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The Business Environmental Resource Center has announced the winners of the 2009 Sacramento Sustainable Business of the Year Awards.
The Sustainability Awards are being given to the top environmentally conscious businesses whose practices demonstrate an outstanding commitment to enhancing sustainability.
Click this link to view more photos
This years outstanding awards winners are:
1. Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
2. Los Rios Community College District & SMUD
3. Campbell Soup Company LLC & SMUD
4. Paragary Restaurant Group
5. Kikkoman
6. Mechanics Bank
7. Radisson Hotel Sacramento
8. Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant ( SRWTP) Biogas Enhancement Pilot Project. The award winning team participating in this project includes:
>>Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD)
>>Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
>>Brown & Caldwell
>>Sacramento Rendering Company
>>Dr Pepper Snapple Group
>>The Pepsi Bottling Group
9. Caltrans Division of Rail, Amtrak California, Capital Corridor Commuter Rail Locomotive Emission Upgrade Project. The award winning team participating in this project includes:
>>California Department of Transportation, Division of Rail
>>Amtrak (National Rail Passenger Corp.)
>>Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority
>>California Air Resources Board (CARB)
>>Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD)
>>Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
>>Electro Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD)
>>U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
10. Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) E85 Program. The award winning team participating in this project includes:
>>SMAQMD
>>DMC
>>Scotties Gas Station
>>Interstate Oil Company
>>Flyers (Nella Oil)
>>Pearson Fuels
>>Propel
>>Green Wave Fuel
>>City of Sacramento, Department of General Services, Fleet Management
>>Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
These outstanding businesses will be honored at the Sustainable Business Awards & Green Expo on Thursday, September 24 at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Rubicon Room, 6301 S. St., Sacramento, 95817
The event includes a Sustainability EXPO with representatives from state and local agencies, as well as exhibitors from environmental and pollution prevention firms.
This FREE event is made possible through the sponsorship of the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the Sacramento Business Journal, the Regional Water Authority, the Water Forum, Allied Waste Services, and the Business Environmental Resource Center.
Contact the Sustainable Business Program at (916)649-0225 or visit http://SustainableSacramento.com for more information.
The accomplishments of the winners are as follows:
1. Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) For outstanding support to local community on conserving resources and reducing energy consumption. SMUDs assistance to businesses in developing energy conservation strategies is evident in their involvement with four of this years award winners. SMUDs assistance programs include:
Onsite Energy Audits evaluate energy usage, recommend energy efficiency improvements, project dollar savings and payback periods.
OurGreenCommunity.org a social networking site to help improve quality of life. A place for area residents, groups and businesses to share ideas about reducing the impact of carbon emissions
SolarShares First program of its kind, and the largest in the nation. Innovative effort to support renewable energy. Participants "buy into" a local solar farm.
Greenergyฎ - Nation's fifth-largest green pricing program, certified by the Green-e Renewable Electricity Certification Program.
2. Los Rios Community College District & SMUD
Upgraded pneumatic control systems at their Sacramento City, Cosumnes River, and American River College campuses with state of the art direct digital controls, variable speed drives, and carbon dioxide sensors. This resulted in
Reduction in energy consumption by over 3,214,000 kWh per year
Annual savings of approximately $289,000.
Annual emissions reduction of over 3.5 million pounds of CO2 associated with this project is equivalent to removing over 300 passenger cars from the road per year.
3. Campbell Soup Company LLC & SMUD: For exemplary efforts in conserving resources and supporting research in alternative energy generation.
Heat Recovery Project - Captures thermal energy from spent cooker cooling water to produce product tempered water for use in new sterilizers. It is expected energy savings of 75,929 Million BTU/year.
Lighting Project - Switch the plant over to more efficient, fluorescent fixtures, lamps, and sensors and installed occupancy sensors to turn lights off in certain areas. Expected to save over 4 Million kwh/year.
Plantwide Recycling Program - Extended recycling program last fall to separate out recyclable materials from plant trash, including cardboard, hard plastics, soft plastics, and aluminum. Previously, only cardboard was recycled, and program increased cardboard recycling. New project now recycles up to 10 tons of plastic in per month and almost 100 tons of cardboard per month.
Anaerobic Digestion Project - Provided food waste to UC Davis and Onsite Power Systems (OPS) from July 2008 to May 2009 for use and study of an anaerobic digestion system.
