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Michael Shih’s NuWa Textile plantsin China, Taiwan and Irvine produce morethan 22 million yards of polyester and nylonfabric a month, yet the company is widelyrecognized as a leader in environmentalstewardship. Poseidon Resources has aproven track record of financing, designingand developing cost-efficient desalinationplants throughout North America, and theone it wants to build in Huntington Beachcould accommodate 8 percent of the county’swater needs. Kaiser Permanente under-stands the connection between good healthand a healthy environment, which is why itsIrvine Medical Center is among the green-est hospitals in the nation. And TowerJazzSemiconductor’s massive Newport Beachfoundry could – potentially – eat up a wholelot of energy. But in less than two years, thecompany has reduced its annual consump-tion by a whopping 9 million kilowatt hours.(Find out just how much that’s equivalentto on page 48.) A textile manufacturer, adesalination plant developer, a hospital anda semiconductor-maker: Together, they arean environmental powerhouse. And theystand among the next generation of busi-nesses that believe preservation and con-servation are just as important as revenueand profit. They, along with 21 other com-panies, make up OC METRO’s 2010 GreenTeam. Turn the page and meet the players.

by Tina Borgatta

Michael ShihPresident of NuWa

Textiles

Jon LovelandChief Technology Officer of

Poseidon Resources

Dr. Edward EllisonMedical Director of Kaiser

Permanente Irvine Medical Center

Susanna BennettVice President, Chief Financial Officer

of TowerJazz Semiconductor

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SustainabilityLeadership Program,UC Irvine ExtensionIrvine | unex.uci.eduPROGRAM CREATED: 2008DEAN OF CONTINUING EDUCATION: Gary W. MatkinSUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR: Kirwan Rockefeller

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Thanks to UC Irvine Extension and its Sustain-ability Leadership certificate program, morethan 60 professionals have joined the greenmovement and are championing the environ-mental imperative in business. The two-year-oldprogram provides an interdisciplinary focusaimed at integrating sustainable developmentand environmentalism into management strat-egy, as well as achieving an understanding ofregulatory trends and fostering a sense of cor-

porate responsibility. Its goal: to change the way Orange County companies and governmentagencies implement sustainability. Courses include Energy and Climate Change Strategiesfor Business; Legal Developments Concerning the Environment and Climate Change; andPrinciples of Finance: People, Planet and Project Determinations. All program content is re-viewed by an advisory board of top industry experts. Each course is taught by professionalsalready working within the green-collar sector, and they share real-life experiences that en-rich the education offerings. Students who complete this program end up with more than aneducation – they’re armed with the tools that will help them effect change in the community.

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B. BraunMedical Inc.Irvine (manufacturingfacility)bbraunusa.comFOUNDED: 1839 inGermanyVICE PRESIDENT ANDGENERAL MANAGER: PeteKlaes (Orange County)CHIEF GREEN OFFICER:Rhonda Moore,Environmental Engineer

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This medical products man-ufacturer is an environmen-tal pioneer in its industry. Itwas the first to manufactureintravenous therapy bagsthat are free of polyvinylchloride and the plasticizingagent DEHP, thus makingthem more environmentallyfriendly. In fact, it’s the onlycompany in the nation thatoffers a full line of PVC-freeand DEHP-free products.And it launched this initia-tive long before the greenmovement came into vogue.The company also created aWaste Calculator for hospi-tals and health networks. Itallows medical facilities todetermine how much wastethey’d be eliminating if theyswitched to more environ-mentally friendly products.Still not impressed? Con-sider this: 85 percent of theIrvine manufacturing plant’senergy is produced on-site.

“Sustainable products and manufacturing processes are important elements inB. Braun’s commitment to protecting the planet. They are also increasingly important to hospital and health-care facility customers. We’re proud to partnerwith our customers in finding solutions that address the issues they face in delivering quality care, especially environmental responsibility.”

– Rhonda Moore, Environmental Engineer for B. Braun Medical Inc.

TowerJazz SemiconductorNewport Beach | towerjazz.comFOUNDED: 2002 | CEO: Russell EllwangerCHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Dale Bogan, Director of Facilities

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If you’ve ever passed by TowerJazz’s Newport Beachfoundry facility, it’s clear that this is one big operation thatcould – potentially, at least – eat up a whole lot of energy.But it doesn’t. In fact, since January of last year, the com-pany has reduced its annual consumption by 9 million kilowatt hours. That’s the carbon-reduction equivalent of12,982 barrels of oil or 1,071 cars. And last year, TowerJazzjoined the Cool Planet Project, an energy-efficiency andclimate-change mitigation program administered by TheClimate Registry and Southern California Edison, which –by the way – seems to have become quite smitten with theorganization. The company has garnered an OutstandingAchievement in Energy Efficiency Award and a Flex YourPower award from the utility company. Now that’s some-thing to get jazzed about.

