Earth-friendly companies
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The Green 15
It’s here: OC METRO’s annual list of local companies that are listening to their environmental conscience.
Compiled by Amy Bentley and OC METRO staffPublished: January 01, 2009
Melting icecaps. Toxic rivers. Belching smokestacks. Massive, ever-growing landfills. Make no mistake about it: Earth, our only home, is under siege. Unless we change our ways and take steps to ease the burden on our environment, our future – indeed, our very existence – could be seriously compromised.
Fortunately, a number of forward-thinking companies right here in Orange County are taking bold steps to help Mother Earth. They’re changing our views, by example, of what it really means to be eco-conscious.
Take skate shoe and apparel manufacturer Sole Technology, for example. The company sets the bar for eco-conscious companies. And others are close behind, as you’ll soon read.
We hope that our annual “Green 15,” which profiles local businesses that are helping our environment, will compel you to think about the importance of a cleaner, brighter future. Maybe we can follow their lead. After all, there’s a lot at stake.
St. Mark Presbyterian Church
The St. Mark Presbyterian Church complex in Newport Beach was designed to fit in seamlessly with its environment, not just help save it.
The church – designed by Hyndman & Hyndman Architecture and constructed by T.B. Penick & Sons – was recently named The Greenest New Church in America by Audubon International. It was recognized for its construction, which was designed for a low building-to-land ratio; its 530 trees; a layout that retains local wildlife corridors; and the adoption of LEED credits in the use of local and regional manufactured materials. (“LEED certification” means that a building or group of buildings is found to be environmentally friendly, under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council.) Furthermore, the church used waterless urinals in the men’s restrooms and mahogany pews from a regenerating tree farm, not from native tree stands.
Another distinctive feature is the Nature Center, where visitors can learn more about St. Mark’s commitment to environmental stewardship, and the trees and plants native to the site and adjacent Canyon Nature Preserve.
St. Mark is the first church in the United States to enroll in the Audubon International Signature Program, which designates a project as a low-impact development.
Forrest & Fauna
Brother-sister duo Forrest and Fauna Taylor of Orange County are wholesale manufacturers of the clothing company Forrest & Fauna, a small business that’s making a big environmental statement.
The pair launched the Anaheim-based business last September. Almost everything about this enterprise is green, from production to shipping. All the dyes and colorants used on Forrest & Fauna apparel are from certified, sustainably grown and harvested plant sources, and are non-toxic. The Taylors also recycle as many dye vats as possible.
Forrest & Fauna prints everything with 100 percent plant-based silkscreen inks and uses recycled paper printed with soy inks for all presswork. Every garment is made with 100 percent certified organic cotton and chemical-free fibers. Apparel includes women’s tops, men’s shirts, tank tops and hoodies that have zippers made from recycled plastic.
Forrest & Fauna joined the nonprofit organization 1% For The Planet, which inspires businesses to contribute 1 percent of their gross sales to environmental groups. The company’s clothing will soon be available at the Sports Club/LA gym in Irvine, among other O.C. locations.
Acquity Group
Acquity Group, which develops digital strategies for businesses, incorporates green practices into its everyday work environment across its six offices around the country, including its Irvine location.
The company gives its employees travel mugs to discourage the use of disposable cups. Employees who must use disposable cups are encouraged to donate to a “guilt box,” and the proceeds go to the World Wildlife Fund or other eco-friendly causes.
The business uses 100 percent recycled paper towels, LEED-recommended printer paper, and recyclable ink and toner cartridges. Posters in the offices encourage environmentally friendly practices.
And Acquity enlists Green Teams that are led by one or two people from each office. Altogether, the teams encompass about 80 percent of the company’s work force and serve as the model for Acquity Group’s environmental efforts.
Not only is the planet benefiting from these practices, Acquity Group has benefited, too, saving approximately $9,000 per year from these efforts. It serves as proof that going green doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, it can even save money. And Acquity reps say their efforts help attract new employees who want to work for an environmentally sensitive company.
Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center
Hospitals are usually known more for the health care services they offer than their green features, but the people at Kaiser Permanente Orange County think both are important.
Kaiser Permanente opened its new Irvine hospital last year with many green features. The 434,000-square-foot, $254 million medical center is based on a new template that represents the next generation of Kaiser Permanente facilities. For example, the hospital has recycled safety film on all carpet backing, and the rubber floors don’t require the use of harsh cleaners. Cafeteria trays are made from recycled materials, and all X-ray scans are electronic, making the hospital mercury-free. In addition, a farmer’s market is held each Friday, providing locally grown food to staff.
Kaiser Permanente facilities across the country have received numerous awards for their efforts to reduce waste and prevent pollution. Last spring, Kaiser received Practice Greenhealth’s System for Change Award, which recognizes health systems that have worked to gather environmental data, set goals and encourage eco-friendly practices.
