Green Business Practices

Going green doesn’t stop with building an award-winning, energy-efficient building.

Presentation Center has also implemented the following eco-friendly improvements in our business practices:

• Onsite organic garden, maintained by UC Master Gardeners, provides a portion of our produce needs.
• Contracted with GreenLeaf Produce, a local organic produce supplier, for the balance of our produce needs.
• Composting of kitchen scraps for sustainable, organic garden.
• Dining hall uses washable plates, cups, glasses and cutlery, eliminating disposables.
• Dining hall staff places napkins and cutlery on tables, reducing over-usage of paper napkins.
• Two electric cars donated by Toyota for off-site use by Sisters and Staff.
• Electric car charging stations available for guests.
• Sisters and staff use electrical golf carts on-site.
• Paper, plastic and aluminum recycling program throughout retreat center.
• Use of recycled printer paper at center.
• Use of energy efficient, double-sided, solid ink printers.
• Installation of programmable thermostats in the historic Main Building.
• Installation of ceiling fans in the older buildings.
• Replacement of incandescent lighting with fluorescent in the older buildings.
• Installation of low flush toilets (1.6 gallons per flush) in the older buildings.
• Planting of additional native plants around the property.
• Planting of deciduous trees for seasonal shade to reduce energy costs.
• Offering a home for the beehives of a local beekeeper, Henninger Hill Apiary.
• Establishment of the Presentation Ecology Resource Center with books, periodicals, and audiovisual resources for visitors.
• Establishment of an environmental educational event called Green Ways Day in the fall, for which we partnered with the UC Master Gardeners, the California Native Plant Society, Henninger Hill Apiary and others.
• Initiation of a project to install a demonstration native plant garden near the Welcoming Center.
• Initiation of the Green Business Certification process – 95% complete.
• Commitment to include green and energy efficient features in an upcoming major bathroom remodel project.
• Commitment to use 2008 Benefit Dinner proceeds for installation of double-paned windows in the historic Main Building.