StantecConsultingIrvine (Western U.S.headquarters)stantec.comFOUNDED: 1953 in CanadaSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEFGREEN OFFICER: Eric Nielsen (O.C.)

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Ask any one of the firm’s engineering orarchitectural consultants to explain justwhat this company specializes in, andhe’ll likely quote its Web site: “In simpleterms, the world of Stantec is the waterwe drink, the routes we travel, the build-ings we visit, the industries in which wework and the neighborhoods we callhome.” Perhaps it’s that 360-degreespectrum of interest that propels thecompany’s concern for environmentalpreservation. The Stantec team hasworked on more than 105 LEED-certifiedprojects, and 17 of those earned Plat-inum ratings. One project currently inthe works is the LEED Platinum OceanScience Education Building at UC SantaBarbara. Among the sustainable leading-edge features that Stantec engineershave designed: a system that will useocean water to provide an environmentfor aquarium fish – and cool the build-ing. Even more impressive: Stantec engi-neers are working for the Department ofEnergy to design North America’s largestnet-zero-energy commercial building,meaning it will produce the sameamount of energy it consumes. Situatedon the National Renewable Energy Labo-ratory campus in Colorado, this buildingwill serve as an international model insustainable development. Back at home,the environmental awareness continueswith various office programs, includingan annual Bike-to-Work Challenge. Stan-tec’s 130 offices throughout North Amer-ica compete each spring to determinewho can log the most miles. Irvine em-ployees placed first last year, cycling1,407 miles during the three-week chal-lenge and offsetting the release of about1,500 pounds of greenhouse emissions.Stantec Senior Project Manager PaulCarey rode 568 miles, landing him in theNo. 2 spot among pedaling employeescompanywide.

Rent A Green BoxCosta Mesa | rentagreenbox.com; earthfriendlymoving.comFOUNDED: 2005 in Huntington Beach | FOUNDER AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Spencer Brown

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Consider all of the boxes just one person uses during a move to a new home, and then think abouthow many more a company would use in an office relocation. That’s a lot of cardboard that couldend up in landfills. The thought of it bothered Spencer Brown so much that he came up with a solution: Rent A Green Box. Brown has invented more than 15 zero-waste moving products thatare changing the way people around the world pack and move. He also reinvented the disposablemoving box with Recopacks, which are made entirely from plastic mined from local landfills. Each box can be used more than 400 times and is crush-proof, tear-proof, and dust- and water-resistant. Perhaps best of all: Each box spares 12 trees in its lifespan. The company delivers theRecopacks one week before the moving date and picks them up a week after the move is complete. Then they’re cleaned, sanitized and delivered to the next client. When a box is worn out,the company grinds it down to make another Recopack. And all the transporting is done via RentA Green Box’s fleet of alternative-fuel trucks – which also happens to be the largest in the statefueled by vegetable oil and bio fuel. Brown’s innovation hasn’t gone unnoticed: Rent A Green Boxearned a 2009 California Small Business Award and a 2008 California Governor’s Economic andEnvironmental Leadership Award for new market technologies in recycling, and received two honorable mentions from the Green Dot Award program. And now, the company’s gone global,with operations in Canada, Japan and England.

“We onlyhave oneplanet andcurrentlyconsumeseven planets’worth of resources. At somepoint, wemust rethink howwe’re goingto balanceour currentneeds with the unrealizedneeds of our future generations.”