RICOH
For one of Orange County’s largest employers, being environmentally friendly is a way of doing business every day. Since 2001, RICOH Electronics Inc. in Orange County has produced zero waste to landfill. Much of this environmental success, which saved the company $2 million in 2007, can largely be attributed to the company’s corporate philosophy of the “5 Rs” – refuse, return, recycle, reuse and reduce – and the ingenuity of RICOH employees.
Every year, RICOH challenges and encourages employees to develop new and better ways to reduce waste – from reusing office paper to refusing unneeded packaging. As a result, employees implemented more than 1,000 improvements in 2007, resulting in reductions of 674 metric tons of waste, 928 metric tons of CO2 emissions, and 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity. Creativity helps, too; RICOH gives the extra Styrofoam from shipping materials to companies like beanbag manufacturers that can use it in their products.
RICOH has won numerous environmental awards, including the 2007 Environmental Award for Outstanding Achievement, given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX; 2007 Recycler of the Year, by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful; the EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track recognition for 2002-2007; and California’s Waste Reduction Award, WRAP of the Year, for 1994 and 1995, and 1999 through 2007.
The Road Less Traveled
Located in Santa Ana, the Road Less Traveled describes itself on its Web site as “an environmentally & human conscious store dedicated to bringing alternatives to every aspect of life.” The store not only offers organic and eco-friendly products, it strives for fairness through business practices that include investigating the companies it works with to ensure that customers receive honest products.
Every product in this certified green business is made from recycled, reused, surplus or discarded materials; made from a sustainable resource or materials that either take little from the planet or are easily renewable; and free of toxic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides or has organic origins. The store also makes certain each product was created using fair and equal labor practices, cooperatively produced or purchased directly from artisans.
The Road Less Traveled recycles more than 75 percent of its waste, including packaging; buys produce, flowers and food from local Orange County farmers; uses only recycled content paper with safe printing methods; donates to eco-friendly organizations; participates in urban-beautification projects; has a native butterfly garden; and uses only energy-efficient lighting. The business also creates workshops to educate the public about sustainable and healthy living.
The Irvine Co.
The Irvine Co. – master planners, community builders and real estate investors – is waging a war on water waste in landscaping. Seeking to gain control over outdoor use after seeing large amounts wasted due to over-watering, company officials sought ways to better control rising water and landscaping costs while improving environmental stewardship.
The Irvine Co. notes that over-watering contributes to problems such as moldy plants, mushy lawns and wasted water running down sidewalks and streets. The company worked with HydroPoint, a provider of selected WeatherTRAK controllers, as studies show that smart water-management technology systems dramatically reduce consumption and urban runoff pollution, a byproduct of water waste. The Irvine Co. began replacing ordinary irrigation sprinklers with HydroPoint’s WeatherTRAK smart controllers and saw immediate savings in water and money, as outdoor water consumption declined by 30 percent at monitored sites.
Today, the Irvine Co.’s property portfolio represents one of the largest installations of smart controllers in the United States, with 173 units operating at commercial, retail and residential sites in the counties of Orange, San Diego and Santa Clara.
Earthpack
An innovative recycled-packaging company based in Irvine, Earthpack supplies bags, boxes, tissue paper and other items to environmentally conscious retailers such as Quiksilver, Vans, Volcom and Jack’s Surfboards, as well as national parks such as Yellowstone. The company was founded in 1989 by Dave Bock.
Earthpack’s office building is environmentally friendly, as well. It’s construction included recyclable materials such as wood, stainless steel, aluminum and glass. Recycling bins for plastic, paper and trash can be found throughout the office. And by partnering with a local document-shredding company and participating in paper-saving initiatives, Earthpack estimates it saved 25 trees in 2007. Saving on energy and gas, the company uses a fully electric Nissan forklift in the warehouse and a Toyota Prius hybrid as the company car. Newly implemented solar window coverings reduce heat and the need for air conditioning.
Earthpack also supports other environmental organizations such as the Quiksilver Foundation, the Surfrider Foundation, SIMA Environmental, the Ocean Institute, the Alaska Wilderness League and Surf Aid International.
Kean Coffee
Martin and Karen Varese Diedrich opened Kean Coffee in Newport Beach in December 2005 with the goal of being a small business example of environmental responsibility on a larger scale.
Kean Coffee recycles all plastic milk jugs, cardboard, glass, newspapers and other paper waste. Spent coffee grounds are given to customers to use as soil additives in their gardens. Regular coffeehouse customers are encouraged to keep their favorite mugs at the store to cut down on paper waste.
The company uses biodegradable packaging for its coffee and recycled paper cup sleeves; the cold drink cups are made of a biodegradable plastic alternative made from corn. And Kean purchases organic, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffees from small farms that use green practices.