4. Paragary Restaurant Group Noetworthy commitment to the sustainability program by implementing measures and certifying all of the corporate locations:
Paragarys Bar and Oven Sacramento
Centro Cocina Mexicana Sacramento
Blue Cue Sacramento
Cosmo Caf้ Sacramento
Caf้ Bernardo Sacramento, Capital Ave.
Esquire Grill Sacramento
Caf้ Bernardo Davis
Monkey Bar Sacramento
Caf้ Bernardo / R15 Sacramento
Spataro Restaurant - Sacramento
5. Kikkoman First Sacramento area business to earn Platinum Certification. This is achieved by implementing the first set of sustainability measures, and then by implementing additional sets of measures for silver, gold, and platinum
Worked with City of Folsom Water Quality Division to complete a water audit of all manufacturing operations and landscaping of its 50-acre campus
Engaged Sacramento Municipal Utility District in completing an Energy Use Assessment of its facility
Installed secure area for bicycle parking to encourage employees to ride bikes to work
Instituted program to purchase paper products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
Installed regenerative heating process to reduce energy consumption
6. Mechanics Bank Is recognized as being a sustainability leader in the Sacramento Region.
All 5 of their regional offices In Sacramento, Placer, and El Dorado counties are certified sustainable.
Roseville
El Dorado Hills
Elk Grove
Sacramento
Rocklin
Banking staff are encouraging & assisting their customers and clients to become certified Sustainable Businesses
7. Radisson Hotel Sacramento The first hotel in the region to earn sustainable certification in all five media areas!
Installed Ozone oxidation system on washing machines, producing significant reductions in water use and sewer discharges, by allowing elimination of one rinse cycle
Provides lockers and showers for employees who walk or bicycle to work
Installed advanced thermostat controls to set guest rooms to default temperature when unoccupied
Discontinued use of styrofoam products in restaurant
Installed low-flow toilets and urinals throughout the facility
Maintains spring fed lake in center of 18 acre complex with large grassy area that provides habitat for beneficial birds and insects.
8. Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant ( SRWTP) Biogas Enhancement Pilot Project - The Pilot Project evaluated the feasibility of using other waste materials, such as fats, oils, grease, and food processing waste, to inject them directly into an anaerobic digester to generate biogas, enhancing the production of biogas (methane gas) at the SRWTP.
This project Increased biogas used to enhance onsite renewable energy co-generation and determined that:
Potential to increase the production of biogas, from 1,400 standard cubic feet per minute up to 2,200 enough energy power approximately 1,000 to 3,000 area homes.
Improve the handling, processing, and disposal of waste materials.
Reduce the amount of waste materials that enter the sewer collection system, which could cause sewer blockages or overflows.
Project Team Members:
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD)
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Brown & Caldwell
Sacramento Rendering Company
Dr Pepper Snapple Group
The Pepsi Bottling Group
9. Caltrans Division of Rail Amtrak California (Capital Corridor Commuter Rail) Locomotive Emission Upgrade Project
Cal Trans Capital Corridor route, run by Amtrak under contract to the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), is a partnership of six local transit agencies in the eight county service area. The Capital Corridor route extends from Sacramento to the Bay area covering more than 400 miles of heavy rail intercity train service and eliminates 559 million miles worth of highway travel.
Fifteen (15) - 3,200 horse power locomotives manufactured by GM Electro Motive Division (EMD) were upgraded by EMD fromTier 0 (the dirtiest of engines) to a much cleaner Tier 2 emission level, reducing both smog forming NOx emissions by 42% and toxic particulate emissions by 45%.
Since the Capitol Corridor route passes through both the SMAQMD and BAAQMD air districts, both air districts agreed that emission reduction from these engines would be very valuable and therefore funded this first ever passenger locomotive engine upgrade with assistance from the California Air Resources Baard and the US EPA.
The following are members of the Capital Corridor partnership:
California Department of Transportation, Division of Rail
Amtrak (National Rail Passenger Corp.)
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority
California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD)
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
Electro Motive Diesel, Inc. (EMD)
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
10. Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) E85 Program:
E85 is an alcohol fuel mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, by volume. Ethanol is derived from crops (bioethanol) is a biofuel. Ethanol is a renewable resource.
