SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board is accepting applications now through Nov. 1 for its fourth CoolCalifornia Small Business Awards Program which recognizes small businesses that integrate environmental stewardship and sustainability into their business practices.

California small businesses that reduce energy use, conserve water and minimize their greenhouse gas emissions are demonstrating climate leadership and can compete for a CoolCalifornia Small Business Award.

"Whether they are law offices, restaurants or manufacturers, small businesses across the state are taking actions to save money while reducing their environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions," ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols said. "These small business leaders are demonstrating that making smart climate-friendly choices is good for the environment and for their bottom line."

Small businesses that meet the requirements can apply online for an award between Aug. 12, 2013, and Nov. 1, 2013, at: http://www.coolcalifornia.org/article/small-business-awards-program (http://www.coolcalifornia.org/article/small-business-awards-program). Winners will be recognized by ARB in a statewide press release, at a public ceremony in Sacramento in February 2014 and profiled on the CoolCalifornia.org website.

Awards will be given to small businesses in two categories:

• CoolCalifornia Small Business of the Year Award: Awarded to small businesses that have taken significant actions in 2012-2013 to reduce their climate impacts, demonstrated measurable greenhouse gas reductions and documented benefits from the actions they have taken (e.g., cost savings, return on investment, etc.) by using tools such as the CoolCalifornia small business carbon calculator.


• CoolCalifornia Climate Leader Award: Awarded to small businesses that were proactive in reducing their environmental impacts and can describe in detail the specific actions taken in 2012-2013 to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Last year ARB recognized 16 small businesses that took a variety of actions to save money while reducing their environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. These included installing compact fluorescent lights and energy efficient equipment or solar panels; supporting carpooling, bicycling and alternative fuel vehicles; purchasing environmentally-friendly cleaning products and low volatile organic compound paints and carpet, and incentivizing climate-friendly behavior. For information on past winners, see https://www.coolcalifornia.org/article/small-business-awards-program (https://www.coolcalifornia.org/article/small-business-awards-program).