality and the quality of life in Sonoma County.
Current Programs: Education: Youth conservation education at the
Estero Americano; monitoring workshops.
Recognition: "People Preserve Places" saluting individuals and
business partners; recognition of businesses that support open space preservation.
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Regulatory and Compliance Information Links
California
Air Resources Board
California
Environmental Protection Agency
California
State Government
California
State Senate
National
Agricultural Compliance Center
With the support of the Department of Agriculture, EPA has developed
a National Agricultural Compliance Assistance Center to provide the agricultural
community with access to comprehensive, easy to understand information
about approaches to compliance that are both environmentally protective
and agriculturally sound.
Air Pollution
California
Local Air Districts and Other Air Related Links
Air Pollution Districts - for information on facility permits or local
air pollution laws contact: Northern Sonoma County AQMD 707-433-5911
Hazardous Waste
Department
of Toxic Substances Control
Sonoma County, Hazardous Spills (707) 524-7280
Sonoma County, Hazardous Waste Management Plan (707) 565-6565
Sonoma County, Office of Emergency Services (707) 565-1152
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Pesticides
Department
of Pesticide Regulation
State Agencies:
Department of Pesticide Regulation:
Public Information (916) 445-4300
Federal Agencies:
EPA
National
Pesticides Network
(800) 858-7378
Pesticides Section (415) 744-1087
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Solid Waste
Integrated
Waste Management Board
Sonoma
County Integrated Waste Management
Local Information:
For information on enforcement, facility permits, and for other solid
waste related activities at the local level contact: Sonoma County 707-525-6546
Water
Water
Resources Control Board
State Water Resources Control Board:
Water Quality Division (Discharge requirements, permit or water pollution
control information) (916) 341-5300
Water Rights Division (Water rights, amounts and diversion information)
916-657-2170
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Research Services and Links
Agriculture
Center
for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz
This site includes a twice-yearly newsletter, a series on social issues
in sustainable agriculture, research results, basic center information
and "tip sheets" on organic gardening techniques.
Appropriate
Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA)
ATTRA is the national sustainable farming information center located
in the Ozark Mountains at the University of Arkansas. ATTRA provides information
free-of-charge through telephone requests to those engaged in or serving
commercial agriculture regarding a wide variety of information on sustainable
or alternative agriculture: from horticultural and agronomic crops to
livestock and farming systems.
Farm*A*Syst
The Farm Assessment System (Farm*A*Syst) is a voluntary program that
helps farmers and rural residents protect surface and groundwater by identifying
pollution risks on their properties. Farm*A*Syst materials lead you through
a self-assessment to examine farm and ranch activities, structures, and
possible water contamination; identify potential problems; and map out
strategies which will correct problems and reduce risks.
Emissions
Stonyfield
Farms - Environmental Cookbook
Stonyfield Farm Inc. has created the Environmental Cookbook to give other
companies the "recipe" for calculating their emissions and implement carbon
offset projects. This link is provided via courtesy of the Green Business
Letter.
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