– Spencer Brown,Founder of Rent A

Green Box

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The Costa Mesa Green HomeSteven and Karen Blanchard, David Gangloff Architects and Gonterman ConstructionCosta Mesa | costamesagreen.comYEAR BUILT: 2009 | ARCHITECT: David Gangloff | CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Jason Gonterman

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Steven and Karen Blanchard wanted to build a custom home, and they wanted to do it witha clear conscience – environmentally speaking, that is. So they tapped the certified greenbuilding specialists at David Gangloff Architects and the contracting experts from Gonter-man Construction to help them. The result: Orange County’s first Platinum LEED-certifiedhome. Care was taken every step of the way in the planning and execution of the project.The Blanchards donated the pre-existing structure for firefighter training exercises. Onlyengineered lumber from small trees and sustainably managed forests were used, along withlow-volatile organic compounds, energy- and water-efficient appliances and fixtures, and agrey-water recycling system that filters shower water for use in toilets and sprinklers. Andbecause of its rooftop solar panels and high-performance design (sunlight and shade posi-tioning, and the path of prevailing winds were factored into the building’s orientation onthe property), the Costa Mesa Green Home exceeds the requirements of the state’s energycode by 40 percent. It’s so efficient that electricity bills should add up to a big, round zero.

Yard House RestaurantsBrea, Costa Mesa, Irvine and Newport Beach | yardhouse.comFOUNDED: 1996 in IrvinePRESIDENT AND CEO, AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Harald Herrmann

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The Yard House was the first restaurant in the nation to install eCorect, a wet-wastesystem that reduces the weight and volume of food scraps by 93 percent. The one-touch machine decomposes the compostable waste through intensive heat,with no negative environmental impact. The result is a high-density organic substance that can be used for soil amendments, biomass energy and organicfillers. And the company saves about 180,000 gallons of water a year at eachrestaurant with the waterless urinals it installed in its men’s rooms.

“It isimportant to be environ-mentallyresponsiblein as manylittle ways as possible.TheJapanese use a wordcalled‘kaizen,’meaning‘continuousimprovementwith smallsteps.’Although ahomeownermay not haveas lofty of agoal as theBlanchards’, I believe it is in thesmall stepswe makeindividuallyand withinour homesthat will have themost positiveimpact on our future.”

– Jason Gonterman,CEO of Gonterman

Construction

e-Recycling of CaliforniaIrvine | erecyclingofca.comFOUNDED: 2002 in Paramount | PRESIDENT: Art KazarianCHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Dennis Kazarian

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It’s probably not something you’ve ever given much thought to – where all those old computersand monitors go after they’ve died and left your home or office building. But the 150 environmen-tally conscious employees from e-Recycling of California can tell you exactly what happens tothem. Chances are, a number of them have even landed in their hands. That’s because any elec-tronics that are delivered to Household Hazardous Waste drop-off sites and Waste Management fa-cilities throughout Orange County wind up in the care of e-Recycling’s green team of workers. It’stheir job to take apart the items – or, as the company likes to call it, “demanufacture” them. Theystrip them down to their basic commodity categories – circuit boards, metals, plastics and glass –so that those components can be shipped off for further recycling. The company has three elec-tronics demanufacturing facilities in California, with its newest plant in Irvine at the Great Park.

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McCarthy Building Cos.Newport Beach | mccarthy.comFOUNDED: 1864, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo.PRESIDENT: Carter Chappell (Californiaregion)CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Ron Hall

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McCarthy Building Cos. formed its own greenteam more than 10 years ago to ensure thatthe construction firm was doing everything itcould to leave behind the greenest footprintpossible. And now the largest commercialconstruction firm in the state employs morethan 400 LEED-accredited professionals,touts a resume that includes sustainableprojects valued in excess of $4 billion andwas named the third-largest green contractorin the state by California Construction maga-zine. The company incorporates sustainabledesign, building practices and materials intoits projects whenever possible and recyclesits construction waste. And environmentalawareness isn’t left behind on the job site;green practices abound in the administrativeoffices as well. Staffers use recycled paperand environmentally friendly cleaning prod-ucts. They recycle toner cartridges and elec-tronics, reuse packing materials and recycleabout 75 percent of their waste – they evenrecycle their blueprints. And the company recently calculated its carbon footprint and iscommitted to reducing it by 5 percent overthe next three years.

“We all have a responsibility to ensure a healthy planet for one another, as wellas for future generations. At McCarthy, we follow this excerpt from our greenmission: ‘We believe the choices we make are not just for today … not just for usor our clients. The choices we make will leave a legacy for those who will followus and create new footprints on this earth.’”

– Ron Hall, Executive Vice President of McCarthy Building Cos.