The use of E85 results in reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use for each gallon burned, compared to the emissions and energy use for the gasoline it replaces.
SMAQMD worked with 7 different fuel providers to implement E85 ethanol fuel at 23 retail sites, 4 card lock sites at locations in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano counties.
The 7 providers who installed systems in 27 retail and limited access card lock sites formed a consortium to jointly notify the public about the availability of E85 in our region.
The 7 Providers and SMAQMD designed a postcard to notify consumers of E85 locations.
SMAQMD also worked with two fleet sites, SMUD and City of Sacramento, to implement E85 at their municipal pumps.
With the completion of this infrastructure, the Sacramento region now has the highest concentration of alternative fuel ethanol sites in California.
Partners in this project include:
SMAQMD
DMC
Scotties Gas Station
Interstate Oil Company
Flyers (Nella Oil)
Pearson Fuels
Propel
Green Wave Fuel
Also included in this project are two public agencies who also installed E85 dispensing equipment for their private fleets.
City of Sacramento, Department of General Services, Fleet Management
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Posted: Oct 1, 2009 |
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CoolCalifornia.org is packed with quick, easy-to-use and reliable tools to help your small business save money and reduce its impact on the environment and climate change.
CoolCalifornia.org provides all Californians - individuals, small businesses, local government, youth, community organizations, and schools - with the tools they need to take action to protect the climate and keep California cool.
Founding partners include the California Air Resources Board and other State government agencies, universities, and Next10, a nonprofit organization.
Posted: Sep 11, 2009 |
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Every year, the accomplishments of all certified Sacramento Sustainable Businesses are reviewed, and awards are given to the top environmentally conscious businesses whose practices demonstrate an outstanding commitment to enhancing sustainability.
The event includes a Sustainability EXPO with representatives from state and local agencies, as well as exhibitors from environmental and pollution prevention firms.
The awards will be hosted by Leonard E. Robinson, the Federal Liaison for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). Leonard has over thirty (30) years experience in the environmental management field. He also hosts the "Going Green With EnviroBro Radio Show," the first "green" radio show on an urban radio station in the nation, dedicated to providing its listeners with the environmentally friendly information that will affect them, their families, and their pocketbooks. Hes on every Thursday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Sacramento Radio Station KDEE 97.7FM, and streaming world-wide on the Internet at: http://www.kdeefm.org.
Keynote Speaker Matt Mahood is President & CEO of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, the Sacramento region's oldest, largest and most influential business organization and the area's only chamber of commerce with a regional scope. The Sacramento Metro Chamber has 2,400 members serving the business and economic development needs of Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.
The event begins at 8:00 am with a breakfast mixer in the exhibitor area, the awards ceremony from 9:00 am - 10:30 am, and regulatory update workshops from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.
After the awards, there will be regulatory update workshops.
10:30 11:30 - New Air Quality Regulations: Auto Body and Refinishing Shops Permit and paperwork assistance. Presented by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.
10:30 11:30 - AB 32 Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) - An overview of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Scoping Plan for achieving the mandated GHG emission reductions and the compliance resources developed for small businesses. Presented by Kyra S. Naumoff, PhD, California Air Resources Board (ARB)
10:30 11:00 How to become a certified Sacramento Sustainable Business presented by BERC
11:30 12:30 - Sustainability Solutions for Commercial Building Owners - Russell Garcia, LEED AP, Executive Director of the Green Cabinet
11:30 12:30 - Overview of Californias Climate Protection Program - Presented by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
This event is made possible through the sponsorship of the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the Regional Water Authority, the Water Forum, Allied Waste Services, and the Sacramento Business Journal.
Register on line at this link
Please call 916-649-0225 for further information.
Posted: Aug 18, 2009 |
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The Sacramento Sustainability Forum is a monthly venue for connecting businesses, non-profits, government and interested citizens in the Sacramento region in order to promote sustainability, share insights and resources, and support movement towards a more sustainable future.
Guest speaker for August 20th is David Mogavero, Senior Principal at Mogavero Notestine Associates.
