2009 CCM® Green
Awards
Jan/Feb 2009
It's a buzzword. It's a gimmick. It's
a movement.
And on the Central
Coast, it's a way of life. Beneath its seemingly
shiny superficiality, the "green" concept
is much more than media hype. This year, CCM recognizes
the local businesses who "walk the walk" and whose
commitment to ecological preservation surpasses
quirky catch phrases. Nominated by our readers
and evaluated by an independent panel of environmental
experts, the following seven businesses are putting
their passion into practice and together, they
exemplify what it truly means to go green.
Jump To:
Sage Ecological Landscapes
Hayward Lumber
RRM Design Group
SIP Program
Allen Associates
Solarponics
Move Green
The Judges
All Nominees
Sage Ecological
Landscapes
Planting with Purpose
Samuel C. Bettien, Todd
M. Davidson, and Jason Tufts
Being known
for their green thumb might be what landed Sage
Ecological Landscapes on the nomination form, but
it was the company's innovative and integrated
approach to landscape design, restoration, and
maintenance that ultimately earned them a Green
Award. Firmly rooted in the ideology of ecological
preservation, Sage creates healthy habitats that
promote environmental balance and reduce water
use. Owner Todd Davidson cultivates custom gardens
that restore both beauty and biological balance
through the use of colorful drought-tolerant plants,
water conserving irrigation systems, and organic
alternatives to pest control. "I'm impressed with
their comprehensive and ecological approach to
landscaping: design, construction, restoration,
and maintenance," mentions judge Wes Willhoit. "Having
a company design an ecological landscape for you
and maintain it in an organic manner is unique." Sage
also recently finished a new eco-garden and retail
nursery--which showcases plants from different Mediterranean
climates and offers a variety of eco-friendly items
like sustainable plants, gifts, and garden accessories.
The garden doubles as an outdoor classroom where
Davidson hosts educational seminars addressing
water-saving techniques, various plant cultivars,
landscaping ideas, and gardening techniques. Through
its creative designs, use of climate-compatible
plants, and educational efforts, Sage is sowing
the seeds of sustainability for years to come.
Sage Ecological Landscapes
P.O. Box 6053, Los Osos, CA
(805) 574-0777
www.sagelandscapes.net
back to top
Hayward Lumber
Branching out to Protect Our Forests
Billy Hayward
holding a piece of insulation made from 100
percent post-industrial recycled tailings
from blue jeans.
Bill Hayward's eight-year-old daughter made an
astute observation when she noted, "Daddy, your
two jobs are in conflict with each other: on one
hand, you cut down trees; on the other, you save
them." Although an unlikely candidate, Hayward
Lumber is cutting down stereotypes and going out
on a limb to rebuild perceptions about the lumber
industry. "It really is our responsibility to give
back to the source of our wealth," Hayward affirms. "This
company's prosperity came from the forest, and
we need to take care of that resource." Serving
as the chairman of the board for the Forest Stewardship
Council, and as CEO of Hayward Lumber, Hayward
has been implementing green practices into the
family-owned business since 1997. "Not only do
they offer an extensive line of EnviroSmart building
products (including FSC wood, low-VOC adhesives,
and nails made of recycled metal) they have also
built a LEED certified truss manufacturing plant," notes
judge Wes Willhoit. Hayward Lumber is the Central
Coast's leading supplier of FSC certified wood
(meaning it is sustainably harvested), and was
the nation's first full-line lumberyard to completely
eliminate CCA pressure treated wood. From the lumber
yard to your own backyard, Hayward Lumber is proving
that social responsibility and environmental accountability
are not just for tree huggers.