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Irvine Ranch Water DistrictIrvine | irwd.comFOUNDED: 1961 | GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Paul Jones

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Since 1961, the Irvine Ranch Water District has been a leader in environ-mental stewardship, and its recycledwater distribution system is the largestin the nation. Recycled water is usedfor landscape irrigation in parks, golfcourses and school grounds, and incooling towers and toilets in more than 25 office buildings throughout its

service area, which includes Irvine andportions of Costa Mesa, Lake Forest,Newport Beach, Tustin, Santa Ana, Or-ange and some unincorporated areas ofthe county. IRWD’s water conservationefforts and unique conservation ratestructure have facilitated a marked de-crease in water consumption among its330,000 customers. While the average

Orange County resident uses 190 gal-lons of water a day, an IRWD customeruses only 90. What’s more, IRWD usessolar energy to power some of its oper-ations, and urban runoff is cleanedthrough a natural ecosystem treatmentthat removes contaminants before thewater reaches the ecologically sensitiveUpper Newport Bay.

NuWa TextilesIrvine | nuwatex.comFOUNDED: 2007 | PRESIDENT AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Michael Shih

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Irvine-based NuWa Textiles manufactures more than 22 million yards ofpolyester and nylon fabric each month in its plants in Taiwan, China and theU.S., yet it’s been recognized as an industry leader for its green innovation. Infact, its plant in JiaXing, China, was the first vertical textile mill to be certified by bluesign, a global agency that promotes environmental, health and safety standards. NuWa President Michael Shih says keeping a tap on the ecologicalimpact of manufacturing is the company’s highest priority, while still leading theindustry in innovations in weaving, coating, laminating and finishing. The plantrecycles 90 percent of the water it uses in weaving and complies with bluesign’sstringent restrictions on air emissions. The company’s efforts have been noticedby others as well. Ski Press magazine featured the textile-maker as an environ-mental innovator and industry leader, and President Michael Shih was named atop Power Player by the outdoor- and fitness-industry magazine SNEWS.

“A product ora company isnot green unless theprocess thatmanufacturesit is green.”– Michael Shih, President

of NuWa TextilesOCBReprographicsCosta Mesa, Orange and twolocations in Irvineocbinc.com FOUNDED: 1926 in Santa Ana CEO AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Roger Lackey

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OCB Reprographics has set a green course for business, and it’s modified a number ofstandard operating proceduresto ensure the company stays ontrack. Want a sampling of someof the many initiatives? OCB replaced its aging delivery fleetwith newer, more fuel-efficientvehicles. And by restructuring

its dispatching strategy, the company was able to cut the fleet in half and save about 1,800gallons of fuel per month. The company prints all documents on recycled paper and then offers its clients free recycled paper pickup. And OCB offers incentives for ride-sharing.Here’s a company doing its part to keep the world colorful and clean.

MioceanFoundationIrvine | miocean.orgFOUNDED: 2002CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDAND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER:Patrick R. Fuscoe

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Orange County is home to42 miles of coastline and waterways – a lot of room for swimming, surfing, body-boarding and a list of otherwater sports. But urbanrunoff and other pollutioncan also make it a play-ground for bacteria. Andthere isn’t a whole lot ofmoney in government coffers to fund diversion projects or other cleanupand prevention efforts. Sothat’s where the water-lovingexecutives who make up themembership of Mioceancome in. They don’t fund research studies or supportlong-term development projects. Instead, they sup-port municipal and educa-tional projects that need aboost to come to fruition.The foundation has com-pleted dozens of local proj-ects with measurable, visibleimprovements to localcoastal waters, and it’s edu-cated thousands of studentsabout the consequences ofurban runoff. Since its estab-lishment, Miocean has com-mitted millions of dollars forwater quality-related and ed-ucational projects. And theresults of their efforts are im-pressive. More than 1.2 mil-lion gallons (the equivalentof two Olympic-size pools) ofpolluted water are removedfrom Southern Californiaoceans daily because of Mio-cean-supported projects, including the North Creek-Doheny Beach Diversion andSalt Creek-Monarch BayTreatment Plant.

“Our ocean is one of our most precious natural resources, pro-viding countless quality-of-life benefits and playing a key rolein California’s $30 billion tourism industry. Through groupslike Miocean, we can participate in the worldwide effort to savethe planet for future generations and ensure that our ocean re-mains a source of well-being, enjoyment and vitality for all.”

