Community Actions: Sustainable Leadership Throughout the Organization

Sustainability Principles:

Embed sustainability principles throughout your operations to maximize your positive impact in the community

Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies A national network of investment funds, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working to advance environmental stewardship on the part of businesses. (www.ceres.org)

GreenBiz.com Comprehensive free information resource for large and small companies seeking to align environmental business practices with business success. (www.greenbiz.com)

The Natural Step Management assistance for making your operations more sustainable (www.naturalstep.org/com/TNS_for_business/)

Climate Change:

Develop your company's strategy to respond to global climate

California Climate Action Registry Assists companies and organizations with operations in the state to establish GHG emissions baselines. (http://www.climateregistry.org/Default.aspx?refreshed=true)

California Climate Change Portal One-stop shopping for information about California state government action on climate change www.climatechange.ca.gov/

Cool Cities Solving global warming one city at a time (www.coolcities.com)

Pew Center on Global Climate Change Provides research on global warming, its causes and effects, greenhouse gas emissions trends, environmental impacts, and possible solutions. (www.pewclimate.org/)

Sustainable Silicon Valley Collaboration of businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations that are identifying and addressing environmental and resource pressures in the Valley. (http://www.sustainablesiliconvalley.org/)

Community Engagement:

Learn more about the community you operate in and identify mutually beneficial opportunities for collaborating to increase its sustainability

Association of Bay Area Governments Informative site about land use, transportation, regulatory changes and smart growth incentives in the Bay Area (http://www.abag.ca.gov/planning/smartgrowth/)

East Bay Community Foundation Features charitable giving programs for Alameda County and Contra Costa (www.eastbaycf.org/)

Ella Baker Center Dedicated to challenging human rights abuses, and developing and advocating for proactive, community-based solutions to systemic "criminal injustice." (ellabakercenter.org/page.php?pageid=10)

Global Citizen Center Educates the public about our need to engage in new economic practices - as consumers, businesses, and communities - that are environmentally sustainable and socially just. (www.globalcitizen.org)

Greenbelt Alliance Protecting open space and promoting livable communities throughout the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. (www.greenbelt.org)

Local Government Commission Provides inspiration, technical assistance, and networking to local elected officials and other dedicated community leaders who are working to create healthy, walkable, and resource-efficient communities (http://www.lgc.org)

Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California Promotes housing solutions for low-income people who suffer disproportionately from the housing crisis in Northern California. www.nonprofithousing.org/actioncenter/campaigns/index.atomic

Peninsula Community Foundation Connects people, ideas and resources for the common good in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco peninsula (www.pcf.org/)

San Francisco Foundation Leading agent of Bay Area philanthropy (www.sff.org)

Sierra Club Works to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. (www.sierraclub.org)

Transportation and Land Use Coalition Join this coalition whose vision is a region with healthy, vibrant, walkable communities that provide all residents with transportation choices and affordable housing. (www.transcoalition.org/home.html)

United Way of the Bay Area An organization that enables people to strengthen their communities Through volunteer opportunities and donation. www.uwba.org/

Urban Habitat Works in partnership with low-income communities and communities of color to advance social, economic, and environmental justice in the Bay Area region and beyond. urbanhabitat.org/

Volunteer Center The one-stop resource for volunteers and nonprofit agencies in San Francisco and San Mateo counties. (www.thevolunteercenter.net/)

Procurement:

Ensure that your procurement policies include sustainability criteria.

County Green Business Directories for procurement of environmentally-friendly products and services available at: www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/enviro/gbus/ShopGreen.html

Center for a New American Dream Washington based organization that focuses on responsible consumption. (www.newdream.org/procure)

Green Seal An independent, non-profit organization that identifies and promotes products and services that cause less toxic pollution and waste, conserve resources and habitats, and minimize global warming and ozone depletion. (www.greenseal.org)

U.S. EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) program Comprehensive site for designing procurement documents that maximize cost-effectiveness, environmental-friendly, and performance (www.epa.gov/epp/)

Sustainable Transportation:

Reduce your fuel usage and costs by maximizing the efficiency of your fleet. Keep the air clean by using alternative fuels and by offering employees low to no pollution commuting options.

City Car Share Find out how you can rent a small or large vehicle around San Francisco and Oakland when you need it. (www.citycarshare.org/)

Commute.org A guide to commuting and transportation alternatives in San Mateo County (www.commute.org/easy_guide.htm)

Commuter Checks Provides administrative services that support private efforts to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and promote use of public transportation. (www.commutercheck.com/cities/sanFrancisco.html)

DriveClean.ca.gov Zero emission vehicle guide for California (www.driveclean.ca.gov/en/gv/incentives/index.asp?blnBtnHit=true)

Flex Your Power at the Pump Tips and links for saving money on fueling your fleet (www.fypower.org/save_gasoline/)

Rideshare On-line guide to van and carpool services (rideshare.511.org/)