College offers sustainability courses

SAN MARCOS — The landmark bills, AB 32 and SD 375, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this year to fight global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through land-use, are now moving to the scoping phase which was released for approval Dec. 11. The Scoping Plan will outline for businesses how to comply with the new legislation.
In partnership with Sacramento State University College of Continuing Education and in response to the new legislation, Cal State San Marcos Extended Learning is offering public and private sector professionals the opportunity to evaluate the impact of green responsibility on their business and gather tools to meet the new challenges with success. The Green Business Operations Certificate Program will be offered this spring at Cal State.
Cal State San Marcos Extended Learning recognizes that environmental issues have moved into the mainstream American culture. There is an increased demand for a deeper understanding of the problems and potential solutions to preserving the environment at the individual and business levels. The Green Business Operations Certificate Program is comprised of a total of six courses equaling 108 classroom hours. These six core courses include: Greening Your Business Operations, Green Facilities, Green Purchasing, Green Best Practices, Green Return on Investment and Leading Green Change.
“Doing business as usual is no longer an appropriate response to the rapidly changing conditions of energy and water conservation, recycling and resource management,” said Darrell W. Gentry, local sustainable urban and environmental planning services consultant and instructor in the Certificate program at Cal State San Marcos Extended Learning. “New understanding and training is required to integrate and adapt sustainability concepts into successful green business operations and practices.”
For more information or to register for the Green Business Operations Certificate Program, contact Cal State San Marcos Extended Learning at (760) 750-4020, at www.csusm.edu/el, or e-mail Suzanne Lingold at [email protected].