– Patrick R. Fuscoe, Chairman of the Board of Miocean Foundation

Nova Vita Salon & SpaTustin | novavitasalon-spa.comFOUNDED: 2005CEO AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Katerina Bisbikis

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A day of pampering could produce a lot of waste: Thinkabout all those cotton balls, tissues, swabs and disposableapplicators that are used in a day. There’s also the wastethat goes along with running a business – old memos,used forms and to-do lists. And then there’s all that use ofenergy – except if you’re talking about operations at NovaVita Salon & Spa. Owner Katerina Bisbikis has her own R-mantra: Relax, renew, rejuvenate and recycle. Her staff re-cycles all used bottles, cans and paper, and uses recycledtreatment supplies made of sustainable materials such ascotton. All post-its, printer paper and notepads are madeof recycled material and, once used, are recycled again.But the team tries to keep even that in check. In fact, thestaff has cut paper communications by 50 percent sincethe completion of the spa’s Green & Gorgeous makeoverin January. As for energy use: You’ll find only energy-saving light bulbs at Nova Vita.

AlereIrvine (with other offices in Atlanta;Reno, Nev.; and Upper Saddle River,N.J.) | alere.comFOUNDED: 2008 by parent companyInverness Medical InnovationsEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT: Kathy Cartelli(Irvine operations)CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Stefanie Strobel

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Alere Health is one of the nation’s leadingproviders of integrated health and wellnessprograms to employers and health plans.For the company’s Irvine-based team,caring about the environment is every bitas important as caring for one’s health.The proof? Despite doubling its staff lastyear, the team was still able to reducewaste. In 2008 alone, the companyeliminated 1,229 pounds of trash andsaved the company $8,413 in energy andother operating costs. Employees have cut100 reams of paper from their supply byprinting on both sides and have recycledmore than 800 pounds of electronics. Theirefforts were even recognized by the

California Department of ResourcesRecycling and Recovery. Go inside theoffice break room, and you’ll find onlyceramic dishes and silverware. For

cleanups: Earth-friendly Method and CloroxGreen Works are used. And employees whotake a bus, train or vanpool to work arereimbursed for the expense.

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Kaiser Permanente Irvine Medical CenterIrvine | kaiserpermanente.orgFOUNDED: 1945 in Oakland (The Irvine Medical Center opened in May 2009)CEO AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Julie Miller-Phipps (Orange County)

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The people at Kaiser Permanentejust seem to get it – there’s a connection between good healthand a healthy environment.Breathe California apparently rec-ognizes that. In April, the nonprofitdedicated to fighting lung diseasegave Kaiser Permanente its CleanAir Award for leadership. The pro-gram honors organizations that areimplementing initiatives to reduceglobal warming and air pollution.Kaiser Permanente’s sustainableenergy strategy, for example, seeksto reduce demand, increase the

use of renewable sources, and limitair pollutants and greenhouse gasemissions that affect the health ofits members and the community.And in the past seven years, KaiserPermanente has used ecologicallysustainable materials for 7.5 mil-lion square feet of new construc-tion, eliminated the purchase anddisposal of 40 tons of hazardouschemicals, saved more than $10million per year through energyconservation strategies andworked with suppliers to introduceseveral new PVC-free products to

the market – and that’s just ashort list of achievements. Thatsaid, it should come as no surprisethat Kaiser Permanente’s IrvineMedical Center is among thenation’s greenest. The 434,000-square-foot facility is based on anew template that represents thenext generation of Kaiser Perma-nente hospitals. The carpet back-ing throughout the facility ismade with a recycled safety film,cafeteria trays are made from recycled materials and all X-rayscans are electronic, making the

hospital mercury-free. Large win-dows allow for plenty of naturallighting, and careful placement oflandscaping provides a naturalsound barrier. But the Irvine center isn’t the only facility withbragging rights. Kaiser Perma-nente centers across the countryhave garnered numerous awardsfor environmental initiatives, including a System for ChangeAward from Practice Greenhealth,which recognizes health-care sys-tems that support and implementeco-friendly practices.

“We aspire to provide health-care services in a manner thatprotects and enhances the environment and the health ofcommunities nowand for futuregenerations.”

