Major Companies Join California Green Communities' Efforts

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Jan 23, 2013, 07:04 ET

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- California Green Communities (CGC), a community-based challenge that encourages cities to adopt innovative, individually-designed and tailored environmental practices aimed toward a sustainable future is amassing mounting support from several major US corporations, indicating a growing trend toward a 'green economy'.

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Southern California Edison (sce.com), Green Seal (greenseal.org), and the Environmental Media Association (ema-online.org) helped to found the California Green Communities program (cagreencom.org) in 2009, but lately companies like Toyota (toyota.com), Radisson Hotel at Los Angeles Airport (radissonlax.com), Kellogg Garden Products (kellogggarden.com), WAXIE Sanitary Supplies (waxie.com), Allan Company (allancompany.com), EcoTelesis (ecotelesis), D. Edwards Inc. (dedwardsinc.com), Clements Environmental (clementsenvironmental.com) and several others have thrown their weight and backing behind the program. The full list of program Partners further includes The Energy Coalition (EnergyCoalition.org), The Alliance for Climate Education (acespace.org), Athens Services (athensservices.com), The Clean Environment Company (cleanenvironmentco.com), EcoLogic Solutions (ecologicsolutions.com), e-Recycling of California (erecyclingofca.com), Los Angeles Conservation Corps (lacorps.org), Sanitation Districts of LA County (lacsd.org), CalRecycle (calrecycle.ca.gov), The Cadmus Group (cadmusgroup.com), and Agromin (agromin.com)

"The CGC Challenge is gaining traction and global appeal," said Hal Conklin, Chair of the USA Green Communities Board of Directors. "Eventually, there are plans to roll out a similar program across the country, but for the moment the focus is on helping Southern California cities achieve their goals for a truly sustainable future. Participating cities address 10 areas that touch every aspect of community life and have the potential to significantly reduce energy use and carbon emissions. So far, Claremont, Riverside, Monrovia, Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Culver City and Ventura have been certified for the Silver award for their accomplishments and several other cities are working towards Silver, Gold, and Platinum level trophies."

Hollywood Actress Rachelle Lefevre -- a member of the young Hollywood Board of EMA and recent CGC presenter in Culver City, California -- said, "I'm extremely inspired by the California Green Communities initiative. Being a part of this board, a group of people who both talk and walk a green lifestyle, has shown me how incredible the results can be when individuals come together to help educate people about and protect the environment. The largest changes I have seen on this front are when whole communities come together to accomplish these goals."

California Green Communities provides best practices guidelines based on the Institute for Local Government's climate change and sustainability best practices framework, offering suggestions for local action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in each area. Specific best practice suggestions can be used by each participating city to undertake standalone programs or can be part of a broad-based climate action plan. Taken together, the best practices point to new ways for cities to revitalize their communities in the following areas:

For more information on the CGC program, each participating city's unique action plans, and the companies that have joined the effort, visit cagreencom.org.

Contact:
Jonatha King, King Communications
(805) 637-7494
[email protected]

SOURCE California Green Communities