511 is a free service that consolidates Bay Area transportation information into a one-stop resource. 511 provides up-to-the-minute information on traffic conditions, incidents and driving times, schedule, route and fare information for the Bay Area’s public transportation services, instant carpool and vanpool referrals, bicycling information and more.
The 511 Regional Rideshare Program offers a variety of free services and tools to help businesses put together a successful Transportation Demand Management Program at their worksite. The programs are designed to save company money, make employees happier, improve productivity and decrease time lost sitting in traffic.
The Bay Area Green Business Program verifies that businesses meet higher standards of environmental performance. Government agencies and utilities help local businesses comply with environmental regulations and take action to conserve resources, prevent pollution, and minimize waste. The program offers businesses and agencies an easy-to-use framework for improving environmental performance.
BayROC is a collaboration of employers working together on waste reduction and “buy-recycled” concepts through a variety of media campaigns which promote personal action and behavior change. Campaigns include:
- Bring Your Own Bag
- Done With That Apple?
- Ready.Aim.Recyle.
Business Council on Climate Change (BC3) is a partnership of San Francisco Bay Area businesses committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a member-driven organization, BC3 is composed of companies of all sizes are actively committed to implementing their “5 Principles on Climate Leadership.”
The Climate Savers Computing Initiative is a nonprofit group of eco-conscious consumers, businesses and conservation organizations. The organization’s goal is to promote development, deployment and adoption of smart technologies that can both improve the efficiency of a computer’s power delivery and reduce the energy consumed when the computer is in an inactive state.
The ClimateSmart program provides a voluntary option for Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers to reduce their personal impact on climate change. By enrolling in the ClimateSmart program, customers pay a separate amount on their monthly utility bill (based on actual energy usage) to balance out the emissions associated with the energy they use. PG&E uses 100 percent of the payments from customers to fund new projects in California that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Commuter Check Direct offers businesses a simple, economical, and efficient way to provide employees with a pre-tax transportation benefit program. Commuters can save 40% in after-tax value, while employers save 10% or more in payroll-related costs. Commuter Check allows any size company from single-person offices to large businesses with multiple locations to add to their benefits package without adding cost.
In addition to saving money, using Commuter Check sends a strong message to employees and customers that your organization is environmentally-conscious – promoting the use of public transportation to help fight climate change and support global sustainability. Click here to calculate your commuter tax savings and emissions savings.
Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) is a benefit offered by many counties and employers to take the worry of being “stranded without a car” out of ridesharing. The program provides commuters who regularly carpool, vanpool, bike, walk or take transit to work with a reliable and free ride home – usually in a taxi or rental car – when unexpected emergencies arise (like family emergencies and illnesses, unscheduled overtime or unexpected early departure of rideshare partner). Find a GRH program in your work county today to make your commute easier.
Northern California Recycling Association is an association of recycling businesses, community groups, municipalities, and individuals committed to promoting, expanding, and institutionalizing recycling. NCRA promotes waste reduction, reuse, salvaging, recycling and composting as vital tools for resource and energy conservation and as cost-effective, environmentally sound methods of disposing of discarded materials.
A program of San Mateo County, RecycleWorks primarily provides outreach to all residents and businesses in San Mateo County and oversees waste and recycling services for County facilities and Unincorporated San Mateo County areas. RecycleWorks’ mission is to create, deliver and promote recycling, composting, waste prevention, procurement, sustainability and green building programs and outreach for residents, employees, businesses and visitors.
StopWaste.org is the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board operating as one public agency. StopWaste.org offers a wide range of free waste prevention and recycling services to businesses and public agencies in Alameda County. A sampling includes:
- The StopWaste Partnership: For businesses or agencies with at least 50 employees, StopWaste helps them reduce operating costs and increase efficiencies.
- Funding Assistance: For qualifying businesses or organizations, StopWaste offers grants, loans, and financial assistance for programs that help promote waste prevention and recycling.
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing: Encourages employers to purchase items made from recycled products such as copy paper and toner cartridges.
Sustainable San Mateo County is dedicated to educating the community about sustainability, bringing the concepts of sustainability into the mainstream of decision-making countywide and contributing to the long-term improvement of their economy, environment and society. SSMC provides businesses with information on how to be more sustainable and examples of other companies to emulate.
SSMC presents an annual Sustainability Award that recognizes San Mateo County businesses, community groups and individuals that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to bringing sustainable practices to their work.
E-mail comments or suggestions about this page to Jennifer Alverson.