City of Sunnyvale

BURROWING OWLS
Burrowing owls are currently a Federal Species of Special Concern. The City of Sunnyvale has a special interest in protecting burrowing owl habitat because the owls nest on the City's closed landfill.

Mission College's Western Burrowing Owls website provides extensive information on the owl as well as the history of the owl on campus, local statistics, photos and more.

Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society has two articles about burrowing owls in Santa Clara Valley, "Clear-cutting the Valley" (1997) and "Good News, Bad News" (2004).

BUYING RECYCLED CONTENT PRODUCTS

Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition (BayROC) is a group of Bay Area cities, counties and organizations working together to bring better awareness and understanding to environmental concerns throughout the greater Bay Area. Previous campaigns have focused on buying recycled paper.

California Integrated Waste Management Board has a searchable Recycled-Content Product Directory containing over 3,000 companies and 6,500 recycled content products.

City of Sunnyvale Environmental Procurement Policy (EPP) was adopted in 1999 and requires the purchase of 30% post-consumer recycled paper products as well as the consideration of other environmental factors when making purchases.

Conservatree promotes environmentally sound papers and covers the economics of recycled content paper including the politics and legislation involved.

EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines a key component of the government's "buy recycled" program.

National Office Paper Recycling Project is a collaborative effort to create office paper recycling programs and to develop a buy recycled program.

Office of Federal Environmental Executive includes an online tool for calculating the environmental impact of your paper usage and a brochure discussing how test results show that 30% post-consumer copier paper, lower content recycled paper, and virgin paper are equivalent in performance.

PlasticsResource.com (American Plastics Council) provides information on plastics and the environment. This user-friendly site contains a Recycled Plastic Products Directory containing a wide variety of product categories and vendor contact information.

RecycleStore, presented by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, offers an online showcase of unique recycled-content products for individual and wholesale buyers.

Recycled Office Products Co., Inc. is an online catalog offering office supplies made from recycled materials.

Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative is increasing the use of recycled copy paper on a national basis by providing 30% post consumer recycled paper at prices which meet or beat what many entities pay for non-recycled or "virgin fiber" paper.

San Mateo County Recycled Paper website contains comprehensive information on buying recycled paper including sample newsletter articles, memos, and tips for choosing the right paper.

CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSION REDUCTION

Commercial

Sustainable Silicon Valley is a non-profit, collaboration of businesses, government,

and non-governmental organizations that works with its partners to reduce carbon

dioxide emissions with a regional goal of reducing emission 20% below 1990 levels by

2010.

Environmental Protection Agency Climate Leaders is a non-profit, private/public

partnership that works with companies to develop long-term comprehensive climate

change strategies. Partners set a corporate-wide greenhouse gas reduction

goal and inventory their emissions to measure progress.

California Climate Action Registry is a non-profit, private/public partnership that

offers a voluntary greenhouse gas registry to promote the reduction of emissions.

Chicago Climate Exchange is a greenhouse gas emission registry, reduction and

trading system for all six greenhouse gases.

Residential

Acterra's Cool It! Campaign offer individuals an option to offset their carbon dioxide emissions from driving, air travel, heating and electricing use. Offsets are realized through the purchase of renewable energy certificates (green tags).

Better World Club offers flight booking and automobile insurance which incorporates the offset of related carbon dioxide emissions.

Carbonfund.org offers individuals an option to offset their car or total carbon dioxide emissions. Offsets are realized through the funding of renewable energy, energy-efficiency or reforestration projects.

DriveNeutral is a non-profit organization that offers individuals an option to offset their carbon dioxide emissions from driving. Offsets are purchased through the Chicago Climate Exchange.

EPA's Change a Light, Change the World Campaign is a national call-to-action to encourage individuals to help change the world, one light - one energy-saving step - at a time.

TerraPass is a business that offers individuals an option to offset their carbon ddioxide emissions from driving and flying. Offsets are realized through the funding of renewable energy projects.

COMMERCIAL RECYCLING LINKS

The California Integrated Waste Management Board offers practical waste reduction ideas and programs, recycling container resources, a searchable database of recycled content products, and a free service, CalMAX, which is designed to help businesses find markets for materials they have traditionally discarded.

