ETC Community Projects

Community Projects

The Environmental Technology Center co-sponsors and contributes expertise to a variety of community events and projects intended to inspire and educate about sustainability principles, including: green building design & construction, energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

Below are the currently scheduled community projects, please check back often as we have many exciting events planned. Also, please feel free to post and distribute event flyers. To view a print-ready, PDF-format file, click on the "Event Flyer" for the appropriate event.

Build It Green

A regional non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the value and strategies for achieving high level Green Building. Funded through a CPUC grant Build It Green staff will provide outreach, education, and technical support to private and public sector entities, as well as the general public. http://www.builditgreen.org/

The grant funds a team of Green Building professionals at Build It Green. They will provide outreach, education, and technical support to private and public sector entities, as well as the general public. In the North Bay the Environmental Technology Center at Sonoma State University can provide an introduction to the services and programs available through the grant. The services offered under this grant are free of charge, and they include:

Local Government Technical Assistance: We provide technical assistance to local governments seeking to implement Green Building practices within their jurisdictions. Provide assistance in crafting policies that encourage Green Building, and provide strategic and organizational consultation. To arrange
Local Government Presentations: Speakers are available to make introductory brown-bag lunch presentations to staff or more formal presentations to elected/appointed officials and staff.
Inspector Trainings: In-depth training for building inspectors on Green Building materials and installation methodology.
Building/Design Professionals Assistance and Presentations: Program staff is available to meet with builders, designers, engineers and developers to evaluate current or proposed projects, do a walk-thru, and provide education to staff.
Material Suppliers: Program staff will work with local building suppliers to identify stocked Green Building products or alternative materials. Maintain a listing of local suppliers for general distribution.
Affordable Housing: In association with the Green Affordable Housing Coalition, we educate and provide technical assistance to affordable housing developers.
Community Presentations: Program staff is available to make presentations to neighborhood associations, chambers of commerce, religious organizations, and at other community events.
Workshops: A series of half-day, in-depth workshops on selected Green Building topics.
Telephone Hotline: Ask an Expert provides project-specific email and phone-based technical support for home owners and their contractors. Visit www.builditgreen.org or call 888-404-7336.
The program derives its funding from the 'public goods charge' on ratepayer's investor-owned utility bills. This program is coordinated with the California Public Utilities Commission and the local utility company.