Why Get Certified
People often ask about the benefits of certification and wonder why they should get certified. What better way to answer those questions than to let the businesses speak for themselves?
"We are a progressive and dynamic dental practice and this philosophy applies to all facets so it only made sense that we move and become a Green Certified. Our actions help the environment and all of us will benefit, and because we lead the way, we help impact and influence others." ~Rodney J. Chew, DDS – Chew Dental Group
"The Little Mud Puddle's leads by example as a green certified school. We teach our children at a young age about recycling, water conservation and reuse of items, instead of adding to landfill disposal and wasting. The green environmental concepts established at our school enable our children to adopt friendly environmental habits which will continue into their adulthood." ~Darlene J., The Little Mud Puddles Learning Center, Inc.
"Bjork Construction obtained Green Business Certification so that we could be a better advocate for the community and our clients. Doing so helps us do our part to create a better environment and world.” ~Alyssa G., Bjork Construction
"As a business owner I believe that I have a responsibility to make as little of a negative impact on my community and the environment as possible. I have a duty to lead by example. I also practice this in my personal life, so there was no question about how to handle my business. When I decided to start a small business I knew it had to be Green. My advice to anyone considering obtaining a Green Certification is that there is no reason not to! There are only positive results that come from it. And they are lasting." ~Tara E., Tara's Organic Ice Cream
"Berkwood Hedge School was the first school in Alameda County to earn a Green Business certification in 2005. Care of our planet is an integral element woven throughout our social justice curriculum. As a school we had already incorporated many green practices into our day-to-day operations. We welcomed the guidance of the Green Business Program to help further improve our practices.
At this time of environmental crisis, the certification process is an opportunity to reflect on your business’s impact on our environment. The application process helps you assess your practices and determine what practices you can alter to reduce your impact." ~Debbie L., Berkwood Hedge School
"Our mission at Sarana is to provide affordable access to acupuncture and healing to the community. We believe that being environmentally responsible and reducing our footprint protects the health and sustainability of our community. Yes, the process does take some work, but our community is worth it." ~Gia L., Sarana Community Acupuncture
"As an institution that teaches chiropractic and provides health care, Life Chiropractic College West in Hayward has a deep interest in public health. Not only are we dedicated to creating the best environment for learning, we are taking steps to be part of the bigger picture and reduce our footprint. One can’t care for the body without caring for the environment, so becoming a certified California Green Business is a natural extension of our vision to create a brighter future for humanity.
Life West’s re-certification as a green business was helped along by the Alameda County coordinator, whose expertise, resources and problem-solving helped the college during the recertification process.
The Alameda County Green Business program offers an incredible opportunity for businesses by providing a framework, deadlines, and support to actually achieve Green Business Certification.
Life West hopes to inspire others to step up and embrace the role we all have to play in the stewardship of our planet." ~Kerri D., Life Chiropractic College West
"Climate Disruption is real. The Earth is resilient but we are sliding into a disaster. Every individual must commit to reducing the carbon footprint - precycle, recycle, reduce and reuse in all aspects of daily life.
As a next step, A1 Sun, Inc. encourages homeowners to choose rooftop solar green their energy footprint. We did it as a family, and now each A1 Sun member of our family business applies best practices at work. We thank each client, “The world and future generations thank you for going solar!
Individual choices add up to a movement. Power for the People and the Planet!" ~Kathleen G., A1 Sun, Inc.
"Getting certified as a green business is a rewarding experience but it’s not easy. Working with the Consultant and the agencies that do the inspections can be daunting and there will most likely be a list of things to improve at your business; however, I used it as a learning experience that I can use in my business and in life for years to come. The team is not grading you on what you do right and wrong, but they are there to give you expert advise on how to “clean up and green up” your business operations. Ask a lot of questions and lean on them to introduce you to invaluable resources for keeping your business updated and environment friendly. While a little monetary outlay may be necessary to make some of the updates, the savings far outweigh the initial costs. Clients love knowing businesses are doing their part to make this a better community and world so using this certification in your marketing program is worth it’s weight in gold. " ~Debbie P., Blue Heron Catering
"We obtained our green business certification to represent the healthcare industry and lead the effort in green dentistry. It is important to our team to live and work consciously, and think about how to reduce our environmental impact in such a high waste industry.
My advice to businesses is to take it one step at a time - commit to making small changes to knock down the task list, and before you know it, you'll have reached your sustainability goals and obtained great local recognition for doing it!" ~Paulina S., Lake Merritt Dental
"Temple Sinai has been a part of the Oakland community for over 100 years. The Green Certification helped us see the true impact our building has on the local community and California at large. The mandatory elements of the program forced us to take care of the critical items with the biggest impact, while the optional items gave us some flexibility to complete the tasks that we knew we could get done. The comprehensive coverage (from energy to water to waste) brought in different stakeholders in our community which was great for spreading the word generally. Finally, our certification means we can impose requirements on contractors and users of our facility, helping them to think more carefully about their own operations." ~Richard H., Temple Sinai
"We’ve been participating in the Bay Area-Alameda County Green Business Program since 2011, initially as a tenant in a downtown Oakland high rise, and currently as the owner of a smaller office building in the Grand Lake neighborhood of Oakland. As an environmental law firm, we understand the importance of sustainable and eco-friendly practices in the work place, not only for our employees, but for our tenants and clients as well.” ~Suzanne G., Wactor & Wick