Programs Information

The Green Business Program (GBP) assists, certifies, recognizes and promotes businesses (primarily small and medium - sized businesses), government agencies, cities, counties and non-profit organizations that volunteer to operate more environmentally responsibly. To be certified "green", participants must be in compliance with all regulations and meet program standards for conserving resources, preventing pollution and minimizing waste. The Program offers motivated businesses and agencies an easy-to-use framework for improving environmental performance.

The Program provides one point of contact – the Coordinator. Applicants must demonstrate regulatory compliance and implement a specified number of practices to meet the Program standards. Checklists provide menus of practices from which applicants select to achieve certification and plan the continuous improvement they must demonstrate to be recertified every three years. In exchange for certification, participants earn the right to use the Program logo and receive free onsite compliance assistance, access to retrofit rebates and other incentives, and public recognition. Besides helping the environment, Program participation improves the "bottom line".

The Green Business Program (GBP) began in 1996 with the Bay Area Green Business Program (BAGBP), developed by the Association of Bay Area Governments in partnership with local agencies, Cal EPA Department of Toxic Substances Control, US EPA and the business community. Initially, the Program certified auto repair shops in two counties. Now offered in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties, the Program has certified over 300 businesses in 18 industries. San Francisco expects to join early in 2004. Arizona and Hawaii are offering the Program and Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Diego and Sacramento counties are preparing to launch soon.

The US EPA, with Cal EPA/DTSC approval, has named EFC9 the Region 9 Green Business Program Coordinator. In this capacity, EFC9 is assisting US EPA, Cal EPA/DTSC and the BAGBP in their GBP expansion efforts.

Towards this end, EFC9 is providing the following information. Where indicated, the information can be downloaded or viewed on the internet, otherwise, it will be provided upon request (contact EFC9).

Checklists for:

Association for Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Documents

Alameda County GBP Documents

Contra Costa County GBP Documents

Marin County GBP Document

Monterey Bay Area GBP Document

Green Business Program Training - EFC9 in conjunction with staff from ABAG, the Bay Area Green Business Programs, US EPA and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality organized and held a session entitled Green Business Program Training (Power Point Presentation) presented at the 2003 Western Regional Pollution Prevention Conference in Tahoe. Topics included:

 

 

Links to Programs with
Certification and Recognition