Martin Diedrich has been a keynote speaker and panel participant at many green and sustainable-business events, and Kean Coffee donates to environmental causes and organizations such as the Surfrider Foundation, Back Bay Cleanup Day, the Earth Resources Foundation, Growers First and the Rainforest Alliance. The company was recognized in 2007 as a zero-waste business by the Earth Resources Foundation.
Borrego Solar
Established in 1980, Borrego Solar Systems is one of the nation’s leading designers and installers of commercial, residential and public sector grid-connected solar electric power systems.
Borrego Solar’s Santa Ana office is an integral part of the company’s overall success. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of carbon emissions offset by Borrego’s solar installations, the company recycles as much waste as possible. This includes everything from the packaging used on the solar panels, to scrap metal and used wires, to paper and plastic. Borrego also educates its employees through product training courses, seminars and certifications to help them go green.
If Borrego needs to cut any trees during an installation, it plants 25 for every one destroyed. When Borrego energy consultants go to a site for an evaluation, they drive a Toyota Prius hybrid. And many Santa Ana office employees often work from home, reducing carbon dioxide emissions produced by commuting.
Company COO Chris Anderson recently moved to New Hampshire to jump-start Borrego’s New England office, where he built a state-of-the-art, self-sufficient green home.
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Farmers & Merchants Bank, which has several offices throughout Orange County, recently expanded its green footprint in a unique way: by opening a 60,000-square-foot, LEED Certified Customer Care Center in Seal Beach. Daniel Walker, bank president and chairman of the board, oversaw the expansion with environmental accountability on the forefront of his mind.
Walker worked with Interior Office Solutions (with locations in Irvine and El Segundo) to institute strategic green measures. The new Customer Care building has modular walls that can be moved and restructured, allowing for a convertible and more flexible workspace. The movable walls cut down on landfill waste due to the elimination of workspace reconstruction.
New TecCrete-raised floors allow for under-floor air management. Instead of heating or cooling the air in the building, it is released from the floor, managing temperatures through swirl diffusers that use much less energy than traditional heating and cooling systems.
Office materials such as paper come from managed forests, and corporate printers use soy ink, which helps reduce air pollution by minimizing toxic emissions. The bank also employs a comprehensive recycling program.
Toshiba America Business Solutions
Irvine-based Toshiba America Business Solutions partnered last fall with Close the Loop, a world-class recycler of imaging consumables, to create a zero-waste-to-landfill recycling program specifically for the company. This environmental-sustainability initiative includes the recycling of all collected Toshiba imaging consumables, which are reused for raw materials and finished products.
Close the Loop’s customized collection program for Toshiba provides the company with recyclable collection boxes and supplies, as well as freight, transportation and recycling services for its toner bottles, laser cartridges, drum units, toner bags and other bulk imaging consumables.
Traditionally difficult to process, imaging supplies require specialized equipment to recycle them. Close the Loop has patented four different processes for recycling imaging supplies, resulting in a zero-waste solution – a real plus for companies like Toshiba that produce mass quantities of such imaging products but don’t want them ending up in landfills.
Toshiba says its partnership with Close the Loop furthers the company’s commitment toward serving as responsible stewards of the environment by focusing on reducing, reusing and recycling.
Equity Thru Energy
Tom Debin and Steve Nold are blazing a trail in the field of energy conservation in Orange County. With three decades of combined experience, they launched their company, Equity Thru Energy (ETE), to provide cutting-edge products and services that lower gas and electricity usage. Debin, an energy expert, and current board member and past president of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, and Nold, a software specialist, developed state-of-the-art technology to reduce energy consumption for restaurants, hotels and multi-unit properties.
Officially launching two energy management programs in 2008, the company is on the forefront of instituting energy-efficient programs in Orange County. With restaurants wasting tremendous amounts of energy, Equity Thru Energy’s M2M controls program matches heating and air conditioning usage with the facility’s operational needs, optimizing energy use and preventing waste. The Smart Controls program lowers the consumption of natural gas by reducing the run time of pool and spa heaters by setting time-temperature schedules for each day of the week, and by factoring in natural heating from the sun.
Both of the firm’s energy management programs wirelessly transmit system data to computers where the system’s performance can be monitored. It also notifies customers of improper system conditions, which are a major cause of energy waste.
Disneyland Resort
Mickey Mouse and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride have made Disneyland famous worldwide, but relatively few people are aware of efforts made by the resort and the Walt Disney Co. to be environmentally conscious. They have instituted green practices in many areas, including energy, water and waste reduction and conservation; recycling; air quality improvement; and community education.
