SF Green Business - Toolkit | Green Your Business

Toolkit

The Toolkit section contains several resources to help you green your business. Click on the appropriate conservation area or business sector to learn more.

Additional Resources:

Green Tips for Businesses

Sample Letters to Landlords

Downloadable Signage

Compliance Guides

Implement a Compost Program

Re: Implement a Compost Program

Dear Building Manager:

Our organization is striving to be recognized as a Green Business by the City and County of San Francisco. In an effort to achieve this designation, we are implementing several resource conservation and pollution prevention practices required by the program. By participating in this program, we believe that we are doing our part in helping make San Francisco a more sustainable City.

As a tenant in your building, we have limited control over contracts, maintenance schedules and fixtures, which impact our environmental footprint and ultimately, our recognition as a Green Business. We request your help in providing information relevant to our application as well as your support in the improvement of overall building efficiency. We see this as a wonderful opportunity for the building management to save money through reduced utility costs, while being an environmental champion. We understand that the City will provide technical support and financial incentives as needed to help the building management implement necessary practices. Specifically, we request your help with implementing a compost program.

The Green Business Program requires that all recognized green businesses must be a leader in waste diversion and implement a compost program. In San Francisco the compost program is not only for food but also accommodates many paper-based materials, such as paper coffee cups, to-go containers, napkins, and paper towels. Buildings participating in this program are eligible for savings above their normal recycling discount, up to 75% of disposal costs and are on the cutting edge of the commercial property community. The Department of the Environment offers free waste stream analysis, training, and technical assistance for implementing new compost programs (and improving existing recycling or waste programs) and is happy to help your property reduce the amount of material it sends to landfill.

We request that you implement a compost program and do your part to help divert waste from diminishing landfill space. We will

Sincerely,

PS. You can find more information about the SF Green Business Program here: SFGreenBusiness.org

Low-Toxic Cleaning Products

Re: Low-Toxic Cleaning Products

Dear Building Manager:

Our organization is striving to be recognized as a Green Business by the City and County of San Francisco. In an effort to achieve this designation, we are implementing several resource conservation and pollution prevention practices required by the program. By participating in this program, we are helping to make San Francisco a more sustainable City.

As a tenant in your building, we have limited control over contracts, maintenance schedules, and fixtures, which impact our environmental footprint and ultimately, our recognition as a Green Business. Therefore, we request your help in providing information relevant to our application as well as your support for improving the health and well being of your tenants. We also see this as a wonderful opportunity for the building management to be seen as an environmental leader. Specifically, we request your assistance in choosing low-toxic cleaning products.

The SF Green Business program requires recognized businesses to use low-toxic cleaning products. Cleaning products often contain hazardous ingredients that pose significant health and environmental concerns. Custodial staff and employees, who spend time indoors, are particularly susceptible to the health risks posed by these products. Health problems associated with cleaning chemicals include reproductive disorders, organ damage, permanent eye damage, asthma and other respiratory ailments, headaches, dizziness, allergies and fatigue. In addition, these chemicals significantly impact water and indoor air quality, presenting further health and environmental concerns.

On behalf of the health and safety of your tenants, we urge you to consider using less-toxic cleaning products in your building. When choosing low-toxic alternatives, please choose products listed on one of the following resources for environmentally preferable purchasing:

SF Approved Janitorial Cleaning Products
Responsible Purchasing Network
Green Seal

If you have any questions, we urge you to contact San Francisco's Green Business Program. The program provides assistance to help businesses choose low-toxic products. We thank you in advance for considering the environment and the health of your tenants and staff when choosing products to keep your building clean. We will contact you next week to follow up on our request.

Sincerely,

PS. You can find more information about the SF Green Business Program here: www.SFgreenbiz.org

What to do before the Onsite Assessment:

Find any spare light bulbs you have, so auditors don't need to climb ladders to examine light fixtures.
Find out about who is responsible for the heating and cooling system in the building.
Find out what your business' policy is (and whether it is implemented) regarding power management of computers (talk to the IT staff).
Arrange to have those responsible for heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) and other maintenance available for questions during the assessment.

What to expect from the Onsite Assessment:

Staff from SF Environment's Energy group will go over the "Energy" portion of the checklist with you and ask you to furnish supporting documentation for all measures "checked off" on your checklist. Your business will pass the audit if the minimum number of required measures is already in place. If not, SFGB staff will give you recommendations on how to implement other measures to meet GB criteria. If there are opportunities for energy efficiency improvements, SF Environment Staff may direct you to the San Francisco Energy Watch program, which would entitle you to a free, in-depth audit of facility energy use, and rebates for upgrading to more energy efficient measures.

What to do before the Onsite Assessment:

Note how and where your business uses water (i.e., Toilet flushing, dishwashing, showers, ice machines, cooling towers, irrigation, etc.)
Determine flow rates on all fixtures and devices.
If you pay your own water bill, take inventory of your water history and past plumbing maintenance, noting the average monthly cost and usage per person.
If you are a tenant of the building, discuss your goals with the owners/property managers. Be prepared to meet with the manager and building engineer to discuss factors affecting the property's water usage.
Review the Water Conservation portion of the checklist and be prepared to show supporting documentation for all the measures "checked off."
Compile and review any maintenance reports from outside agencies that service water-related process equipment (e.g., tunnel washers, icemakers, cooling towers).

What to expect from the Onsite Assessment:

Green Business staff will go over the water conservation portion of the checklist with you and walk through the property to verify items checked off on your checklist. This may require speaking with other building personnel. Your business will pass the onsite assessment only if the minimum number of required measures is already in place. If not, Green Business staff will give you recommendations to help implement measures to meet San Francisco Green Business standards.