The Green Business Certification Program is an excellent way for an eco-conscious Thousand Oaks business to receive recognition for its environmental stewardship and industry leadership. The program is free and typically takes a few weeks to complete. Download a guidebook or submit your interest to learn more about the program.

Eligible Business Sectors: Office/Retail, Restaurant/Food Service, and Hospitality

Get Started: Submit an Interest Form today to learn more about the program.  All interested Thousand Oaks businesses are encouraged to submit an interest form so we can notify you when your sector is eligible for certification.

Program Overview
The Green Business Certification Program (GBCP) of the City of Thousand Oaks incentivizes and rewards small and medium sized Thousand Oaks businesses that demonstrate a substantial and purposeful commitment to environmental stewardship through water conservation, solid waste reduction, energy conservation, and pollution prevention. Managed by the City of Thousand Oaks Public Works Department, the GBCP offers incentives and assistance to encourage businesses to implement actions that protect, preserve, and improve the environment above and beyond basic compliance. Businesses that meet the program’s criteria will be certified as “green” businesses and marketed as such to the Thousand Oaks community.  Earning a green business designation from the GBCP means that your business has taken a proactive approach to the health of the greater Thousand Oaks community and the future success of your business.

 Take a look at the Program Guidebook and see how to get started!

Purpose
This is a common sense and flexible certification program individually tailored to each applicant.  The purpose of the program is to help Thousand Oaks businesses become more efficient and competitive, in addition to being environmentally friendly.

We understand that every business is unique and that some of the green criteria may not apply to every business.  As a result, up to 35% of the application is customizable, allowing businesses to be creative and efficient, while maintaining the environmental standards held by all certified businesses in California. 

Under no circumstances do we expect businesses to make unreasonable capital investments.  Most of the certification criteria are behaviorial and process oriented, and do not require additional expenditures.

Process - Steps to become certified 
Indicate Your Interest:  Submit a Green Business Certification Interest Form to receive more information about the Green Business Certification Program.  You will be contacted by the Green Business Coordinator after submitting your interest.

Registration:  After you have spoken to the Green Business Coordinator and you feel that the program is right for your business, you will be emailed a link to officially register.

Online Program:  After successful registration, you will be able to login to your GoGreen account and begin the program.   This account will serve as your portal throughout the entire certification process.  You will be able to complete your checklist of environmental measures and outline your environmental plans.  You will be working with your Green Business Coordinator throughout the entire certification process to tailor requirements that are fair and advantageous for your business.

Onsite Visit:  This is a pre-scheduled onsite visit where you will take the Green Business Coordinator on a tour of your business to verify the measures you specified on your checklist. The visit lasts approximately one hour.

Certification:  Congratulations! You will have completed the Green Business Program and will receive all your award materials. Additionally, your business will be publicly recognized as a Green Business at a City Council meeting.

Benefits 
The City wants your business to save green and grow green by going green.

-  Competitive edge within the enviro-conscious Thousand Oaks community
-  Positive PR to increase your visibility and customer base
-  More constructive relationship with the City
-  Access to incentives and rebates
-  Streamlined efficiency to reduce costs
-  Improved employee motivation and productivity

Recognition 
Certified "Green Businesses" will be publicized and highly visible to the Thousand Oaks community.  Certification will be publicly awarded at a City Council meeting and certified businesses will recieve the following:
-  A framed certification plaque to display in your area of business
-  "Certified Green Business" window decals branding your business as a green business
-  Rights to use the Green Business logo in your marketing
-  Listing and recognition in the Thousand Oaks Green Business Directory, which will be marketed in local newspapers, pamphlets and on the City website.

Click here to view the Certified Green Business listing on our website. 

Quick Facts 
-  We are currently certifying businesses in the Office/Retail and Restaurant/Food Service sectors.
In the coming months, additional sectors will be added for certification.  We highly encourage all interested business types to submit an interest form so we know what business sectors to add to our program.

-  From start to finish, the certification program can take between 1 to 6 months to complete, depending on your level of involvement and the number of pre-existing green business practices.

-  The certification process is almost entirely computerized.  Your checklist, guidebook, and accounts will all be completed on your computer and sent electronically to the Green Business Coordinator.

-  You will work with your Green Business Coordinator throughout the entiriety of the certification process to tailor a program specific to your unique business.

FAQs 
Who can apply for Green Business Certification?

Any small or medium-sized Office/Retail or Restaurant/Food Service business that is licensed to do business in the City of Thousand Oaks.  The business must operate with a commercial establishment or facility within City limits to be eligible for certification.

My business is not in the Office/Retail or Restaurant/Food Service industries.  Can I still apply for the program?

Although we are currently only certifying businesses in the Office/Retail and Restaurant/Food Service industries, we will be adding additional certification sectors in the coming months.  Planned additions include property management, hospitality and automotive sectors.  We highly encourage any interested business to submit an interest form so that we can notify you when your business category is eligible for certification.

How much does this program cost?

There are NO fees associated with this program.  Potential expenses will take the form of asset investments that may be associated with particular measures.  However, we do not require capital expenditures for certification.  Your business may be able to make sufficient behavioral and procedural improvements to satisfy the certification requirements.

How long does the certification process take?

The certification process can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months to complete depending on your current 'green' measures and how expediently you can implement any additional measures.

How long am I certified for?

Certifications are valid for a 3-year period.  After 3 years, your business can apply for recertification, which is a much abbreviated version of the initial certification.  To be recertified, you must have maintained your current green measures and agree to implement a few additional ones.

All businesses are unique (ex. some businesses do not have control over their utilities and landscaping).  How does the program account for the variety of businesses and landlord limitations?

The program is inherently flexible and conducive to all types of business situations. The checklist has a list of general criteria that should apply to most businesses.  However, businesses are encouraged to develop their own measures and ways to become green without sacrificing their competitive edge.  The business will discuss these new measures with the Green Business Coordinator.

The program is not designed to burden businesses with unrealistic and illogical criteria.  We want the business to optimize its operating efficiencies and develop creative, workable green measures.

What if I have outstanding violations or compliance issues?

All outstanding violations and compliance issues must be resolved prior to beginning the program.  We will not accept registrations from businesses with compliance issues that have no been remedied.  If your business is found to be out of compliance, a hold will be placed on your application.  The Green Business Coordinator is not a compliance auditor, but can direct you to compliance experts if you have questions or concerns.

What takes place during an on-site visit?

After you submit your checklist, we will schedule an onsite visit with you to make sure that the measures you specified on your checklist are in fact implemented.  During the onsite visit, a business representative will guide a City staff member on a roughly one-hour tour of the facility to ensure that the measures specified on the checklist were properly implemented.  This is NOT an inspection, but merely a verification procedure to make sure that you made a willful attempt to implement the checklist measures.

 GET STARTED - CONTACT US

For all your questions and concerns regarding the Green Business Certification Program, please send an email to GoGreen@toaks.org with Green Business Inquiry in the subject line. You will receive a prompt response from the Green Business coordinator.  Questions can also be directed to the Public Works Department at (805) 449-2400.