All five trains on the Disneyland Railroad use B98 biodiesel fuel (a 98 percent soybean oil and 2 percent diesel fuel mixture). Irrigation controllers at the resort are tied to on-site weather reports. Theatrical lighting for entertainment shows use energy-efficient LED bulbs. The new Finding Nemo Submarine ride uses zero-emission vehicles with an electric drive system. And a resort-wide recycling program benefits the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence assistance dog program.
Most common areas and guest rooms at the three hotels are outfitted with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting. And the Environmental Protection Agency has certified the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa as a Green Lodging Facility.
In addition, the Disney Commuter Assistance Program helps some 5,000 employees carpool, vanpool, walk, bike or take the bus or train to work, taking an estimated 2,200 or more cars off the road each month.
John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport is among the major airports across the country that are cutting energy costs, reducing pollution and implementing green initiatives.
It recycles nearly half of the refuse from aircraft and the terminal complex. And it uses waterless urinals, ultra-low-flow toilets, and automatic faucets and flushing sensors in the restrooms. The airport further monitors its irrigation system for efficiency and has implemented a “dry wash” plan to reduce the amount of water used to wash aircraft.
Air quality is always an issue for an airport. Most airlines at JWA have fully implemented electric charging stations for their ground service equipment and airport vehicles. In addition, carriers use low-emission electric vehicles and support equipment on the airport ramp. Commercial aircraft use diesel-powered preconditioned air units, along with ground-based electrical power, in place of onboard auxiliary power units, which run on jet fuel. Fleet vehicles such as taxis are required to operate on clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) or other cleaner-burning fuel alternatives; JWA’s taxi provider, Orange County Yellow Cab, uses 100 percent CNG.
An airport-wide Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan is strictly enforced. The airport has a zero-tolerance policy for discharge into storm drains, among many other anti-pollution measures.
SPECIAL FOCUS: SOLE TECHNOLOGY
Leading the way to green
Lake Forest-based Sole Technology sets the bar for businesses with its environmentally conscious philosophy.
By Tina Borgatta
When Pierre Senizergues traveled to China to tour manufacturing facilities, he was less concerned about touring inside the plants and more interested in checking out what was behind the buildings – in the dumpsters.
“I was in the back, sticking my head in the trash cans. I wanted to see what they were throwing away – whether or not they recycled.”
Senizergues’ Lake Forest-based company, Sole Technology, is arguably today’s hottest action sports shoe and apparel maker, producing the etnies, Emerica, Altamont, ThirtyTwo and éS brands. But the manufacturing processes require massive amounts of water and energy. Toxic substances such as petroleum cement are often used. Then there’s the packaging, which can add waste to landfills.
Yet Senizergues is on a mission to make Sole Technology a “carbon-neutral” operation by 2020, and he expects the companies he partners with to share his commitment to conservation.
“I always ask companies, ‘What’s your environmental program?’”
He looks for companies that use hydroelectric power, instead of coal, and employ recycling efforts. And the trucks they drive had better use alternative fuel.
Senizergues talks the talk and walks the walk. His building is powered by the sun – 100 percent. Waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets conserve more than 325,000 gallons of water per year. Many of the walls within the 75,000-square-foot facility are made from recycled materials. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow sunlight to flood the interior of the building.
“The perception is that it costs more to do these things, but there’s an economy of scale,” Senizergues says.
The company also switched from using petroleum-based cement to water-based cement in its shoes. All paper, boxes, and clothing and shoe tags are made of recycled materials. And you’ll only find eco-sensitive landscaping decorating the exterior of the building.
Sole employees’ Blue Bin Brigade organizes competitions among departments to see who produces the least amount of waste. And, in 2007, Senizergues hired the first-ever environmental affairs manager.
The company currently recycles 57 percent of its waste, with a goal of hitting 70 percent by next year. The national average is 30 percent; the state’s is 50 percent.
In 2007, Senizergues was recognized with a Corporate Environmental Leadership Award from Global Green USA.
But that doesn’t matter a whole lot to Senizergues. “I’m doing all this,” he says, “because it’s just the right thing to do.”
Click here for tips to help YOU go green.
Watch OC METRO's video: How "green" is YOUR company?
Pierre Senizergues, founder of eco-frendly Sole Technology and a champion of everything green, offers his 10 most helpful tips.
Editor’s note
Throughout this story, OCMETRO saved ink by using Ecofont, a print font developed by SPRANQ. The company claims that at normal font sizes, Ecofont will save 20 percent of the ink used by incorporating tiny holes in the font body while maintaining top-notch print quality. ecofont.eu
Readers Feedback:
You should look at the waste recyclers like Rainbow in Huntington Beach. They are the cutting edge of recycling. They are still viewed as trash haulers but they are much more.
Comment at 1/19/2009
Conservation efforts are mainly hampered by lack of funding. One way to help them is through donations, especially of cars that they really need for their work. You may donate a car by visiting our site "www.donatecarusa.com"
We link you to over 40 charities.
