12 Culver City Businesses Achieve Certifications in Sustainability

On June 1, 2022, Culver City Mayor Dr. Daniel Lee commended 12 newly certified sustainable businesses as part of Culver City’s Sustainable Business Certification Program (Certification Program) at Temple Akiba in Culver City.

The awards ceremony was hosted by project managers Sustainable Works and Balanced Approach as well as Temple Akiba, who received its own certification. These 12 businesses mark a total of 58 certifications since the program's inception in 2017.

“We are pleased that Culver City businesses are taking advantage of this opportunity to receive hands-on assistance to become certified as sustainable,” said Culver City Mayor Dr. Daniel Lee. "The Sustainable Business Certification Program is helping Culver City reduce its carbon footprint and improve the wellbeing of workers, customers and the entire community."

Culver City’s Sustainable Business Certification Program Honorees

- Temple Akiba

- Co-Opportunity Market

- Jag Gym

- Schmidli Backdrops

- Village Well Books & Coffee

- OsteoStrong (renewed its certification for another three years after achieving certification in 2019)

New “Certified Innovators”

- Green Dinosaur, Inc.

- KFA Architecture

- Servicon Systems, Inc. 

- Hi-Lo Liquor Market (renewed certifications this year, this time achieving the higher “Innovator” level)

- Reformation Culver City Headquarters and Store (renewed certifications this year, this time achieving the higher “Innovator” level)

This year, the Certification Program focused its outreach to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color), certified minority and diversely-owned business and joined the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAAACC) and the Latin Business Association (LBA), which helped certify two of the five BIPOC-owned businesses that enrolled in the Certification Program this year.

Culver City is one of 48 local governments in California that offer a Certification Program to their business community.  On June 27, 2022, a report highlighting the success of the Certification Program was presented to the City Council.  Since its inception in 2017, the 58 businesses that have been certified have collectively reduced their annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 246 metric tons, decreased their water use by 4.6 million gallons each year, and saved 343,000 kWh of electricity.

About the Sustainable Business Certification Program

Developed under guidelines established by the California Green Business Network (CAGBN), participating businesses are guided through a comprehensive on-site sustainability assessment of their building and operations. The assessments include a review of their energy and water use, waste management, procurement, transportation and community engagement. Upon completion of the assessment, customized Sustainable Business Action Plans are created by the hands-on sustainability consultants, which include measures to increase energy and water efficiencies, establish green purchasing and create a better working environment for staff. Businesses are guided through the entire process to ensure they have the resources they need to implement the necessary measures to achieve their certification.

This year, many of the businesses received free water retrofits and new high efficiency fixtures via the the Certification Program's partnership with Golden State Water Company, with an estimated annual savings of over 1.3 million gallons of water annually. This is especially appreciated given California’s unprecedented and persistent severe drought. The annual energy saved by this year’s group of businesses is the equivalent of permanently removing 15 cars off the road and eliminating 70 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. In addition, these businesses are diverting an estimated three tons of solid waste from the landfill and saving an estimated $24,000 in utility costs. Since the Certification Program's inception, Culver City’s 58 Certified Businesses are collectively saving 4.6 million gallons of water and eliminating 248 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually.

In 2017, Sustainable Works and Balanced Approach developed a customized Certification Program on behalf of the City that adheres to the California Green Business Network (CAGBN) guidelines. The Certification Program assists participating businesses with resources for reducing energy and water use, preventing pollution, reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and diverting waste from landfills. Adopting sustainable policies and promoting cleaner modes of transportation are key components of the Certification Program. Businesses may choose from two certification tiers, “Certified” or “Certified Innovator”. Certified businesses meet core resource efficiency and community engagement criteria, while Certified Innovator businesses add innovative practices to offset GHG emissions, participate in their communities and adopt socially responsible practices. These certified businesses acknowledge their achievement and commitment to operating in a sustainable manner by proudly displaying the Certification Program logo and certification seal in their promotional materials and on their websites. They are also included in the statewide CAGBN directory, and on a new Shop Green smart phone app for iPhones and Androids, which feature certified green businesses across the State of California.  Culver City is one of 45 cities and counties in California that participate in the CAGBN. Learn how to participate in the City’s Sustainable Business Certification Program.

About Sustainable Works and Balanced Approach

In collaboration with the City of Culver City in 2017, Sustainable Works and Balanced Approach developed and implemented the City’s premiere Sustainable Business Certification Program. Balanced Approach is a Culver City-based consulting firm led by Principal and Chief Sustainability Strategist Shea Cunningham who also works in corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting and program development and municipal climate resilience planning. Sustainable Works is a non-profit organization that administers various community sustainability programs including the Green Business Certification Program for the City of Santa Monica. To date, Sustainable Works has certified over 250 businesses in Santa Monica and is co-led by Executive Directors Susy Borlido and Gina Garcia.

About Culver City

Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 40,779 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport.  Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, "small town" charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theater, and art galleries. 

Free Family Shows from Culver City Public Theatre - July 2-24, 2022
Culver City Public Theatre presents free family shows
Cybernella and Rock Hopper, Penguin Detective
Every Saturday and Sunday at Noon
July 2 - 24, 2022

Dr. Paul Carlson Park
10400 Braddock Drive, Culver City, CA 90232
(at Motor Avenue – park on the park side of the street)

All shows are free, no reservations necessary. Open seating.

Cybernella is a futuristic fairy tale written by famed children's playwright Claire Boiko. It takes the classic Cinderella into the future, where the title character is a robot housekeeper, working her circuits to the bone for two self obsessed, jet-setting sisters and their publicity seeking mom. Who will win the heart of royal rock star Prince Harmony?

Rock Hopper, Penguin Detective, by Culver City Public Theatre board member and director Trace Oakley, is a hilarious caper with a hard-nosed arctic private eye, who attempts to crack the case of a flock of missing sheep belonging to a certain Bo Peep.

Both shows are directed by Trace Oakley. The cast includes Hannah Connally, Alehn James, Leah Jarvik, Jordan Jenkins, Lauren B. Leigh, Courtney Shaffer and Zahra Zaveri. The stage manager is Kevin Bocicaut, sound design by Susan Stangl, and costume design by Daniel Kruger.

“Any time I present a kids' show, I want to genuinely entertain the whole family – the kids, of course, but also the parents who brought them, the relatives or friends and even the older siblings who are 'too cool' for children's entertainment,” says Oakley.

For more information, visit the Culver City Public Theatre website.