California Department of Conservation, Division of Recycling offers no cost cans & bottle recycling information, starter kits and outreach materials.

Center for the Development of Recycling provides a searchable list of items and links users to recycling and reuse opportunities for those items.

Conservatree, a site devoted to promoting recycled paper, including tree-free papers, provides excellent practical information on recycled paper, including myths and facts.

The StopWaste Partnership offers case studies and other information on the benefits of reusable transport packaging (i.e. pallets, totes and bins) to the business community.

Waste Wise, an Environmental Protection Agency site, is designed specifically for businesses, with real world examples of cost-cutting measures and case studies.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (GENERAL INTEREST)

Acterra, a Palo Alto based environmental group, offers information on local environmental issues and events.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment.

Environmental Defense covers a variety of environmental topics including ecosystem, environmental health, energy, climate and air quality issues.

Green Seal is the independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the environment by promoting the manufacture and sale of environmentally responsible consumer products.

The Local Government Commission provides resources on a variety of topics including energy, waste prevention and community design.

Natural Resources Defense Council covers topics including clean air, clean water, and global warming.

Rocky Mountain Institute is a nonprofit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to create a more secure, prosperous, and life-sustaining world.

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition is an organization dedicated to providing information on high-tech impacts on community, worker and environmental health.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Resource Conservation Challenge offers resources to help people reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, recover energy and protect valuable natural resources.

GARDENING & LANDSCAPING

Clean Air Gardening offers lawn, garden and compost advice and products.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District offers a workshop series annually to learn learn how to beautify your garden and use water more efficiently. Other information and publications also available for water conservation.

GREEN BUILDING

Sustainable Development & Green Building website (City of Sunnyvale) contains information on the City of Sunnyvale's policy and ordinance to encourage sustainable development and provide an incentive for green buildings.

Alameda County Waste Management Authority offers downloadable residential home remodeling and new home green building guides.

Build It Green offers residents and builders resources, including a "green" building materials database, to build a healthier, energy-efficient and resource-efficient home.

BuildingGreen.com includes green building case studies and articles.

California Integrated Waste Management Board's Green Building Design and Construction website offers green building case studies, resources and information on training opportunities.

California Integrated Waste Management Board's Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling Program website provides a recycled content construction product manufacturers database, as well as a good list of links.

City of San Jose Green Building webpage offers case studies, general green building information and excellent links to sustainable living and building activities worldwide.

Deconstruction and Salvage flyer provides a list of local salvage companies and instructions on how to incorporate deconstruction and salvaging into a building demolition or renovation project in Sunnyvale.

EcoCity Builders is a a non-profit organization dedicated to reshaping cities for the long-term health of human and natural systems.

Energy Design Resources is a guide to energy efficient design practices for building professionals.

Global Ecovillage Network includes news, events and resources related to sustainable living.

Global Green USA offers a variety of resources, such as green building and cities information, to assist in a shift to a sustainable world.

The Green Building Resource Guide offers an option to order a database of over 600 green building materials and products selected specifically for their usefulness to the design and building professions.

Green Home Guide - Northern California offers design information, online product searches, cases studies, retailers and services for building green.

Green Resource Center offers a variety of green building resources including the "Ask An Expert" program to answer green building inquiries from building professionals and the general public in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.

GreenSage offers information on green design, green building products and furnishing, and green building experts.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating and certification system offered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Oikos Green Building Source contains information on green building including a user-friendly, searchable database of companies that specialize in green building.

Pacific Energy Center (PG&E) offers training course on green building practices.

Savings by Design (PG&E) offers funding and other assistance for energy-efficient facility design.

Smart Communities Network (U.S. Department of Energy) includes breaking news, coming events, success stories and funding opportunities in the area of sustainable development.

Sustainable Building Sources contains information on green building and other environmental issues.

U.S. Green Building Council offers the LEED green building rating and certification system as wells as training workshops.

HOME COMPOSTING

The California Integrated Waste Management Board has information on compost, mulch, grasscycling, and other topics related to the management and use of organic resources.

Composters.com is an online catalog of composting supplies from compost bins to vermiculture supplies and accessories.