– Julie Miller-Phipps, CEO ofKaiser Permanente in

Orange County

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Cox CommunicationsRancho Santa Margaritacox.comFOUNDED: 1962 in AtlantaGENERAL MANAGER: Thomas “Duffy” Leone, Senior VicePresidentCHIEF GREEN OFFICER: James Leach, Vice President ofPublic Affairs

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Through its Cox Conserves program, the cable TV and broadband services provider (thethird-largest in the country, by the way) aims toreduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent over

the next 10 years. It’s a bold effort, but the company is poised for the challenge. The vastamount of roof space on its 300,000-square-foot headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita isbeing outfitted with 600 solar panels to reduce the company’s dependence on conventionalpower sources and eliminate approximately 100 tons of greenhouse gasses per year. The office already recycles more than 130 tons of employee waste and 3 tons of e-waste each year.Its vanpool program eliminates more than 1 million commuter miles annually. And throughits Arbor Day Foundation donations, Cox has planted 3,195 trees. Then there are the weeklyeducational e-mails, Go Green public service announcements and Lunch & Learn to beGreen programs that the company sponsors, to ensure that clients and employees alike remain aware, informed and environmentally conscious.

“One company, one individual can’t solve the whole problem, but by focusing on what we can accomplish in our own world, we can make a significant contribution to the solution and to the community.”

– James Leach, Vice President of Public Affairs for Cox Communications

City of Irvineci.irvine.ca.us | Incorporated: 1971MAYOR: Sukhee Kang | CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Brian Fisk

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Irvine aims to be the greenest cityin the state – if not the nation.And if you consider all of the ini-tiatives it has in place, there’severy reason to believe it’s a goalthat’s well within reach. Irvine al-ready is ranked No. 13 among 178Smarter Cities by the NaturalResources Defense Council. Thelist recognizes communities thatdemonstrate environmental stew-ardship, sustainable growth and

livability – a set of values that thecity has been practicing since itsearly days. Take, for example, the1988 voter initiative that resultedin the city’s current 5,200 acres of open space. It’s the foundation of the community’s interest inIrvine’s environmental steward-ship. Today, the city offers a vari-ety of free classes for residentsthat promote environmentalawareness, including a June 5

workshop on composting. In addi-tion, its Eco Living e-newsletter ispacked full with green-living tips,and its CFL Bulb Mail-back Pro-gram provides residents with freerecycling containers, so they canproperly dispose of their burned-out fluorescent light bulbs. And avariety of energy-conservation andwater-preservation efforts markthe city’s 39-year history, includ-ing water-reclamation and retro-

fitting projects. Among the mostambitious programs are the city’sBuild It Green and energy plans.As part of these programs, thecity strives to reduce energy useto 30 percent by the year 2015and greenhouse gas emissions to1990 levels (as required by AB32) by the year 2020. The cityalso set guidelines for the greencertification of new constructionand home remodels.

“The city ofIrvine has along-standinghistory of en-vironmentalstewardship,ranging frompreservationof open spaceto recyclingand greenbuilding. Environmen-talism is a cornerstone of the city’ssuccess.”– Brian Fisk, Director ofCommunity Services for

the city of Irvine

ToshibaAmericaBusinessSolutionsIrvine | toshiba.comFOUNDED: 1999 as anindependent company ofToshiba Corp.PRESIDENT AND COO: MarkMathewsCHIEF GREEN OFFICER: TomWalter, Director of After-Market Operations

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Toshiba America BusinessSolutions has a dream forthe future. It’s called Envi-ronmental Vision 2050, andit goes like this: In 40 years,people will be enjoying richlifestyles in harmony withthe environment, creatingan ideal situation for theplanet. And the company isdoing its part to make ithappen – by reducing itsenvironmental footprintwhile manufacturing prod-ucts that help businessesand consumers do thesame. Sounds like a contra-diction? It’s not. Toshibamanufactures only EPA Energy Star-compliantproducts that are made ofenvironmentally friendlymaterials. The companyalso launched a zero-waste-to-landfill toner cartridgecollection program that repurposes the waste into a product called e-Lumber,which is made into itemssuch as park benches andsustainable garden boxes.

Waste Management ofOrange CountyOffices in Irvine and Santa Anawmorangecounty.comFOUNDED: 1986DIRECTOR: David Ross (municipal and communityrelations, Orange County)CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Chrystal Denning

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When Waste Management employees say “think green,”they really mean it. The folks who work here are responsi-ble for keeping Orange County clean. The company serv-ices the cities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, La Habra, LagunaBeach, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Santa Ana and unincor-porated areas of the county. And while Waste Managementteam members are picking up after others, they’re practic-ing their own earth-friendly initiatives. Example? You knowthose big, green trucks you see being driven around serviceareas? Well, by powering most of these vehicles with natu-ral gas, it’s like taking 10,000 cars off of the county’s road-ways every day – yes, daily. The company’s sustainable operations at both the Irvine and Santa Ana maintenancefacilities are so environmentally friendly, the California De-partment of Toxic Substances Control has even recognizedthem as Pollution Prevention Model Shops.