Hayward Lumber
10 Ragsdale Dr., Suite 100, Monterey
(831) 643-1900
www.haywardlumber.com
back to top
RRM Design Group
Making Blueprints for a Green World
Erik Justesen, Susan Whalen, and Stacey White
Stacey White's home is entirely solar-powered;
Susan Whalen asks for aluminum foil instead of
Styrofoam at the drive-thru; and Erik Justesen
grows his own produce. These are just a few ways
the employees at RRM Design Group in
San Luis Obispo are doing their part to ensure
a more sustainable future. On the business front,
however, the company's environmental impact is
no small potato. The multidisciplinary staff has
built seven LEED(TM) certified buildings, converted
over 100 fire stations to operate 30 percent more
efficiently, and transformed their own headquarters
from a dreary industrial warehouse to a contemporary,
fully functional, LEED-EB Gold certified wonderland. "LEED-EB
(Existing Buildings) is probably the most rigorous
of the LEED rating systems because it mandates
a three-month reporting period in which your project
is monitored and scored on actual performance," notes
judge Dave Intner. RRM was responsible for the
revitalization of downtown Avila Beach, for the
Cal Poly Campus Master Plan (which doubled the
campus housing capacity), and for the preservation
and conservation of Hearst Ranch. With projects
ranging in scope from civic and public safety to
recreation and urban development--RRM is undoubtedly
the ultimate leader in comprehensive conservation.
RRM Design Group
3765 South Higuera St., Suite
102, San Luis Obispo
(805) 543-1794
www.rrmdesign.com
back to top
SIP Program
Setting the Standards for Sustainability
Gregg Hibbits, Mesa Vineyard Mgmt; Kris O'Connor, Central Coast Vineyard Team;
Pebble Smith, James Berry Vineyard; Willy Cunha, Sunview Vineyards; and Daryl
Salm, Paraiso Vineyards
The Central Coast Vineyard
Team (CCVT) has been the cream
of the crop in resource conservation
for 15 years, but the team's recent
Sustainability in Practice (SIP)
program is giving the Central Coast
a fresh taste of their longstanding
commitment. Functioning as a verification
process to validate responsible
farming practices, the recent pilot
program provides growers with an
established set of guidelines (known
as "the standards") that are audited
and verified by a third-party.
Leaving no vine left unturned,
the CCVT had the standards of the
SIP program independently reviewed
by outside regulatory agencies,
environmental groups, and social
justice organizations in order
to ensure "the content was there." The
quality measures blend both natural
and human resource components and
address many interrelated elements
such as habitat conservation, pest
management, vineyard management,
and social equity. So far, 14 vineyards
have received certification, and
more than 3,000 acres were certified
in 2008. "Once again, the CCVT
is leading the way in helping California
vintners implement sustainable
agricultural methods," commented
judge Hunter Francis. "The new
certification systems will do much
to educate growers and community
members on sustainable vineyard
practices."
Central Coast Vineyard Team & SIP Program
835
12th Street, Suite 204, Paso Robles
(805) 369-CCVT
www.vineyardteam.org
www.sipthegoodlife.org
back to top
Allen Associates
Models of Green Building
Top: Bryan Henson and Ian Cronshaw Bottom: Ben Cervantes, Jeff Hunt, John Scoggins,
Dennis Allen, Ian Teasdale, Jed Harpster, and Jim Morledge
Brick by brick, partners Dennis Allen and Ian Cronshaw have
built a solid reputation for their construction firm Allen
Associates . Specializing in commercial and residential
environmentally-sensitive structures, Allen Associates has
been building a brighter future for years and has a strong
history of home construction under its (tool) belt. The group
of pioneering progressives was the first to create solar homes in
Santa Barbara during the 1970s--laying the foundation for green
development on the Central Coast. Judge Megan Birney hit the
nail on the head when she noted, "Allen Associates has
been a leader in the green community for decades. Their work
throughout the community is honorable and their homes and businesses are
models of green buildings." In addition to implementing renewable
resources into its projects, Allen Associates holds the
title as the only construction firm to receive the "Green Residential
Building Award" from the Santa Barbara Contractor's Association
every year since 1998. The company headquarters is also
energy efficient, and employees who walk, bike, or carpool
to work are entered to win a prize in a monthly "Clean Commuter" drawing. Both
on-site and in the office, Allen Associates continues to lay
the framework for better building and business practices.
