Marin County Green Business Program
Here's how to join the ranks of officially green businesses in Marin...
About the program
Marin green business directory
Resources for going green
Request an
application
Scroll down the Chamber's Green Committee
web page and see the Chamber members that made a commitment to
sustainability through the County's Green Business Program.
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More Ways to Green Up Your Business
Every quarter the Chamber's Green Committee brings you GreenUp!, with valuable tips to
help you conserve resources and your budget.
Click here for the GreenUp! archives.
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A proud GreenUp! sponsor
Visit Kaiser's
Green Resource Center
to find out how the company
is bringing green eating,
building and purchasing
innovations to health care.
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Sustainable Industries Economic Forum
Networking and presentation by keynote speaker
Cameron Sinclair, Co-founder, Architecture for Humanity
St. Regis Hotel
125 3rd Street
San Francisco
9/16/10, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Going 4 Green
A green festival in
Jack London Square
Oakland
9/25 - 9/26/10
West Coast Green
Green Innovation Conference
Fort Mason Center
San Francisco
9/29 - 10/1/10
Volunteer at the event for low or no-cost attendance.
Sustainable Marin
10/10 Climate Challenge
Information coming soon on reducing your carbon footprint by 10% annually until 2020
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A proud GreenUp! sponsor
Find information about
rebates, incentives and
energy-saving resources for
your business on the
PG&E website.
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San Rafael Chamber Business Showcase
The Showcase will be held at
Embassy
Suites
101 McInnis Parkway
San Rafael
9/15/10, 3:30-7:30
Plan to attend or contact Gina
to promote your business as a
sponsor or exhibitor:
(415)
454-4163 X104
Visit the Chamber booth and pick up your free bookmark, sponsored
by Green Committee member Ad-Infin-Item.
Learn more about the event here.
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Become a GreenUp!
Sponsor
Your ad here will reach
nearly 900 Chamber
members and influential
business people -- for as
low as $175. Opportunities
are limited. So contact
editor Bonnie Ayers
Namkung now for
scheduling or more
information.
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"We
never know the worth of water till the well is dry."
~ Thomas Fuller
Gnomologia,
1732
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Water and Money-Saving Tips from the Chamber's Green Committee
In this issue, discover cost-effective green practices that can set your business apart. Read on to learn:
- how to get a free water audit
- ways to choose drought-resistant, low maintenance landscaping
- how to get your business green certified by
Marin County - where to find local green events
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MMWD Can Help You CAP Your Water Use
 It may have been a wet spring here in Marin, but water conservation is always in season. At the Marin Municipal Water District, ongoing conservation is the only way we can ensure an adequate water supply in future years, when the weather may not be so wet. Because MMWD relies on your cooperation to help meet conservation goals, the district provides tools to help make saving water easy.
Get a CAP water check-up
Your small business can get MMWD's free water use efficiency survey through the Conservation Assistance Program (CAP). One of MMWD's trained, certified technicians will visit your business to help you identify ways to reduce your water use and your water bill.
The water conservation expert will:
- check for leaks
- evaluate the efficiency of plumbing fixtures and appliances
- inspect your irrigation system if you have one
- provide resources for a customized irrigation schedule, if needed
You'll also receive a personalized water use history and learn how to read your meter to monitor water consumption. MMWD also offers CAP surveys for large businesses, large-landscape irrigation systems, parks, schools and common area landscapes, as well as residences, so spread the word.
For more information or to schedule a free appointment, call MMWD's Water Conservation Department at 945-1523. |
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3 Ways Your Small Business Can Save Water and Money
Even as a SOHO (small office/home office) you can go green and save money by saving water. Here are three tips for water and money savings that every company can pursue:
1) Consume less, conserve more
- install low flow faucets
- install low flow / dual flush / waterless toilets
- limit water evaporation by watering outdoors in the early mornings
2) Use graywaterRecycle your lightly used water and repurpose it for irrigating your outdoor trees and plants. Using graywater lets you focus on conservation with no high infrastructure cost. Simple graywater collection systems let you capture water from areas such as showers or washing machines.
3) Collect rainwater Rainwater tanks or barrels capture water runoff from roofs or gutters. You can use this water for irrigation, flushing toilets, washing cars and even for drinking. To purchase a dirt-cheap container for rainwater just look on craigslist.org for used food barrels.
Ready to start? First look for the "low-hanging fruit," the best investments for your particular business.
A comprehensive water audit by a green plumber can help you find the highest savings. The money you invest in an audit can pay off in just one or two years.
Not only will you save money, but by conserving and recycling water you will reduce your carbon footprint (the amount of waste output). And you'll be a part of the solution to help save one of our most precious resources - water! |
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Choose Drought-Resistant Landscaping for Beauty and Water Savings
by Ginny Kuhel, Gardeners' Guild
You can save water and create hardy, beautiful landscaping by choosing drought-resistant and native plants. This step can also help you change your company's cultural practices around water.
Before you plant, consider these six tips:
- Select California natives or plants adapted to a Mediterranean climate
- Group plants by water requirements and irrigate according to need, not on a fixed schedule
- Minimize or eliminate lawn area
- Install efficient irrigation
- Preserve moisture by adding mulch to garden beds
- Install a rainwater collection system for watering
Perennials in place of annual plantings
Perennials are easy to maintain, usually require less water and produce less waste. The Bay Friendly Coalition provides a list of plants suited for the Bay Area.
Lantana Montevidensis is a flowering plant that makes a nice ground cover. It is easy to grow and looks great throughout the year.
 No Mow Fescue is an environmentally friendly, low-maintenance alternative to a traditional lawn. It is a very rich green and has a soft, carpet feel.
Beware of invasive plants
Invasive plants, such as pampas grass, spread rapidly and outcompete native foliage. These quick-growing, aggressive plants also degrade wildlife and increase the fuel load, which poses a wildfire danger. Replace pampass grass with a drought-tolerant option such as Lindheimer's Muhly Grass.
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