Green Business Links

Green business is becoming business as usual in Dublin. Operating your company efficiently saves money, period. Whether you call it clean, lean or green, efficient business practices keep your company current, competitive, and in environmental compliance. Business practices that save waste and resources also improve employee morale, meet community and customer expectations, and increase your chances of attracting positive press coverage. Smart businesses in Dublin know that green business is good business.

The green business information below is provided to get you started. You'll find a short description of local business programs and links to more information. Use this information as a checklist, or pick the services and organizations that you're most interested in today. 

Bay Area Green Business Program

The Alameda County Green Business Program provides hands-on support and recognition to local businesses that operate in an environmentally responsible way. This voluntary program helps small and medium sized busiensses conserve  resources, prevent pollution, minimizing waste, and encourages businesses to comply with all environmental regulations. Visit www.greenbiz.ca.gov or contact Pamela Evans at (510) 567-6770 or pamela.evans@acgov.org.

StopWaste Business Partnership

The StopWaste Business Partnership helps medium and large businesses reduce and prevent waste. They provide a wide spectrum of services and free resources from recycling program consulting, coordination with your waste hauler, grant money for recycling and compost bins, and guides, posters and more. The StopWaste Business Partnership has all of the business resources you need to save money by reducing waste. Download their free business resources online at www.StopWastePartnership.org/FreeResources. Visit their business-friendly site at www.StopWastePartnership.Org, email Partnership@StopWaste.Org or call (510) 891-6500 and ask for the StopWaste Business Partnership team.

Commercial Recycling and Collection of Food Waste & Plant Debris

Dublin’s commercial recycling program is free to all commercial customers that subscribe to garbage service. Food waste and plant debris pick up (also called organics) is available as well at a discounted price. Businesses can receive a free waste audit with recommendations for increased recycling, which will save you money. Contact Amador Valley Industries (AVI) at (877) 479-9545 or www.amadorvalleyindustries.com.

• Plant Debris – Separating your landscaping waste helps your business comply with Alameda County's plant debris landfill ban. www.LandfillBan.org
• Construction and Demolition (C&D) – C&D waste may be removed by haulers approved by the city.
• City Solid Waste and Recycling

City of Dublin Environmental Programs and Resources

Access Dublin's many environmental resources for energy, water, hazardous materials, recycling and more at http://www.ci.dublin.ca.us/Departments.cfm?PL=env

Buy Green Products

Protect the health of staff, customers and community by purchasing environmentally preferable products (EPP). Consider product attributes such as durability, recycled content, efficient use of packaging materials, toxicity and more. Local agency StopWaste.Org has free EPP guides and factsheets available on topics such as janitorial products, paper and non-paper products, remanufactured toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries, biofuels and compostable bioplastic products. Visit www.StopWaste.Org/EPP or email Partnership@StopWaste.Org

Business Energy Efficiency

Pacific Gas & Electric Company provides energy conservation tips, complete lists of energy efficiency rebates currently available, financing assistance, solar and self-generation information, and free online and on-site assistance to help reduce energy bills.

Visit these pages for more information:

• Energy Savings and Rebates - www.pge.com/mybusiness/energysavingsrebates/
• What You Can Do - www.pge.com/mybusiness/environment/whatyoucando/

To contact PG&E’s commercial customer service center call 1-800-468-4743 or email PG&E via the online form at www.pge.com/mybusiness/customerservice/contact/

Dublin is a California FIRST Community

Dublin is a California FIRST Community, where property owners may pay back the cost of energy improvements over time, rather than a single up-front cost. Commercial and residential property owners may receive financing based on the value of the property and their timely payment of property taxes, rather than a personal credit score. Find out more at www.californiafirst.org/index.html

Have questions regarding the State's energy programs? Contact California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Representative Zenaida Tapawan-Conway at 415-703-2624 or ZTC@cpuc.ca.gov

Commercial Water Conservation

Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) offers businesses in its service area free water saving tips. With a Stage 1 water shortage in effect, conserving water at your business will help Dublin meet our 20% water conservation goal. Learn about rebates on commercial water saving devices at www.dsrsd.com/waterconservation/rebates.html

Do you operate a restaurant? DSRSD distributes signs to restaurants to help explain water conservation. Table signs for water-upon-request and attractive static-cling stickers for restroom mirrors are available free of charge. Contact the Public Information Office at (925) 875-2282. Looking for other ways to save? Dishwashing in a typical restaurant accounts for two-thirds of total water consumption. Fill dishwasher racks to maximum capacity, hand scrape leftover food into the trash rather than rinsing, and install efficient pre-rinse nozzles.

Commercial Green Building

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Northern California Chapter is the on-the-ground force for green building and the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system in Alameda County. The USGBC provides LEED workshops as well as green building tours, networking and educational events. LEED is an internationally recognized certification system that measures how well a building performs across all the metrics of energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Visit www.usgbc-ncc.org/ for more information.

Bay-Friendly Landscaping

Bay-Friendly Landscaping is a whole systems approach to the design, construction and maintenance of the landscape in order to support the integrity of the San Francisco Bay watershed. Bay-Friendly landscape professionals can be a part of the environmental solution, while having a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Companies can find certified Bay-Friendly landscaping professionals who use practices which can save money by reducing the need for irrigation, fertilizer, green waste disposal and pest control. Visit www.BayFriendly.org.

Public Transportation, Ride Sharing & Bicycling

Find extensive information about local public transportation including the Transit Trip Planner, RideShare Program, Bike Mapper, transit apps for the iPhone and more. Visit www.511.org or dial 511 (free).

Spare the Air

Businesses can sign up with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Spare the Air Employer Program for Spare the Air advisories for days on which the Air Quality Index is forecasted to be unhealthy. This program provides employer outreach tools for spreading the word to tenants/employees. Visit www.SparetheAir.org.