The register for this event, click this link: 
Posted: Jul 6, 2009 |
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You can get Sacramento Sustainable Business daily updates on Twitter
Posted: May 5, 2009 |
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Located within a mile from downtown Sacramento, the Radisson Hotel sits on 18 acres of green dynamic grounds. In the center of the hotel, there is a giant lake and natural spring that serves not only as a beautiful setting for a hotel resort, but also as a natural ecosystem for numerous native species and has been observed to reduce pests through the number of birds the lake attracts. Their water conservation efforts include installation of low-flow toilets and urinals throughout the facility, efficient landscaping practices, and a soon to be implemented oxidation system for their laundry services. They offer incentives for alternative transportation for their employees, store their electronic waste in what they call the bone yard until large e-waste drop offs are performed, and they have retrofitted all of their lighting to higher efficiency units. Radisson Sacramento has a strong recycling program in place, purchases cleaning supplies in concentrated formulas and donates their left over shampoos and soaps to local shelters. Their HVAC system is on a rigorous maintenance schedule which has led to significant reductions in monthly gas bills due to these efforts. We congratulate the Radisson Sacramento Hotel for their enthusiastic, environmentally friendly efforts.
The Sacramento Sustainable Business Program (SSBP) promotes businesses that voluntarily take efforts to make their business practices more sustainable. The benefits of being a Sacramento Sustainable Business are;
Free assistance in making changes to your business
Free advertising and promotion
Cost savings through improved efficiency, energy and water conservation, and waste reduction
Community recognition of your voluntary efforts to improve our environment
The opportunity to gain recognition in the SSBP quarterly newsletter
The opportunity to gain recognition through the SSBP annual awards ceremony
The SSBP is sponsored by the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD), Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), Regional Water Authority (RWA), Sacramento Water Forum, and the Business Environmental Resource Center (BERC). 150 Sacramento area businesses are currently participating in the program.
Posted: May 5, 2009 |
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Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. You can read tweets from the Sacramento Sustainable Business program on this link
Posted: May 15, 2009 |
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Nichoel Farris and American Home Sales in Auburn are showcased on CBS TV 13 in Auburn, California.
You can watch news journalist Julissa Ortiz as she tours the Home of the Future at the Spring Home Show in Auburn, California, and interviews American Home Sales owner Nichoel Farris as she discusses green features such as including recycled beer bottles in the walls and cork on the floor of the home.
Click here to watch the video
American Home Sales
1450 Grass Valley Highway
Auburn, CA 95603
Ph: 530.885.4555
Fx: 530.885.6659
American Home Sales
CA 95603 530-885-4555 http://www.ecomanufacturedhomes.com
Posted: May 29, 2009 |
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Businesses and residents can save water and money this summer by preventing over watering of landscaping this spring/summer and considering a water efficiency check-up.
The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities asks its water customers to decrease their water use by 10 percent this summer. Businesses and residents are asked to limit outdoor watering to certain days to conserve water. Click here for more information.
Odd/Even Watering Schedule Reminder
* If your home or business address ends in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), please limit outdoor watering to Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Saturdays.
* If your address ends in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), please limit outdoor watering to Wednesdays, Fridays and/or Sundays.
* Please refrain from any outdoor watering on Mondays and remember, water only when necessary.
* To avoid the peak energy hours and minimize evaporation, water outdoors between midnight and 10:00 a.m. Avoid peak water use hours of 5 to 8 p.m.
Did you know that all water services throughout the greater Sacramento area offer free water efficiency check-ups for your home or business? They will check your irrigation system, inspect for interior and exterior water leaks and offer a custom irrigation schedule and water-saving tips specific to your property. While it is not mandatory, the program goal of the Sacramento County Water Agency is that 15 percent of its customers will implement the recommendations to increase water efficiency.
Click here for more water saving tips from the Sacramento County Department of Water Resources.
Depending on the area, businesses and residents are also eligible for a variety of rebates and incentive programs, including rebates for water-efficient washing machines, high efficient toilets and commercial landscape irrigation components such as controllers and soil moisture sensors.
To schedule an appointment for a water efficiency check-up:
* City of Sacramento Department of Utilties customers can call (916) 264-5500.
* Sacramento County Water Agency customers can call (916) 772-2226.
* All other customers may call the Regional Water Authority's "Be Water Smart" Hotline 1-888-WTR-TIPS (888-987-8477).
Posted: Apr 22, 2009 |
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