You're now a SF certified green business and you're ready to do business with San Francisco's largest consumer of goods and services...the City and County of San Francisco.   First and foremost, if you are a small business,  you need to register as a SF LBE (Local Business Entity) to be eligible to do business with the City.  It's a fairly painless process and there are wonderful people at the SF Human Rights Commission that can help you with the application.   Although there is not a green purchasing program in place, it's inevitable, as the City positions itself as a leader in the green movement.  Read This Posty »

I had the privilege of attending the Mayor's Earth Day breakfast earlier this week.  The event keeps growing each year.  That's progress.  The Mayor gave an eloquent and impassioned, no notes, twenty minute address (he was scheduled for only 10 minutes).  He didn't mention green business development and utilization at all but...heck...I'm working on it!   Before his address, I went up to the Mayor to say hi and he did refer to me as "Mr. Green Office Supplies"....hey, it's a good start...I take pride in that moniker.   Back to the breakfast, sitting at the front tables were the  recipients of the 2007 Goldman Environmental Prize who came from Read This Posty »

Thank you Actlocallysf.org for last week recognizing me for my blogging efforts.  I am grateful for the opportunity and optimistically hope that some of the ideas/actions advocated become reality. On the subject of heroes and with Earth Day coming up, I'd like to share with you my environmental "heroes."  They are the people who roll their sleeves every day for a better environment.  No fanfare, no recognition...they just do it. At the two recycling centers here in the City, at one, recycling workers sort bottles, cans and paper. At the other, recycling workers sort construction debris--wood, metal and sheet rock.  It's tough, dirty work critical to Read This Posty »

I stutter.  Sometimes very little.  Other times it's more pronounced.  Often times I am not even aware of my stuttering or lack of verbal fluidity.  Maybe that's why I enjoy writing....except for an occasional writers block...I never struggle to type out my words.   The reason why I wrote this passage in a two part series is because I wanted to go to SFGTV and view the broadcast of the Small Business Commission meeting.    This Commission is very near and dear to me.   I served as President of the San Francisco Small Business Network for three years and chaired the SF Chamber Read This Posty »

As a self professed evangelist of green business development and utilization here in San Francisco, I am always seeking opportunities to advocate my advocacy.   I saw that the SF Small Business Commission had on their agenda 6. SMALL BUSINESS AND CITY PROCUREMENT PRACTICES: Presentation, discussion and possible action on Small Business and City Procurement Practices.  Presentation by Naomi Kelley, City Purchaser, and Virginia Harmon, Human Rights Commission Director (Discussion/Possible Action Item) I thought, wow, these are two people that would be key to implementing a green purchasing policy in the City.  I'm going to the meeting and share some of the thoughts and principles that I've outlined Read This Posty »

Where can I shop green? By choosing Green Businesses you can help reduce waste and protect our environment because Green Businesses employ pollution prevention practices, minimize waste, and conserve energy, water and other resources. I'd like to thank the SF Department of the Environment  for greatly improving their "where can I shop green" listings.   It is now broken down to subcategories  Retail and Supplies, Services, Restaurants & Bars & Caterers, Hotels and Entertainment & Recreation.   Check it out.  Nice job SFDOE!   http://www.sfenvironment.com/greenbiz/where_retail.htm Clifford Waldeck Read This Posty »

I like reading Actlocallysf, it's a website with lots of interesting information and, thanks to the diligent work of Brian Purchia and others, it is continually kept fresh and updated.  Yes, I must confess, I find myself perusing the Pet Peeves section on a regular basis.  I recently took a look at See for Yourself: Gavin Newsom keeps track – and measures the progress and results – of every one of his policy pledges. Take a look at the Mayor's Accountability Index.   Over 90 pages of hundreds of policy issues and updates.  I was excited as I poured over the listings.  Impressive, a lot of Read This Posty »

The term "green business" is a relatively new concept slowly gaining momentum over the past ten years.  Long before there was a  SF Department of the Environment, small businesses were practicing environmental stewardship based upon a simple reality--economic necessity.   For years, due to limited resources ( translation "money" ) small businesses have been recycling and reusing packaging material, turning off lights when not in use,  using blank sides of printed paper as scratch/note paper and saving water by installing low flush toilets.  These businesses were saving green by going green.   Today, the concept has now been refined into a program founded by Read This Posty »

