SLO County Green Business Program
In 2025, SLO County Green Businesses helped prevent more than 3.27 million pounds (~1483 metric tonnes) of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, saved nearly 3.82 million kWh of energy, reduced over 822,000 pounds of waste, and conserved 1.07 million gallons of water.
Go Green with the SLO County Green Business Program
Save Money. Save Resources. Get Recognized.
The SLO County Green Business Program, part of the statewide California Green Business Network (CAGBN), provides free technical assistance and resources to help small and medium-sized businesses improve their operations, cut costs, and reduce their environmental impact. Certified Green Businesses are recognized leaders who care about their employees, customers, and the health of San Luis Obispo County.
For business owners, the program is a step-by-step pathway to:
Lower energy, water, and waste bills.
Access rebates and incentives to make upgrades more affordable.
Gain statewide recognition and local marketing benefits as a certified California Green Business.
Every certification contributes to the City and County’s climate goals while boosting the local economy. Together, we’re building a greener, more resilient San Luis Obispo County, one business at a time!
How It Works
Sign Up – Fill out the short interest form.
Get Support – Receive free technical assistance from our coordinator.
Take Action – Implement practical, cost-saving green practices.
Get Certified – Earn recognition, marketing benefits, and your Green Business window decal.
Greening Businesses in SLO County
The San Luis Obispo County Green Business Program is here to help local businesses thrive while making our community more sustainable. By joining, you’re not only strengthening your business, you’re helping build a cleaner, healthier future for San Luis Obispo County.
Featured Green Businesses
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TEN OVER STUDIO
“At TEN OVER STUDIO, sustainability is central to our values. Being a Certified Green Business helps us to stay true to our mission to leave the world better than we found it.”
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SLO Food Co-Op
“As a member-owned Co-op, greening our business reflects our commitment to a healthy, sustainable community for all.”
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Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach
”As business owners, we are stewards of the land and the communities in which we operate. It is our responsibility to run sustainable businesses that protect the future for generations to come. Understanding our impact on the community is essential, and our role is to ensure we make a meaningful and positive contribution.”
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Precision Construction Services
“Precision is building California’s future with sustainable practices and we’re proud to be the county’s first construction firm certified as a Green Business.”
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San Luis Obispo Massage + Wellness Center
“Having a program like this and encouraging businesses to participate really has a ripple effect on the community.”
Benefits
A 2023 survey published in the Harvard Business Review suggests that demand for green products appears to be increasing: 27% of respondents said they are more likely to buy a sustainable product or service than 5 years ago.
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Save Money
Reduce energy, water, and waste costs.
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Attract Customers
Stand out with trusted Green Business certification.
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Gain Recognition
Featured in statewide and local directories.
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Access Incentives
Rebates and financial support available.
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Build Community
Join a network of sustainability leaders in SLO County.
SLO County Green Business Directory
Residents can support a cleaner, more sustainable San Luis Obispo by choosing Certified Green Businesses.
Number of Certified Businesses in SLO County
160
Number of Businesses in Certification Process
FAQs
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Becoming a certified Green Business is easy! You can register your business and fill out the application online today. We ask some basic questions about your business including your industry, number of employees, and square footage. Once your application is complete, we will reach out to you to schedule an introductory meeting to walk you through the certification process!
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Absolutely! Even if you lease your space or don’t control your utilities, you can still become a Certified Green Business. We will work with you one on one to navigate the certification process and make sure the unique needs of your business are accounted for.
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Yes! Home offices are eligible for Certification through a unique Certification pipeline that understands the differences between home and commercial offices and the needs of each situation.
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Becoming a Certified Green Business is the clearest way to show your community and customers that you care about the environment and a sustainable future while saving money. And there has never been a better (and cheaper) time to go green! It’s good for the environment, saves you money, and improves employee wellness and productivity. Not to mention that you will receive recognition as an environmental leader in your community!
Green Businesses also enjoy a marketing edge over competitors through the Green Business Directory and additional marketing from ECOSLO through our social networks.
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The amount of time for a business to achieve certification varies depending on several factors i.e., how many green practices are already in place, how complex the facility is and how committed the business is to making the required changes quickly.
A business that has most of the green measures already in place can usually achieve certification within 2-3 months.
A more complex facility requiring comprehensive changes or fixture upgrades can take up to 6 months. Our team helps guide you through the entire process!
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GreenBizTracker is a web-based platform designed to facilitate the operation of Green Business certification programs with robust reporting capabilities.
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Once the businesses pass the onsite verification visit, they are certified for a four-year period from the final onsite visit day. Certified businesses will receive a 3-month notification via email before they are due for renewal.
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Resources & Incentives
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ECOSLO Reusables Rebate
The ECOSLO Reusables Rebate offers $250 to Green Business certification participants to help reduce single-use waste in their operations.
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Free Energy Advising
Not sure how many of your lights are LED? No idea if your building ever had building envelope work done? The Central Coast Leaders in Energy Action Program (CC-LEAP) offers no-cost energy efficiency advising.
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Water Rebate Programs
SLO County offers rebates for water conservation actions like installing low-flow toilets and urinals or smart irrigation controller for landscaping.
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Financing Options for Small/Med Businesses
Are there big projects that your business is looking to finance? For example: upgrades for refrigeration, lighting, battery storage, etc.? Click through to see what opportunities are available to you!
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Agriculture Resources and Grants
Do you need extra funding or equipment for your agricultural work? We’ve gathered current incentives and programs at the link below.
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Energy Efficiency Incentives
3C-REN’s Commercial Energy Savings program provides funding to help replace old water heaters, upgrade heating and cooling, add insulation, or even transition to an all-electric building to cut emissions.
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SLOCOG Rideshare Employer Mini-Grant
SLOCOG’s Rideshare offers $200 - $600 mini-grants to SLO County employers for small projects, activities, or incentives that encourage employees to commute without driving alone. Eligible uses include bike racks, transit passes, vanpool start-up support, e-bike rebates, commuter rewards (such as gift cards or shirts), and more.
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Employee Resource: Home Energy Advising
The SLO Climate Coalition is offering help navigating the process of electrification and increasing energy efficiency.
Questions?
We’re here to help make the Green Business program process as smooth as possible!