Comment at 8/31/2009
Wonderful expalnatoin of facts available here.
Comment at 11/6/2011
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Melting icecaps. Toxic rivers. Belching smokestacks. Massive, ever-growing landfills. Make no mistake about it: Earth, our only home, is under siege. Unless we change our ways and take steps to ease the burden on our environment, our future – indeed, our very existence – could be seriously compromised. Fortunately, a number of forward-thinking companies right here in Orange County are taking bold steps to help Mother Earth. They’re changing our views, by example, of what it really means to be eco-conscious. Take skate shoe and apparel manufacturer Sole Technology, for example. The company sets the bar for eco-conscious companies. And others are close behind, as you’ll soon read. We hope that our annual “Green 15,” which profiles local businesses that are helping our environment, will compel you to think about the importance of a cleaner, brighter future. Maybe we can follow their lead. After all, there’s a lot at stake. St. Mark Presbyterian ChurchThe St. Mark Presbyterian Church complex in Newport Beach was designed to fit in seamlessly with its environment, not just help save it. The church – designed by Hyndman & Hyndman Architecture and constructed by T.B. Penick & Sons – was recently named The Greenest New Church in America by Audubon International. It was recognized for its construction, which was designed for a low building-to-land ratio; its 530 trees; a layout that retains local wildlife corridors; and the adoption of LEED credits in the use of local and regional manufactured materials. (“LEED certification” means that a building or group of buildings is found to be environmentally friendly, under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council.) Furthermore, the church used waterless urinals in the men’s restrooms and mahogany pews from a regenerating tree farm, not from native tree stands. Another distinctive feature is the Nature Center, where visitors can learn more about St. Mark’s commitment to environmental stewardship, and the trees and plants native to the site and adjacent Canyon Nature Preserve. St. Mark is the first church in the United States to enroll in the Audubon International Signature Program, which designates a project as a low-impact development. Forrest & FaunaBrother-sister duo Forrest and Fauna Taylor of Orange County are wholesale manufacturers of the clothing company Forrest & Fauna, a small business that’s making a big environmental statement. The pair launched the Anaheim-based business last September. Almost everything about this enterprise is green, from production to shipping. All the dyes and colorants used on Forrest & Fauna apparel are from certified, sustainably grown and harvested plant sources, and are non-toxic. The Taylors also recycle as many dye vats as possible. Forrest & Fauna prints everything with 100 percent plant-based silkscreen inks and uses recycled paper printed with soy inks for all presswork. Every garment is made with 100 percent certified organic cotton and chemical-free fibers. Apparel includes women’s tops, men’s shirts, tank tops and hoodies that have zippers made from recycled plastic. Forrest & Fauna joined the nonprofit organization 1% For The Planet, which inspires businesses to contribute 1 percent of their gross sales to environmental groups. The company’s clothing will soon be available at the Sports Club/LA gym in Irvine, among other O.C. locations. Acquity GroupAcquity Group, which develops digital strategies for businesses, incorporates green practices into its everyday work environment across its six offices around the country, including its Irvine location. The company gives its employees travel mugs to discourage the use of disposable cups. Employees who must use disposable cups are encouraged to donate to a “guilt box,” and the proceeds go to the World Wildlife Fund or other eco-friendly causes. The business uses 100 percent recycled paper towels, LEED-recommended printer paper, and recyclable ink and toner cartridges. Posters in the offices encourage environmentally friendly practices. And Acquity enlists Green Teams that are led by one or two people from each office. Altogether, the teams encompass about 80 percent of the company’s work force and serve as the model for Acquity Group’s environmental efforts. Not only is the planet benefiting from these practices, Acquity Group has benefited, too, saving approximately $9,000 per year from these efforts. It serves as proof that going green doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, it can even save money. And Acquity reps say their efforts help attract new employees who want to work for an environmentally sensitive company. Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center Hospitals are usually known more for the health care services they offer than their green features, but the people at Kaiser Permanente Orange County think both are important. Kaiser Permanente opened its new Irvine hospital last year with many green features. The 434,000-square-foot, $254 million medical center is based on a new template that represents the next generation of Kaiser Permanente facilities. For example, the hospital has recycled safety film on all carpet backing, and the rubber floors don’t require the use of harsh cleaners. Cafeteria trays are made from recycled materials, and all X-ray scans are electronic, making the hospital mercury-free. In addition, a farmer’s market is held each Friday, providing locally grown food to staff. Kaiser Permanente facilities across the country have received numerous awards for their efforts to reduce waste and prevent pollution. Last spring, Kaiser received Practice Greenhealth’s System for Change Award, which recognizes health systems that have worked to gather environmental data, set goals and encourage eco-friendly practices. RICOHFor one of Orange County’s largest employers, being environmentally friendly is a way of doing business every day. Since 2001, RICOH Electronics Inc. in Orange County has produced zero waste to landfill. Much of this environmental success, which saved the company $2 million in 2007, can largely be attributed to the company’s corporate philosophy of the “5 Rs” – refuse, return, recycle, reuse and reduce – and the ingenuity of RICOH employees. Every year, RICOH challenges and encourages employees to develop new and better ways to reduce waste – from reusing office paper to refusing unneeded packaging. As a result, employees implemented more than 1,000 improvements in 2007, resulting in reductions of 674 metric tons of waste, 928 metric tons of CO2 emissions, and 1.