The entire operation is taking action, too. Its new state-of-the-art processing line in Irvine will help keep an additional30,000 tons of waste from landfills, and everyone on theWaste Management team embraces earth-friendly practices.

Green Foam BlanksSan Clemente | greenfoamblanks.comFOUNDED: 2009 | CEO AND CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Joey Santley

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Surfers have long been lauded for their environmental activism. Heck, one of the most well-known ocean-preservation groups around these parts – the Surfrider Foundation – was createdby surfers. Ironically, the boards they use to ride the waves in the water they so passionatelywant to keep clean are chock-full of very environmentally unfriendly materials. And recyclingisn’t typically part of the board-making process – unless we’re talking about boards crafted fromGreen Foam Blanks. The San Clemente-based company says it makes the “world’s only recycledpolyurethane surfboard blanks.” Blanks are the blocks of polyurethane foam that shapers cutand sand into surfboards. And just like a woodshop floor is littered with sawdust, a board-shap-ing studio floor is covered in polyurethane dust, which typically ends up in landfills. But GreenFoam Blanks Founder Joey Santley and his team sweep the floors of board-shaping studiosthroughout Orange County to collect bags of dust, which is then recycled and processed intonew blanks. Santley says he’s proud of the fact that his team has disproved a decades-old myththat polyurethane foam can’t be recycled. He’s even prouder that he’s diverting some of thattoxic waste from landfills. That’s keeping things clean by land and sea.

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“It is important for everyone tobe environ-mentally conscious, asconcerns overissues such as air quality,water conservation,urban runoff,greenhousegas emissionsand openspace preser-vation haveintensifiedthrough thedecades. Thatis certainlythe reason wehave servedas a leader in pioneeringsustainableinitiatives formore than acentury.”– Robyn Uptegraff, Senior

Vice President of Environmental Affairs

for the Irvine Co.

PoseidonResourcesHuntington Beach (seawaterdesalination facility)poseidon1.comFOUNDED: 1995 in Stamford, Conn.PRESIDENT AND CEO: James DonnellCHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Jon Loveland,Chief Technology Officer

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Huntington Beach stretches alongabout 8 miles of the Pacific. Itmakes for a perfect place to build adesalination plant, which is exactlywhat Poseidon Resources plans todo, using infrastructure that alreadyexists next to the AES GeneratingStation at Pacific Coast Highwayand Newland Street. If built tospecs (construction is anticipatedto begin next year), the companysays it will be the most technologi-cally advanced, energy-efficient andenvironmentally sound seawaterdesalination plan in the WesternHemisphere – and it will provide 50 million gallons of drinking wateron a daily basis. That’s enough toaccommodate 8 percent of O.C.’sneeds, without tapping into ground-water or other limited resources, orharming marine life. (Studies indi-cate that desalination has the sameimpact as natural evaporation.) Theproject includes an Energy Mini-mization and Greenhouse GasReduction Plan, a commitment thatwould result in a carbon-neutralfootprint for the facility. The com-pany plans to build the $350 millionplant at no cost to taxpayers, usinga formula of private enterprise andinvestment tools. Poseidon has financed and developed more than$2.8 billion worth of water projectsthroughout North America.

The Irvine Co.Irvine | irvinecompany.comFOUNDED: 1864 | CHAIRMAN: Donald Bren | CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Robyn Uptegraff

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The Irvine Co. began crafting and implementing its environmental initiatives long before anyonehad even coined the terms “smart growth” and “compact development.” Its conservation pro-grams date back to the 1960s, when the company drafted its master plan for developing theIrvine Ranch’s land holdings, giving careful consideration to striking a balance between buildingthe new communities required to sustain a growing region and preserving precious natural re-sources, including the swaths of open space, ecosystems, watersheds and ridgelines that remainthriving habitats for wildlife today. And the use of reclaimed water has been a core part of theranch’s environmental legacy since 1967. Those recycling efforts, when combined with conserva-tion, save more than 35,000 acre-feet of potable water a year. Other programs are equally im-pressive. Over the last three years, for example, the Irvine Co. has retrofitted more than 1,500plumbing fixtures, 1,200 faucet aerators and 5,000 irrigation fixtures with high-efficiency models,resulting in an annual savings of 34 million gallons of water.  The company plans to continue theIrvine retrofit program, which has an additional savings potential of 50 million gallons annually.All tallied, you’re looking at a water savings of about 85 million gallons a year. In addition, all of the new homes built in Irvine are Build It Green-certified, incorporating energy- and resource-efficient building practices into the design of new home developments. And 100 percent of theIrvine Co.’s high-rise buildings in Orange County are Energy Star certified.