Allen Associates
835 N. Milpas St., Suite D, Santa
Barbara
(805) 884-8777
www.dennisallenassociates.com
back to top
Solarponics
Giving Back
to the Grid
Mike Emrich and his son Christian Emrich
Mike
Emrich grew
up in the
mountains
under pristine
blue skies.
But by the
time he
graduated
college,
a thick
layer of
smog clouded
his once
clear view.
Still, the
unsightly
haze didn't
put a damper
on his sunny
outlook. "I enjoy a beautiful
world," Emrich says. "Why should we have to breathe bad air?" It was for this
vision of a cleaner, clearer world that Emrich established Solarponics in
1975. And for the last 33 years, Solarponics has been designing, installing,
servicing, and maintaining clean energy alternatives like radiant heating,
wind turbines, geothermal heat pumping, and solar electric systems. "The range of
different renewable energy technologies available through Solarponics is impressive
and will allow for a multitude of people with different resources and financial
capacities to take advantage of renewable electricity," commented judge Megan
Birney. In addition, Solarponics is the only RPA (Radiant Panel Association)
certified designer and installer on the Central Coast, and has aided in the
energy independence of San Luis Obispo High School, Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Morro Bay High School, and Cuesta College, to name only a few. Emrich's own
home has been running on solar energy for 31 years, and is one of the oldest,
continually-operating solar homes in the United States. Together with his
son, Christian, they're turning back energy meters across the Central Coast
and, as always, keeping an eye toward the future.
Solarponics
4700 El Camino Real, Atascadero
(805) 466-5595
www.solarponics.com
back to top
Move Green
Driving Toward a Healthier Planet
Erik Haney and Patrick Wilkinson
If there's one company helping us
make the move to a carbon-free future, it's
Move Green in Santa Barbara. Owners Erik Haney and Patrick Wilkinson are taking
the wheel and steering us in the right direction with their innovative green
moving business. Judges Hunter Francis and Francis Gillian were impressed
(and pleasantly surprised) with the company's
earth-friendly approach. "This is a
novel, needed idea in the moving industry" said Francis. In addition to fueling
their fleet with bio-diesel and driving low-emission trucks, Move Green offers
sustainable moving materials such as recyclable plastic containers, wood-free
crating, and recycled cardboard boxes (they even offer a "Box Swap" page on
their website that allows people to get or give moving boxes). Judge Megan Birney,
however, was less impressed with the company's energy efficiency than she was
with its more "altruistic measures," like purchasing carbon credits to off
set emissions and planting 10 trees with every move. With environmental ethics
driving their business, Haney and Wilkinson are going the distance to prove
that any industry can make a positive impact. And while the grass may be greener
on the other side, Move Green is helping us get there.
Move Green
P.O. Box 2036, Santa Barbara, 93101
(866) 6847336
www.wemovegreen.com
back to top
Get more exclusive photos in our Behind
the Scenes gallery.
The Judges
For our 2nd Annual Green Awards, we once again
reached out to qualified environmental experts in various green fields to judge
the competition. What began as a long list of nominees was narrowed to a shorter
list of finalists, and ultimately just seven award-winning businesses. CCM® would
like to thank the following professionals for lending their time, insight, and
expertise.
Wes Willhoit is the Senior Vice President of Business
Development for Estrella Associates, Inc. and is responsible for project design,
site development, vertical construction, and maintenance. Estrella Associates
is a multi-dimensional company in Paso Robles specializing in neighborhood and
planned community developments that emphasize natural resource conservation and
energy savings. Operating under an “ecoSmart” philosophy, they incorporate
sustainability in a vertically integrated approach, from land planning to vertical
construction and operations.
Megan Birney is the Senior Associate at the Community
Environmental Council (CEC) in Santa Barbara. A
graduate of the University of Southern California,
Birney obtained her Master’s Degree in public
policy and focuses on renewable energy. The CEC
is a nonprofit focused exclusively on energy efficiency,
renewable energy, alternative transportation, and
climate change. The organization works at all levels
to help end our dependency on fossil fuels and
become “Fossil Free by 2033.”
