Business & Tech
It's Not too Late to Join the 30-Day Challenge
There may be only two weeks left to the challenge, but local businesses are still signing on, ready to make positive changes for the environment.
With two weeks left in the Danville Area Sustainable Business Program’s March 30-Day Challenge, there is still time for businesses to earn the designation as a Danville Area Sustainable Business.
By completing at least 25 practices to save energy and water, reduce waste and prevent pollution, businesses are also making a contribution to the health and economy of the Danville community.
Heritage Bank of Commerce
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Heritage Bank of Commerce, a business with a long history of giving back to the community, is the latest business to join the program.
Heritage employees participate in staff discussions and incentive programs to suggest and implement sustainable business practices. One employee suggested eliminating disposable water bottles for employees and guests visiting the bank. The bank now has drinking water available from reusable cups or mugs, eliminating hundreds of empty plastic bottle from the waste stream.
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With almost 100 percent of Danville drinking water sourced from the watershed of the Mokelumne River, which collects Sierra Nevada snowmelt, our water here tastes great, another reason to make the switch from bottled water. Check out the East Bay Municipal Utility annual report for details on water quality.
Gayler Construction
Darlene Gayler of Gayler Construction serves guests water from the tap and offers some other useful ways to make business practices more sustainable.
To save paper and other resources, the company no longer uses a fax machine. Customers and suppliers use email for invoices, proposals, specifications and other paperwork. The goal is to become a “paperless” business.
Gayler also recycles as much construction debris as possible—often more than the 50 percent required by Town of Danville building codes.
When it’s time to recycle a cell phone, printer, or other ewaste, Gayler takes them to Recycle For Breast Cancer, a San Ramon nonprofit organization supporting breast cancer research.
People & Properties Sotheby’s International Realty
Mary Ann Cadorna, Realtor at People & Properties Sotheby’s International Realty recently pledged to take the 30-day challenge.
The business aims to provide bicycle storage for customers and employees, as well as telecommuting and flexible work schedules.
La Buena Vida
One of the newest “pledged” businesses, La Buena Vida, incorporates sustainable practices into the items they sell. The shop in the Danville Livery makes culinary gift “baskets” packaged in used wine crates—an environmentally friendly and creative gift, for foodies who enjoy olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
Hesperian Cleaners
The management at Hesperian Cleaners in the Green Valley Shopping Center on Diablo Road, also recently joined the challenge. The shop’s motto is “The Environmentally Friendly Greener Cleaner” and they are a Bay Area Green Business and recipient of an Acterra Business Environmental Award for their cleaning without hazardous chemicals or solvents.
One of Hesperian's environmental tips is selling reusable garment bags to interested customers, to avoid plastic bag use.
To follow which local businesses are adopting environmentally-friendly practices and learn more about the 30-Day Challenge, visit: Danville Area Sustainable Business Challenge.
