Cool Business: Improve Buildings
Did you know that nearly 40 percent of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions originate from the building sector?
About 70% of that comes from the energy used for daily building operations. The remaining 30% comes from the mining, manufacture, transport, installation, and maintenance of materials used in building construction. This is called upfront or embodied carbon.
When thinking about opportunities to reduce our building’s emissions for our businesses:
How can we improve our building’s energy efficiency?
How can we transition appliances and equipment from gas to electric?
How can we use clean and renewable electricity?
How can we reduce the impact of construction materials?
Cool Business - Building Improvement Options
Improving energy efficiency and transitioning from gas to electric
GET STARTED:
In Sonoma County, BayREN public programs complement PG&E LGP Programs so that the County can offer a full suite of services. Contact energy@sonomacounty.gov for more information.
Visit County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability’s Business Resources for information on:
Green Business Certification
Incentives Rebates and Financing
Tool Lending Library
Workforce Development
Consultations and Project Planning
COOL BUSINESS EVENT RECAP from 10-14-25:
Discover how your business can save energy and water, reduce costs, and stand out as a leader in sustainability. Guest speaker Eliott Whitehurst from County of Sonoma Energy and Sustainability shared this slide deck with the Cool Business Collective on October 14, 2025 many free services and valuable incentives offered by their Business Program, including:
Energy assessments
Expert consultations
Financing options
Incentive programs to support upgrades in lighting, HVAC & refrigeration
And how to obtain a California Green Business certification for your efforts!
Using clean renewable electricity
Learn about where our power comes from and how we can help promote a clean energy future. Leif Christiansen from Sonoma Clean Power presented this slide deck to the Cool Business Collective on September 9, 2025.
Upgrade to SonomaClean Power’s EverGreen program with it’s 100% local, renewable electricity 24/7!. All you need is your PG&E account number, your business name, and your zip code. That’s it!
Reducing impact of construction materials
Info coming soon.