Cornell Waste Management Institute's Composting website shares some case studies, provides a list of composting publications and resources, and has a detailed section on the science and engineering involved in composting.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Guide to Home Composting webpage includes the basics of creating and using compost.

Santa Clara County's How to Compost webpage contains information on basic composting information as well as some helpful do's & don'ts.

The Worm Guide: A Vermicomposting Guide for Teachers is downloadable on this California Integrated Waste Management Board site.

WormWoman.com offers basic information on vermiculture and a booklist.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE

Business Hazardous Waste Disposal & Recycling Program (City of Sunnyvale) offers monthly drop off option (except in December) in Sunnyvale.

Residential Hazardous Waste Disposal & Recycling Program (City of Sunnyvale) offers a monthly drop off option (except in December) in Sunnyvale.

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC) provides resources for rechargeable battery recycling.

Santa Clara County Hazardous Waste Recycling & Disposal Program hosts the drop off events in Sunnyvale and surrounding cities - open to all County residents.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

City of San Francisco's Integrated Pest Management webpage provides a very useful list of fact sheets, pest and chemical information and other resources.

IPMNet, affiliated with the Consortium for International Crop Protection (CICP), provides a variety of networking opportunities related to IPM.

National Foundation for IPM Education is a non-profit public foundation that promotes education, provides information, and encourages research to increase the adoption of IPM.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's IPM and Food Production webpage offers a brief explanation of what IPM means and provides useful resources.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP) is a voluntary public/private partnership committed to reducing the risks from pesticides in agricultural and nonagricultural settings.

Watershed Watch provides Santa Clara County residents with information on how to use less toxic methods of pest control.

RECYCLING--GENERAL INTEREST

Recycling Resources webpage (City of Sunnyvale) offers recycling resources for a variety of materials.

The Alameda County Waste Management Authority offers recycling resources for a variety of materials.

Californians Against Waste Foundation offers information on recycling legislation and a variety of "where to recycle" resources.

California Department of Conservation's Division of Recycling administers the California Refund Value (CRV) program and promotes food and beverage container recycling state-wide.

Center for the Development of Recycling (CDR) provides a searchable list of items and links users to recycling and reuse opportunities for those items.

Recycler’s World is a trading site for information related to recyclable commodities, by-products, and used/surplus items.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Go Solar California offers information on California rebates, solar companies and more to help individuals and businesses install photovoltaic systems.

The Northern California Solar Energy Association (NCSEA), an all volunteer membership organization established in 1974, provides information on solar home tours, solar classes and a variety of other solar energy resources.

OurEarth.org provides information on local, state and federal incentives for reducing energy usage and using/purchasing renewables.

U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website offers information on the different types of renewable energy sources available.

REUSE RESOURCES

CalMAX is a free classified listing service from the California Integrated Waste Management Board that is designed to help businesses find markets for material they have traditionally discarded.

Garage Sale Near U is a place to post free garage sale ads and view garage sale postings by city.

Goodwill of Santa Clara County provides a listing of stores, business services, and career development opportunities.

Make-stuff.com is a great website for making crafts out of "waste" materials.

RAFT (Resource Area For Teaching) is a nonprofit organization that funnels business surplus materials to schools and community groups for creative learning and play.

The Salvation Army (Serving San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey Peninsula, and Santa Clara and Salinas Valleys) provides information on store and drop-off locations, adult rehabilitation, contacts and links.

SunnyvaleFree and Sunnyvale Freecycle™ use Internet power to give your unwanted stuff to others. Check out these sites to reduce waste. No money changes hands.

Weird Stuff Warehouse accepts electronics from local businesses and residents and resells reusable items.

Whole House Building Supply is an organization which accepts salvaged building materials for reuse at affordable pricing.

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES

School Service webpage (City of Sunnyvale) provides Sunnyvale students, teachers and administrative staff with information on recycling, reuse, buying recycled and composting at schools in Sunnyvale.

American Forest & Paper Association's Kids & Teachers Page provides flyers, activities, facts and glossaries about trees and paper.

California Department of Conservation's Recycle Rex Education Page has recycling-related educational materials, games, club memberships and more.

