The Green Business Network program provides FREE consulting and certification services from the United States Green Building Council – California (USGBC-CA) for more than thirty types of businesses, such as restaurants, offices, salons, and more.

Green Businesses implement practices that focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction to help reduce the costs of their operations and fight climate change. Green Businesses monitor things like their water and energy use, transportation options to their facilities, use of toxic chemicals, and recycling and waste practices to operate more efficiently and sustainably.

By joining the network and gaining certification, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability that benefit business, people, and the planet. The GBN is here to help you grow your business while saving money, increasing efficiency, and becoming a recognized sustainability leader. For instance, swapping your fluorescent light bulbs with LED bulbs can shrink your energy consumption by nearly 50%, reduce your electricity bill. By joining, you also gain access to the Green Business Network marketing toolkit, window decals that signify your certification to the community, and resources to remain compliant with evolving environmental regulations. As a certified green business, you will receive recognition and free business advertisements at state and local levels.

By joining the Green Business Network, you join businesses across California who:

• Averted 1,417,985,914 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduced 396,538,810 lbs of waste
• Saved 45,200,190 therms of natural gas
• Saved 1,458,017,528 gallons of water
• Reduced 533,654,531 kWh of energy
• Saw $130,407,042 in utility bill savings

1. Confirm you have or apply for an active Vista Business license.

2. Register your business with the California Green Business Network and explore Greenbiz Tracker, a web-based platform that will track your sustainability progress.

3. Once you have registered, staff from the USGBC-CA will reach out to set up an initial meeting to go over the checklist of environmental measures for your business type and the appropriate next steps.

4. Implement the specified measures and complete the checklist to reduce your business’ environmental impact. Coordinate with the USGBC-CA on any challenges faced. The measures encompass multiple categories, including: Energy, Pollution Prevention, Solid waste, Transportation, Wastewater, Water, and Community.

5. Complete a final site visit with USGBC-CA. Upon successful implementation of all measures, you will officially be a California Certified Green Business!

Once certified, your business’s status as a Green Business is valid for 4 years. To renew your certification, you will need to update your GreenBiz profile and schedule a site visit to show compliance. While updates and new documents may need to be shared, this process should not require significant changes to your sustainable practices and structure.

Dr. Bronner's

Dr. Bronner’s is the first Vista business to receive their Green Business Certification! They received their certification in May, 2024. This iconic soap brand has always been advocates for the planet with the goal to make natural soap accessible, equitable, and produced sustainably. What began as a family company has since expanded and continues to reinforce their All-One mission.

A note from the Environmental Health & Sustainability Manager at Dr. Bronner’s, “Dr. Bronner’s has a commitment to Treating the Earth Like Home. Pursuing the California Green Business certification allowed our company to verify that our operational practices are truly sustainable and aligned with those from other environmentally minded businesses in California. Many of the criteria on the Green Business checklist are also just common-sense best business practices that will help us save on costs and improve efficiencies.”

Vista Public Library

The Vista Public Library became the City's first municipal building to receive their Green Business Certification in June, 2025! A community hub within the City, the Vista library is proud to foster a welcoming environment for all. Their eco-friendly habits are seen throughout the library in their efficient energy savings and water reduction methods. Through the Green Business Network, the library also improved their procurement practices by utilizing paper products with 100% recycled content.

Vista Public Works

Vista Public Works received their Green Business Certification in July, 2025. The Public Works staff doesn't just help in keeping Vista beautiful but also the Earth. Internally, Public Works made investments towards clean energy by installing solar panels, using ENERGY STAR equipment throughout the building, and converting some of their fleet to electric vehicles. Additionally, the Green Business Network helped Public Works transition to sustainable cleaning products and paper products.

Banana Dang

Banana Dang joined Vista's Green Business Network as an Entry Level green business in May, 2025! This local coffee shop embraces their passions for coffee, bananas, and the environment. Banana Dang recently opened up their Vista location in 2024, bringing coffee, smoothies, and more to the community in a sustainable way. By using local and organic ingredients, mixed with thoughtfully brewed coffee they are proud to foster a charismatic and eco-friendly environment.

Nadeem Haddad Broker and Advisor with SVN | Vanguard

Nadeem Haddad Broker and Advisor with SVN | Vanguard joined Vista's Green Business Network as an Entry Level Business in April 2026! He was motivated to join the Green Business Network by a commitment to sustainability and a desire to align his commercial real estate practice with environmentally responsible standards. By participating, he aims to support greener business operations, reduce environmental impact, and better serve clients who prioritize sustainability in their investments and properties.  

Pure Project Brewery & Tap Room

Pure Project Brewery & Tap Room joined Vista’s Green Business Network as an Entry Level green business in January, 2026. As a local craft brewery, Pure Project has approached all operational aspects with a commitment to better business practices and a reduction in those environmental impacts, including responsible sourcing, organic waste reduction, and supporting non-profits.

A note from the Retail Operations Manager at Pure Project: “Here at Pure Project we believe in using beer as a force for good. As a 1% for the Planet member, we donate 1% of all sales to environmental non-profits. Joining Vista’s Green Business Network was a natural next step for us—bringing our commitment to sustainability directly to the community we call home. We’re proud to brew in a city that values sustainability as much as we do!”

[ENG] GBN Information One-Pager

[ENG] Extended Sustainable Actions

[ENG] GBN Brochure

[ESP] GBN Resumen visual de una página

[ESP] GBN Estadísticas de beneficios

[ESP] GBN Resumen de certificación de una página

[ESP] Acciones sostenibles resumidas

[ESP] Acciones sostenibles extendidas

[ESP] GBN Folleto

TenCo Solar | Commercial Tax Benefits for Solar Panels in California

CALeVIP | San Diego County Incentive Project

WRCOG | Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program

California Climate Investments | Resources for Businesses

USGBC-CA | Electrification Mini Grants

Go Green Financing | Resources for Businesses