Greening Your Business

Green Business Programs
Any business can become a green business and the city would like to help that process along. To qualify, a business must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and meet program criteria for conserving resources, preventing pollution, and minimizing waste.

Free to all local businesses, the program offers hands-on support, training, and technical assistance from environmental experts. Green business practices not only help protect the environment, but also the health of employees and customers. All San Francisco residents are encouraged to support green businesses and encourage their neighborhood businesses to become green businesses.

• San Francisco Green Business Program
  In order to get designated as a San Francisco Green Business, a business must be in compliance with all Federal, State and local regulations and implement a minimum number of resource conservation, waste minimization and pollution prevention practices listed on a Green Business Checklist. The program offers free quality hands-on support, training, and technical assistance to local businesses and verify that they meet our stringent environmental standards.
  Tel: (415) 355-3700
• San Francisco Energy Watch Program
  The program offers small businesses and residents new energy-efficient equipment and professional services at greatly reduced cost. Participants can save energy and money while at the same time reducing their impact on the environment. The benefits of the program include:
  • Free on-site assessment to identify energy savings
  • Expert installation of energy-saving equipment
  • Lower utility bills over the life of the new equipment
• Commuter Benefits Program
  Riding the bus, train, ferry or vanpool to work can save up to 40% on your commuting expenses.
  

San Francisco Ordinances

• San Francisco's New Commuter Benefits Ordinance
  Effective January 19, 2009, all employers in San Francisco that have 20 or more employees are required to offer a commuter benefits program. To learn more about this ordinance, read the ordinance factsheet (PDF). In addition, starting January 1st 2009, the Federal Government's transportation fringe benefits [Section 132(f)] will expand to allow up to $20.00 per month for bicycle commuters.
• Compostable or Recyclable To-Go Containers
  Effective June 1, 2007, San Francisco food vendors may no longer use polystyrene foam otherwise known as Styrofoam"! and must use compostable or recyclable disposable food service ware or to-go containers unless there is no suitable product that is within 15% of the cost of non-compostable or non-recyclable alternatives.

Green Building
Green Building is an integration of the built environment with natural systems. The Department of Environment provides the following for businesses:

• Complete list of Green Building Legislation & Initiatives
• Green Building Learning Center
• Green Building Materials

Green Your Restaurant

• The Green Restaurant Association
  
• Thimmakka
  Are you looking for a way to save money and resources? With the help of Thimmakka, you can reduce your restaurant's lighting bill by up to 70%, recycle up to 80 to 90% of your waste, and cut your water consumption by up to 20%, all of which also helps to improve the environment of the community you're located in.
  
  See below a sampling list of Thimmakka certified establishments:

Acre Café (415) 561-2273 1013 Lincoln Way San Francisco - Café
Blondie's Bar (415) 864-2419 540 Valencia Street San Francisco - Bar
Café Gratitude (415) 824-4652 2400 Harrison St. San Francisco - Raw
Café Gratitude (415) 824-4652 1336 9th Ave San Francisco - Raw
Crissy Fields Center Café (415) 561-7756 603 Old Mason St San Francisco - Café
Elixir (415) 552-1633 3200 16th Street San Francisco - Bar
Judahlicious (415) 665-8423 3906 Judah @44th Ave San Francisco - Juice Bar
La Cocina 4158242729 ex 301 2948 Folsom St San Francisco - Mexican
Other Avenues 415-661-7475 3930 Judah Street San Francisco - Marketplace
Ramblas Tapas Bar (415) 565-0207 557 Valencia Street San Francisco - Spanish
Roti SF (415) 665-7684 53 West Portal San Francisco - Indian
San Miguel Restaurant (415) 641-5866 3263 Mission St. San Francisco - Guatemalan
Warming Hut Restaurant (415) 561-3043 Bldg. 983 Presidio San Francisco - American

Small Business Assistance Center, City Hall, Room 110, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-554-6134 Office Hours: M-F, 8 AM - 5 PM