California Integrated Waste Management Board's School Education and Assistance Programs contains curriculum, publications, event listings and other information related to waste reduction and recycling.

California Regional Environmental Education Community's Web Site features teacher and student sites including environmental education grants, curriculum, and event listings.

CANCENTRAL.COM offers a kit for teachers that includes environmental curriculum, in-class experiments and extracurricular activities.

Captain Planet Foundation is dedicated to creating successful environmental programs and includes grants, links, merchandise and more for students and teachers.

Center for Ecoliteracy provides environmental news, workshops, publications, projects and programs, grants, and more.

EARTH 911 includes information, fun games and activities, environmental links and more to help students and teachers learn how to protect the planet - offers a choice of grade levels!

Earth Day Network's Environmental Education Program offers lesson plans, educational games, and other ideas for the classroom.

Go Green Initiative is a simple, comprehensive program designed to create a culture of environmental responsibility on school campuses.

Life Lab offers science and garden-based curriculum, workshops, teacher training and tours.

National Garden Association offers useful gardening information and includes resources and supplies for both teachers and students.

National Wildlife Foundation's Education Page has been a leader in environmental education for more than 60 years. This page provides programs, activities, resources, leadership roles and more for the student and teacher.

Santa Clara County's Information for Schools & Teachers provides recycling and waste reduction (including composting!) information for schools and teachers in Santa Clara County.

Shop Back to School offers information about environmentally and socially responsible school supply choices including clothes, cosmetics, paper products, backpacks, pens and pencils and more. Students can have a positive impact through their consumer choices!

Sierra Club provides information on current environmental issues, activities, and grants.

Sunnyvale Library Web Site allows users to search an on-line database for materials on the various environmental topics that are available through the Sunnyvale Public Library.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Education Center contains information on curriculum resources & activities, community service projects, workshops, grants, and awards.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's High School Environmental Center contains information about air and water issues, waste and recycling, conservation, health and safety, ecosystems and community environmental conditions. It also links interested students to internship and scholarship opportunities, environmental careers and community involvement projects.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Recycle City is an interactive game for children and a great tool for teaching about waste reduction and recycling. Players also have the option of being the Mayor of "Dumptown" and changing Dumptown into Recycle City!

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Quest for Less is a teacher's activity and resource guide (K-6) for reducing, reusing and recycling.

SUSTAINABILITY--BUSINESS INTEREST

Alameda County StopWaste Partnership offers case studies on a variety of businesses that that have made great efforts toward sustainability.

Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities is a multi-stakeholder coalition established in 1997 to develop and implement an action plan that will lead to a more sustainable region.

Business and Sustainability Group is a local organization that offers onsite presentations, workshops, tours and speakers to help businesses incorporate sustainable management practices into their operations.

Business and Sustainable Development: A Global Guide includes specific tools and strategies that businesses can adopt to turn the principles of sustainable development into a competitive advantage.

Cradle to Cradle Design is the concept of designing products and processes that eliminate waste and allow for materials to perpetually circulate in closed loops.

GreenBiz.com offers news, reports and business tools for creating more sustainable business practices.

The Natural Step Network offers services, research and education to accelerate global sustainability.

Rocky Mountain Institute offers services, research and education to help businesses succeed while protecting and enhancing natural and human capital.

Sustainable Business Institute is dedicated to bringing about increased understanding of and commitment to, the concept of sustainability within business and communities worldwide.

Sustainable Silicon Valley works with businesses to set carbon dioxide emissions reduction goals and to assist businesses in reaching those goals.

U.S. Department of Energy's Smart Communities Network offers resources to assist businesses in the creation of innovative solutions to sustainability issues.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Industrial Ecology webpage provides information on industrial ecology, which focuses on the potential role of industry in reducing environmental burdens throughout the product life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, to the production of goods, to the use of those goods and to the management of the resulting wastes.

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WASTE REDUCTION--GENERAL INTEREST

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has a waste prevention website for both individuals and businesses.

Center for the Development of Recycling (CDR) offers a junk mail reduction kit that can help users reduce the junk mail that they receive.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a source reduction and reuse website for both individuals and businesses.

Waste Prevention World (California Integrated Waste Management Board) provides resources for both individuals and businesses.