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UPSLocations throughout Orange County | ups.comFOUNDED: 1907 in Seattle | VICE PRESIDENT AND COO: George Willis (Southern California)

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When it comes to environmental initiatives, UPS has been a company of firsts in the packaging and shipping industry. It was the first shippingcompany to join the EPA’s Climate Leaders Program, creating and implementing strategies for environmental preservation. It was the firstto launch annual CO2 inventory studies. UPS uses that information toset benchmarks and policies – including routing-efficiency programs –that will result in a target reduction of 1.24 CO2 pounds/ATM by 2020.And in 2008, it became the operator of the largest alternative fuel/technology vehicle fleet in the packaging sector. Among its manydemonstrated results: A shift from ground to rail, and air to ground, pre-vented the emission of 3 million metric tons of CO2 in 2008 alone. Andfor all of its efforts, the company earned a SmartWay Environmental Excellence Award from the EPA.

Sharp SolarEnergy SolutionsGroup and thecity of HuntingtonBeachsharpusa.com ci.huntington-beach.ca.usFOUNDED: 1998 (Sharp Solar)INCORPORATED: 1909 (city of Huntington Beach) | VICE PRESIDENT: Ron Kenedi (Sharp)CHIEF GREEN OFFICER: Aaron Klemm, Energy Project Manager for Huntington Beach

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A partnership between Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group and Huntington Beach aims toturn Surf City into a solar-powered community. And to make it so, the Sharp SolutionsGroup (which, by the way, is based in H.B.) and the city created the Huntington BeachHometown Solar Rebate Program. Residents who install Sharp Solar systems in their homesget a $150-per-kilowatt rebate – that’s up to $1,500 off the cost of a 10-kilowatt system.These new solar projects will be generating clean electricity for decades to come and willprovide the city with emissions-free renewable power, while helping to relieve pressure onthe electrical grid. Now there’s a sunny outlook.

GO EASY ON THE EQUIPMENTSet computers to energy-saving settings and makesure to shut them down when you leave for theday – even standby settings draw power. By plug-ging hardware into a power strip with an on/offswitch, your whole desktop setup can be turnedoff at once. (But make sure you power down theinkjet printers first, so that the cartridges aresealed.) Printers, scanners and other equipmentcan be unplugged until they’re needed. And, ofcourse, turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms.

SAVE SOME TREESKeep files on computers instead of in file cabinets.Review documents on-screen rather than printingthem out. Send e-mails instead of paper letters.And for those tasks that do require it, use recycledpaper with a high percentage of post-consumercontent and a minimum of chlorine bleaching, andprint on both sides of the page. If your office shipspackages, reuse boxes and use shredded wastepaper as packing material. You can even go a fewsteps farther and use only pens and pencils thatare made of recycled materials, as well as refill-able pens and markers.

TAKE THE HIGH ROADAmerican workers spend an average of 47 hoursper year commuting through rush hour traffic.That’s 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons ofgas wasted in traffic each year. Carpooling, biking,walking or a creative combination of the three canhelp ease the impact. And if you must commuteby car, consider buying a hybrid, electric vehicle,motorcycle or scooter, or using a car-sharing service.

REDESIGN YOUR WORKSPACEStart with good furniture, good lighting and goodair. Furniture can be manufactured from recycledmaterials. Incandescent bulbs can be replacedwith compact fluorescents, and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lampsthat use miniscule amounts of energy. And thenthere’s the always-free natural daylight – it hasbeen proven to improve worker productivity andsatisfaction. Good ventilation and low-VOC paintsand materials will keep employees healthy.

ENJOY A SENSIBLE LUNCHBringing lunch to work in reusable containers islikely the greenest – and healthiest – way to eat atwork. But if you choose delivery, join coworkers inplacing a large order – it’s more efficient than manyseparate ones. Also, bring in a reusable plate, uten-sils and napkins. If you go out for lunch, try bikingor walking to the restaurant instead of driving.

SOURCE: planetgreen.discovery.com

EVERYBODY’SBUSINESSHERE’S HOW YOU CAN CREATE AGREENER WORKPLACE