The San Diego Green Building Council’s initiatives are a mix of staff-driven projects, volunteer-led concepts, and innovative collaborations with local partners. Our initiative topics are as broad as the expertise of our community members, and they reflect the complexity and dynamic nature of the change needed in the green building sector. All of the initiatives are designed to carry our mission principles to inspire, educate, and collaborate with our community to make a meaningful impact in our region’s sustainability goals.
Donate to our programs today and help us advocate for green building transformation in San Diego!
Building Connections Mentorship Program
The mission of the Building Connections mentorship program is to cultivate strong professional relationships that support the positive and equitable growth of the sustainability movement in the San Diego region. The program will tap into the existing knowledge, skills, and experience of our community members and support the sharing of these skills to other professionals that are either emerging in their fields, contemplating a career change, or looking to advance their careers.
Applications for Mentorship Program are open each Summer, learn more here.
Electric Home Cooktop Program
The Electric Home Cooktop Program is designed to allow anyone who is interested in experiencing cooking with an induction cooktop to do so, regardless of their experience level. With the program, anyone can check out a Duxtop 9100mc induction cooktop for at least 3 weeks, free of charge, to gain first hand experience of the benefits associated with cooking with induction cooktops.
Learn more about the program or reserve on of our induction cooktop loaner kits.
Green Assistance Program (GAP)
GAP is an initiative that has a trifold purpose to green San Diego’s buildings, provide hands-on green building experience for aspiring leaders, and to create a platform for collaboration among local stakeholders. To do this, SDGBC works with a local nonprofit in need of greening their building operations and the facility is then used as an educational case study. The greening process is conducted by volunteer participants who are interested in learning and contributing back to the community.
To date we have worked with distinguished local nonprofits such as The Old Globe Theatre, Ronald McDonald Charities of San Diego, The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Museum of Man, and many more. Click here to learn more about GAP.
Green Schools
Every year the San Diego Green Building Council hosts a Green Apple Day of Service to connect the resources of local companies to San Diego’s schools. Since 2012, we have worked with the Balfour Beatty Construction San Diego office to bring materials and skilled volunteers to build gardens, playgrounds, and beautify school spaces. We engage teachers and students to create fun projects that connect learning experiences with nature, outdoor activities, and promote sustainability in learning curriculums.
Some of the school projects we have worked on to date include Encinitas Farm Lab, KIPP Adelante, and Hickman Elementary School. Learn more about Green Apple Day of Service.
Green Homes Tour
One of our largest annual events takes place every fall to showcase San Diego’s greenest residential projects to our community members. Run entirely by our volunteers from the Residential Committee, this fun and engaging tour is a great way to learn what residential green buildings look like in San Diego County’s various climates. Join us each fall and see how creative local architects, builders, landscape architects, and homeowners achieve green projects on small and large scales. Learn more about the Green Homes Tour.
San Diego Regional Green Business Network
San Diego’s small- to the medium-sized business community is the backbone of our City’s spirit. Using the California Green Business Network's certification program we support local businesses to operate more efficiently, with less waste, smarter purchasing decisions and community engagement.
