A 100th Certification Jubilee for Culver City’s Sustainable Businesses
Published on October 02, 2025
On September 23, 2025, Mayor Dan O’Brien presented commendations to 13 newly certified and re-certified sustainable businesses as part of the City of Culver City’s Sustainable Business Certification Program (Program).
“We are celebrating a remarkable milestone for our City’s flagship Program,” said Mayor O’Brien. “Since its inception in 2017, we have achieved 100 business certifications. This Program provides best practices business assistance to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, and prevent pollution – which improves the wellbeing of our community.”
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 greenhouse gas emissions, participate in their communities and adopt socially responsible practices.
The 2025 “Certified” Program Recipients
- Arcana Books
- Berliner Architects
- Do it Now! Fitness Club
- Maeving
- OfficeUntitled
- Osteostrong
- ReDiscover Center
- Zambezi
The 2025 “Certified Innovator” Recipients
- Eco Dive Center
- KFA Architecture
- Mithun
- Servicon Systems Inc
- Soaring Towers
This year the annual awards event was held at Servicon, and Program administrators Susy Borlido of Sustainable Works and Shea Cunningham of Balanced Approach received special “100 Certifications and Counting!” awards for their impactful leadership.
With the latest addition of certified businesses, collectively Culver City’s certified sustainable businesses are now saving over 4.9 million gallons of water, 554,000 kWh of energy, diverting 991,000 pounds of waste from the landfill, and avoiding seven million pounds of greenhouse gases annually.
Culver City is one of 51 local governments in California that offer a Green Business Program to their business community.
About Culver City’s 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, sustainable procurement, pollution prevention practices, transportation habits, and community engagement. Upon completion of the assessment, customized Action Plans are created by the hands-on sustainability consultants, which require measures be implemented to increase energy and water efficiencies, establish green purchasing guidelines and create a better working environment for staff. Businesses receive step-by-step guidance through the process to ensure they have the resources they need to implement the measures to meet the certification criteria.
This year, several of the certified businesses received free water-saving retrofits and new high-efficiency water fixtures via the Program's partnership with Golden State Water.
In 2017, Sustainable Works and Balanced Approach developed a customized Program on behalf of the City that adheres to the California Green Business Network (CAGBN) guidelines. The 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 Program. 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 are listed on the Shop Green smart phone App, which features certified green businesses across the State of California. Learn more about participating in Culver City’s Sustainable Business Certification Program by visiting the City's website.