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity. Creativity helps, too; RICOH gives the extra Styrofoam from shipping materials to companies like beanbag manufacturers that can use it in their products. RICOH has won numerous environmental awards, including the 2007 Environmental Award for Outstanding Achievement, given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX; 2007 Recycler of the Year, by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful; the EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track recognition for 2002-2007; and California’s Waste Reduction Award, WRAP of the Year, for 1994 and 1995, and 1999 through 2007. The Road Less TraveledLocated in Santa Ana, the Road Less Traveled describes itself on its Web site as “an environmentally & human conscious store dedicated to bringing alternatives to every aspect of life.” The store not only offers organic and eco-friendly products, it strives for fairness through business practices that include investigating the companies it works with to ensure that customers receive honest products. Every product in this certified green business is made from recycled, reused, surplus or discarded materials; made from a sustainable resource or materials that either take little from the planet or are easily renewable; and free of toxic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides or has organic origins. The store also makes certain each product was created using fair and equal labor practices, cooperatively produced or purchased directly from artisans. The Road Less Traveled recycles more than 75 percent of its waste, including packaging; buys produce, flowers and food from local Orange County farmers; uses only recycled content paper with safe printing methods; donates to eco-friendly organizations; participates in urban-beautification projects; has a native butterfly garden; and uses only energy-efficient lighting. The business also creates workshops to educate the public about sustainable and healthy living. The Irvine Co.The Irvine Co. – master planners, community builders and real estate investors – is waging a war on water waste in landscaping. Seeking to gain control over outdoor use after seeing large amounts wasted due to over-watering, company officials sought ways to better control rising water and landscaping costs while improving environmental stewardship. The Irvine Co. notes that over-watering contributes to problems such as moldy plants, mushy lawns and wasted water running down sidewalks and streets. The company worked with HydroPoint, a provider of selected WeatherTRAK controllers, as studies show that smart water-management technology systems dramatically reduce consumption and urban runoff pollution, a byproduct of water waste. The Irvine Co. began replacing ordinary irrigation sprinklers with HydroPoint’s WeatherTRAK smart controllers and saw immediate savings in water and money, as outdoor water consumption declined by 30 percent at monitored sites. Today, the Irvine Co.’s property portfolio represents one of the largest installations of smart controllers in the United States, with 173 units operating at commercial, retail and residential sites in the counties of Orange, San Diego and Santa Clara. EarthpackAn innovative recycled-packaging company based in Irvine, Earthpack supplies bags, boxes, tissue paper and other items to environmentally conscious retailers such as Quiksilver, Vans, Volcom and Jack’s Surfboards, as well as national parks such as Yellowstone. The company was founded in 1989 by Dave Bock. Earthpack’s office building is environmentally friendly, as well. It’s construction included recyclable materials such as wood, stainless steel, aluminum and glass. Recycling bins for plastic, paper and trash can be found throughout the office. And by partnering with a local document-shredding company and participating in paper-saving initiatives, Earthpack estimates it saved 25 trees in 2007. Saving on energy and gas, the company uses a fully electric Nissan forklift in the warehouse and a Toyota Prius hybrid as the company car. Newly implemented solar window coverings reduce heat and the need for air conditioning. Earthpack also supports other environmental organizations such as the Quiksilver Foundation, the Surfrider Foundation, SIMA Environmental, the Ocean Institute, the Alaska Wilderness League and Surf Aid International. Kean CoffeeMartin and Karen Varese Diedrich opened Kean Coffee in Newport Beach in December 2005 with the goal of being a small business example of environmental responsibility on a larger scale. Kean Coffee recycles all plastic milk jugs, cardboard, glass, newspapers and other paper waste. Spent coffee grounds are given to customers to use as soil additives in their gardens. Regular coffeehouse customers are encouraged to keep their favorite mugs at the store to cut down on paper waste. The company uses biodegradable packaging for its coffee and recycled paper cup sleeves; the cold drink cups are made of a biodegradable plastic alternative made from corn. And Kean purchases organic, Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance Certified coffees from small farms that use green practices. Martin Diedrich has been a keynote speaker and panel participant at many green and sustainable-business events, and Kean Coffee donates to environmental causes and organizations such as the Surfrider Foundation, Back Bay Cleanup Day, the Earth Resources Foundation, Growers First and the Rainforest Alliance. The company was recognized in 2007 as a zero-waste business by the Earth Resources Foundation. Borrego SolarEstablished in 1980, Borrego Solar Systems is one of the nation’s leading designers and installers of commercial, residential and public sector grid-connected solar electric power systems. Borrego Solar’s Santa Ana office is an integral part of the company’s overall success. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of carbon emissions offset by Borrego’s solar installations, the company recycles as much waste as possible. This includes everything from the packaging used on the solar panels, to scrap metal and used wires, to paper and plastic. Borrego also educates its employees through product training courses, seminars and certifications to help them go green. If Borrego needs to cut any trees during an installation, it plants 25 for every one destroyed. When Borrego energy consultants go to a site for an evaluation, they drive a Toyota Prius hybrid. And many Santa Ana office employees often work from home, reducing carbon dioxide emissions produced by commuting. Company COO Chris Anderson recently moved to New Hampshire to jump-start Borrego’s New England office, where he built a state-of-the-art, self-sufficient green home. Farmers & Merchants BankFarmers & Merchants Bank, which has several offices throughout Orange County, recently expanded its green footprint in a unique way: by opening a 60,000-square-foot, LEED Certified Customer Care Center in Seal Beach. Daniel Walker, bank president and chairman of the board, oversaw the expansion with environmental accountability on the forefront of his mind. Walker worked with Interior Office Solutions (with locations in Irvine and El Segundo) to institute strategic green measures. The new Customer Care building has modular walls that can be moved and restructured, allowing for a convertible and more flexible workspace. The movable walls cut down on landfill waste due to the elimination of workspace reconstruction. New TecCrete-raised floors allow for under-floor air management. Instead of heating or cooling the air in the building, it is released from the floor, managing temperatures through swirl diffusers that use much less energy than traditional heating and cooling systems. Office materials such as paper come from managed forests, and corporate printers use soy ink, which helps reduce air pollution by minimizing toxic emissions. The bank also employs a comprehensive recycling program. Toshiba America Business Solutions Irvine-based Toshiba America Business Solutions partnered last fall with Close the Loop, a world-class recycler of imaging consumables, to create a zero-waste-to-landfill recycling program specifically for the company. This environmental-sustainability initiative includes the recycling of all collected Toshiba imaging consumables, which are reused for raw materials and finished products. Close the Loop’s customized collection program for Toshiba provides the company with recyclable collection boxes and supplies, as well as freight, transportation and recycling services for its toner bottles, laser cartridges, drum units, toner bags and other bulk imaging consumables. Traditionally difficult to process, imaging supplies require specialized equipment to recycle them. Close the Loop has patented four different processes for recycling imaging supplies, resulting in a zero-waste solution – a real plus for companies like Toshiba that produce mass quantities of such imaging products but don’t want them ending up in landfills. Toshiba says its partnership with Close the Loop furthers the company’s commitment toward serving as responsible stewards of the environment by focusing on reducing, reusing and recycling. Equity Thru EnergyTom Debin and Steve Nold are blazing a trail in the field of energy conservation in Orange County. With three decades of combined experience, they launched their company, Equity Thru Energy (ETE), to provide cutting-edge products and services that lower gas and electricity usage. Debin, an energy expert, and current board member and past president of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, and Nold, a software specialist, developed state-of-the-art technology to reduce energy consumption for restaurants, hotels and multi-unit properties. Officially launching two energy management programs in 2008, the company is on the forefront of instituting energy-efficient programs in Orange County. With restaurants wasting tremendous amounts of energy, Equity Thru Energy’s M2M controls program matches heating and air conditioning usage with the facility’s operational needs, optimizing energy use and preventing waste. The Smart Controls program lowers the consumption of natural gas by reducing the run time of pool and spa heaters by setting time-temperature schedules for each day of the week, and by factoring in natural heating from the sun. Both of the firm’s energy management programs wirelessly transmit system data to computers where the system’s performance can be monitored. It also notifies customers of improper system conditions, which are a major cause of energy waste. Disneyland ResortMickey Mouse and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride have made Disneyland famous worldwide, but relatively few people are aware of efforts made by the resort and the Walt Disney Co. to be environmentally conscious. They have instituted green practices in many areas, including energy, water and waste reduction and conservation; recycling; air quality improvement; and community education. All five trains on the Disneyland Railroad use B98 biodiesel fuel (a 98 percent soybean oil and 2 percent diesel fuel mixture). Irrigation controllers at the resort are tied to on-site