Are you a California business, government or organization that is particularly proud of your sustainability efforts? Would you like to tell the world about those efforts?

Well, the California Sustainability Alliance can help.

The University of California system won one of the CSA

The organization, which brings together key stakeholders to overcome barriers to sustainability in areas like climate action, smart growth , renewable energy, water-use efficiency, and waste and transportation management, is accepting nominations for its second Sustainability Showcase Awards. The Awards recognize successful sustainable policies, programs, practices and technologies implemented by leading organizations in five categories:
• Commercial Building Organizations
• Multi-Family Housing Organizations
• Local Governments
• Water Agencies and
• Sellers of Other Products or Services.

Winners in each category will be honored at the California Sustainability Alliance Showcase Awards Luncheon to be held in February 2010 and will be featured in showcases on the Alliance’s website. Of the five winning organizations, the organization that best exemplifies a comprehensive adoption of sustainability policies and practices in all aspects of its business and operations will be announced as the Grand Prize winner at the awards luncheon and featured in a video documentary highlighting its successes.

Nominations will be accepted until Midnight, October 30, 2009. Winners will be announced on December 1, 2009. The entry form is online at http://sustainca.org/showcase/showcase2009.

The Alliance held its first Sustainability Showcase awards ceremony at a luncheon held on February 10, 2009. Secretary Rosario Marin, former Treasurer of the United States and then Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency in California, delivered the keynote address and presented awards to the Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Thomas Properties Group and the University of California.

The Inland Empire Utilities Agency was recognized for innovation in integrated resource management, exemplified through a diverse portfolio of best-in-class projects and initiatives that range from green buildings, energy efficient water and wastewater systems and operations, and renewable energy, to fully integrated management of the region’s water, energy and biosolids resources.

Thomas Properties Group, which partnered with the State and Consumer Services Agency to make the California Environmental Protection Agency headquarters building one of the greenest in the country, was recognized for its leadership in greening California’s real estate and in integrating sustainable design and operations into all aspects of its products, services and investments.

The University of California was recognized for excellence in environmental leadership and the best example of a customer-initiated partnership through which students, employees and campus administrators are successfully collaborating to address climate change, clean energy, green buildings, sustainable transportation, environmental purchasing and waste reduction on all of the University’s 10 campuses.