Kudos to Ann Bartz of BALLE for her wonderful piece on "Support Local Businesses for a Green Economy." Thank you Ann for providing San Francisco with a clear vision for a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future. Neighborhood retail businesses are a key factor why people choose San Francisco as a place to live, work or visit. With more green businesses, the healthlier, more interesting the City becomes and much less like "Anywhere USA."   Yet here in San Francisco we have "formula retail legislation" to keep the chains out but no legislation that helps keep small, independent retailers in. The City is Read This Posty »

  ...without the Supervisor even mentioning green business!   At a recent SF Small Business Commission meeting, Supervisor Ed Jew spoke of his proposed legislation that would greatly expand the opportunities for small businesses to do business with the City. Green business advocates should support the Supervisor's efforts.  Most green businesses are small businesses as well.  Adoption of Supervisor Jew's plan would result in a significant boost of opportunity for San Francisco green businesses.   Supervisor Jew cites San Francisco's small businesses comprise 99% of all San Francisco businesses.  Over 100,000 small businesses employ 55% of our private sector workforce, yet the City of San Francisco does less Read This Posty »

Mayor Newsom's administration is doing a fantastic job of planting more trees in the City.   As my friend Pat Murphy recently wrote in the San Francisco Sentinel: San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom led the (Arbor Day) celebration noting the City now has planted 16,034 trees citywide since 2004 when the mayor set a goal of 20,000 new trees by 2010.  Today's Magnolia planting surpasses City aim of 5,000 trees planted this year by 683, Newsom said. "Once again, we have shown that San Francisco is committed to meeting its ambitious environmental goals," said Mayor Newsom.    Read This Posty »

The Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) recognizes California businesses for their outstanding waste reduction efforts. The program is administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board who recently announced the latest Award recipients.   The Board is a not only the place where the "green" rubber hits the road, the road is made of recycled tires.   The Board promotes a Zero Waste California in partnership with local government, industry, and the public. This means managing the estimated 88 million tons of waste generated each year by reducing waste whenever possible, promoting the management of all materials to their highest and best use, regulating the handling, Read This Posty »

Green business entrepreneurs have a tough road to hoe.  Although they might receive accolades and respect from environmentally minded groups and organizations, the most vital hurdle of "making a buck" is especially challenging.      Without access to public/private grants or tax deductible contributions, for profit green business entrepreneurs must bootstrap their efforts with their own personal funds, second mortgages on their homes or from personally guaranteed bank loans. Due to federal regulations, banks have to be, by nature, very conservative and cautious with their lending.    For startup green companies it is even more difficult, as my friend Chris Olson, COO of Read This Posty »

San Francisco has a Commission on the Environment.  The Commission sets policy for the SF Dept. of the Environment, and advises the Mayor and Board of Supervisors on environmental matters.   This Commission is often the introductory, first stop of many of the enacted policies and decisions that have made San Francisco one of the leading environmental cities in the world.   Unfortunately, the Commission meeting proceedings are only available to those who attend the meetings.     These meetings need to be televised/webcast on SFGTV like 21 other City Commissions, Councils and Boards.    I look forward to the Commission on the Environment becoming No. 22.    It Read This Posty »

San Francisco's Green Business Program is housed and staffed as part of the SF Department of the Environment.  However, if one goes to the  www.sfenvironment.com home page, there are over 50 links but none to the green business program.  In fact, to save the reader time, it took me a while to find it, you can find the green business program by clicking on "About Us" on the top bar.  Then click on "Green Business", a very dated green biz page appears, then you have to click on "Where can I shop green?" and there's your list.....that's three clicks from Read This Posty »

This week hundreds of innovators and investors from around the world will convene in San Francisco for a meeting of the best and the brightest of the emerging field of "cleantech."   The concept of "clean" technologies embraces a diverse range of products, services, and processes that are inherently designed to provide superior performance at lower costs, greatly reduce or eliminate environmental impacts and, in doing so, improve the quality of life. Clean technologies span many industries, from alternative forms of energy generation to water purification to materials-efficient production techniques.  It is changing the economic landscape and spawning a host of new Read This Posty »

Dear Mayor Newsom -- You have the opportunity to lead the country in certified green business utilization.  By requiring any person/company who receives a contract from the City and County of San Francisco to name seven San Francisco certified green businesses with which they do business, the County encourages the development of green businesses with no extra cost to the taxpayers.   With the City possibly being the largest employer and purchaser of goods and services in San Francisco, the County can lead by example and the City's larger businesses may follow suit as well.  Behind emissions control and building design, the green business certification process is our Read This Posty »