weather reports. Theatrical lighting for entertainment shows use energy-efficient LED bulbs. The new Finding Nemo Submarine ride uses zero-emission vehicles with an electric drive system. And a resort-wide recycling program benefits the nonprofit Canine Companions for Independence assistance dog program. Most common areas and guest rooms at the three hotels are outfitted with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting. And the Environmental Protection Agency has certified the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa as a Green Lodging Facility. In addition, the Disney Commuter Assistance Program helps some 5,000 employees carpool, vanpool, walk, bike or take the bus or train to work, taking an estimated 2,200 or more cars off the road each month. John Wayne AirportJohn Wayne Airport is among the major airports across the country that are cutting energy costs, reducing pollution and implementing green initiatives. It recycles nearly half of the refuse from aircraft and the terminal complex. And it uses waterless urinals, ultra-low-flow toilets, and automatic faucets and flushing sensors in the restrooms. The airport further monitors its irrigation system for efficiency and has implemented a “dry wash” plan to reduce the amount of water used to wash aircraft. Air quality is always an issue for an airport. Most airlines at JWA have fully implemented electric charging stations for their ground service equipment and airport vehicles. In addition, carriers use low-emission electric vehicles and support equipment on the airport ramp. Commercial aircraft use diesel-powered preconditioned air units, along with ground-based electrical power, in place of onboard auxiliary power units, which run on jet fuel. Fleet vehicles such as taxis are required to operate on clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) or other cleaner-burning fuel alternatives; JWA’s taxi provider, Orange County Yellow Cab, uses 100 percent CNG. An airport-wide Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan is strictly enforced. The airport has a zero-tolerance policy for discharge into storm drains, among many other anti-pollution measures. SPECIAL FOCUS: SOLE TECHNOLOGYLeading the way to green Lake Forest-based Sole Technology sets the bar for businesses with its environmentally conscious philosophy. By Tina Borgatta When Pierre Senizergues traveled to China to tour manufacturing facilities, he was less concerned about touring inside the plants and more interested in checking out what was behind the buildings – in the dumpsters. “I was in the back, sticking my head in the trash cans. I wanted to see what they were throwing away – whether or not they recycled.”Senizergues’ Lake Forest-based company, Sole Technology, is arguably today’s hottest action sports shoe and apparel maker, producing the etnies, Emerica, Altamont, ThirtyTwo and éS brands. But the manufacturing processes require massive amounts of water and energy. Toxic substances such as petroleum cement are often used. Then there’s the packaging, which can add waste to landfills. Yet Senizergues is on a mission to make Sole Technology a “carbon-neutral” operation by 2020, and he expects the companies he partners with to share his commitment to conservation. “I always ask companies, ‘What’s your environmental program?’” He looks for companies that use hydroelectric power, instead of coal, and employ recycling efforts. And the trucks they drive had better use alternative fuel. Senizergues talks the talk and walks the walk. His building is powered by the sun – 100 percent. Waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets conserve more than 325,000 gallons of water per year. Many of the walls within the 75,000-square-foot facility are made from recycled materials. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow sunlight to flood the interior of the building. “The perception is that it costs more to do these things, but there’s an economy of scale,” Senizergues says. The company also switched from using petroleum-based cement to water-based cement in its shoes. All paper, boxes, and clothing and shoe tags are made of recycled materials. And you’ll only find eco-sensitive landscaping decorating the exterior of the building. Sole employees’ Blue Bin Brigade organizes competitions among departments to see who produces the least amount of waste. And, in 2007, Senizergues hired the first-ever environmental affairs manager. The company currently recycles 57 percent of its waste, with a goal of hitting 70 percent by next year. The national average is 30 percent; the state’s is 50 percent. In 2007, Senizergues was recognized with a Corporate Environmental Leadership Award from Global Green USA. But that doesn’t matter a whole lot to Senizergues. “I’m doing all this,” he says, “because it’s just the right thing to do.” Click here for tips to help YOU go green. Watch OC METRO's video: How "green" is YOUR company? Pierre Senizergues, founder of eco-frendly Sole Technology and a champion of everything green, offers his 10 most helpful tips. Throughout this story, OCMETRO saved ink by using Ecofont, a print font developed by SPRANQ. The company claims that at normal font sizes, Ecofont will save 20 percent of the ink used by incorporating tiny holes in the font body while maintaining top-notch print quality. ecofont.eu |
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Readers Feedback:
You should look at the waste recyclers like Rainbow in Huntington Beach. They are the cutting edge of recycling. They are still viewed as trash haulers but they are much more.
| Comment at 1/19/2009 |
Conservation efforts are mainly hampered by lack of funding. One way to help them is through donations, especially of cars that they really need for their work. You may donate a car by visiting our site "www.donatecarusa.com"
We link you to over 40 charities.
| Comment at 8/31/2009 |
Wonderful expalnatoin of facts available here.
| Comment at 11/6/2011 |