Hunter Francis is the founder and coordinator
for the Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center
(SARC) at Cal Poly State University in San Luis
Obispo, and also works closely with the Cal Poly
Organic Farm. He holds a Master of Agriculture
Degree from Cal Poly with a specialization in soil
science and is also a part-time lecturer and co-instructor.
The SARC offers educational programs in sustainable
and organic agriculture for Cal Poly students,
community members, and agricultural professionals.
Frances Gilliland has worked for the Santa Barbara
County Air Pollution Control District and is the
current Program Director for Green Business Program
Santa Barbara County, a county-wide effort to encourage
businesses to implement actions to protect, preserve,
and improve the environment above and beyond what
is required by law. The voluntary program offers
assistance and incentives such as an official “Green
Business” certification upon completion of
the recommended actions.
Dave Intner is the Ventura County Chair for the
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) California
Central Coast Chapter (C4) and an associate with
FIRMITAS Architecture & Planning in Ventura.
He has been LEED accredited since 2002 and is also
a Certified Green Building Professional (CGBP)
and a certified GreenPoint Rater. FIRMITAS is a
broad-based architecture practice focusing on healthy,
energy-efficient design solutions in housing, urban
planning, and commercial projects.
Kris O’Connor is the Executive Director
for the Central Coast Vineyard Team (CCVT). The
CCVT is a nonprofit grower group dedicated to sustainable
winegrowing and is considered a pioneer in the
industry. Since 1994, the organization has received
numerous awards from agencies and environmental
groups. This year, O’Connor is both a judge
and a Green Award recipient for the Sustainability
in Practice (SIP) program. Taking the CCVT’s
credibility seriously, O’Connor abstained
from voting for or against the program.
back to top
The
2009 Nominees
Know of a trendsetting organization that didn't
make our list?
Nominate them for
the 2010 Green Awards!
Nominees:
Alma Rosa Winery
AM Sun Power
AmByth Estate
Arcadia Landscape Design
Atmospheric Water Systems
Avila Wine & Roasting
Co.
Bambu Batu
Bazil Essentials
Berkus Construction
Brave New Wares Development
Campanelli Construction
Christie Communications
Clearwater Tech
Clos Pepe Vineyards
Commuter Bicycles
CorkStop Studios
Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa
Earthscapes
Estrella Associates, Inc.
Evolve 108
Finders Keepers
Fiona Bleu Gallery
FireCrystals
Firefly Gallery
Gardens by Gabriel
Golden Path Alchemy
Green Goods
GreenSantaBarbara.com
Green Space
Green Vision
Hemp Shack
HopeDance Magazine
John D. Kelley Architect
La Bonne Vie Spa
Lamda Chi Alpha fraternity at Cal
Poly
Le Reve Aromatherapy Day Spa
Life Source Water
Lindamood-Bell Learning Centers
Monterey County
Vintners & Growers Association
Mt. Olive Organic
Farm
Pacific Energy Company
Paragon Architects
Paragon Vineyard
Paraiso Vineyards
Passion Purveyors
Pearls of Wisdom
PG Health & Water to Go Plant
Platzer Custom Cabinetry
Poor Richard's Press
REC Solar Inc
RPM Architects
Reveal Salon
San Luis Sustainability Group
SafePath(TM) Products
Saucelito Canyon Vineyard and
Winery
Savvi Skin & Body Studio
Semmes & Co. Builders
Shannon Scott Design
Signature Woodworks
San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden
Solstice Green
Directory
Splash Café Artisan Bakery
Sycamore Mineral
Springs
Tetra Tech, Inc.
Tolosa Winery
Trilogy Central Coast
Village Properties/Eco-Brokers
Whole Foods Market,
Monterey
WOW program at Cal Poly
Yanonali Court
See
the 2008 CCM®
Green Awards
Winners
back to top
