Sustainable Business Program: Transportation/Air Quality

Below are some examples of items that would certify you under the category of Transportation/Air Quality. 

The business can choose to certify in one or more of the categories listed.  

Facility (5 checkmarks required):

  • Calculate your baseline carbon footprint and establish a goal for specific reductions.
  • Plant shade trees in parking lots.
  • Encourage employee bicycle commuting- offer secure bicycle storage.
  • Provide bicycle racks.
  • Provide on-site amenities for employees (i.e. ATM, cafeteria, gym).
  • Replace vehicle fleet with low-emission models (electric, hybrid, natural gas, alternative fuels)
  • Provide carpool parking spaces.
  • Provide fleet of bicycles for employee use.
  • Provide ‘park and ride' parking spaces.
  • Install a low maintenance landscape or xeriscape.
  • Install light colored pavement or roof.
  • Transit: Provide local transit general information if applicable.
  • Transit: Provide local shuttle/bus general information if applicable.
  • Offer onsite showers, lockers/or arrangements with local facilities to encourage foot commuting.
  • Provide tire pressure gauge and air compressor for employee use.
  • Upgrade natural gas boiler or heater with a Ultra-low-NOx Burner
  • Power business with green energy produced by wind or sun.
  • Replace fleet of vehicles with a vehicle sharing membership.
  • Provide vanpooling options for employees.
  • Replace gas fueled fleet with electric vehicle fleet.
  • Install electric vehicle charging stations for use.
  • Provide alternative transportation or other to offset company CO2 emissions through verified alternatives.
  • Replace gas forklifts with electric forklifts.
  • Replace gas water heater with electric heat pump water heater.
  • Replace commercial gas fired cooking equipment with electric options.
  • Replace gas-fired clothes dryer with electric heat pump clothes dryer.
  • Replace gas-fired swimming pool heater with electric heat pump or solar heater.
  • Replace controlled intersections/stop signs with traffic circles.

Practices (5 checkmarks required):

  • Utilize videoconferencing or alternative methods to reduce employee travel.
  • Offer telecommuting opportunities to reduce commuting.
  • Participate or join a transportation management association (TMA). TMA’s are a non-profit membership organization helping commuters find commuting alternatives.
  • Promote bicycle related programs and events (May is bike month, Smart Cycling clinics, Bucks for Bikes)
  • Review Air Quality incentives and grants for business related upgrades.
  • Link trips together for routine errands into a single outing. Patronize businesses close by when possible.
  • Use low or no VOC cleaning and maintenance products (paints, solvents and strippers).
  • Use recycled products for promotional materials and ink printing (I.E. soy based ink).
  • Replace aerosols with non-aerosol alternatives.
  • Offer employee incentives for carpooling, vanpooling or using mass transit.
  • Use nontoxic, low or no VOC office supplies and paints.
  • Provide a qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit Program for transit riders, vanpool riders, and bicyclists.
  • Provide local ride-sharing information to employees (i.e Sac Region Commuter Clubs, 511).
  • Patron environmentally certified hotel.
  • Subscribe to “Spare the Air” email service.
  • Proactively minimize motor vehicle use on “Spare the Air” days.
  • Proactively minimize electricity use on “Spare the Air” days.
  • Proactively minimize use of equipment on “Spare the Air” days.
  • Proactively minimize vehicle idling. Provide employee education or policy.
  • Utilize locally produced agricultural products when feasible.
  • Adopt a policy to use electronic landscaping equipment.
  • Join USEPA Smartway SM Transportation Partnership
  • Designate an Employee Transportation Coordinator to manage alternative commute programs.