U.N. Honors Bay Area Green Businesses

Mar. 1 - KGO (KGO) -- The United Nations is saluting Bay Area businesses for being the first in the nation to combat global warming. In fact, that initiative will be show-cased at the U.N. meeting in Geneva in July.

Waldeck's has been in business for 54 years. It's a typical office supply store -- with a twist -- the owner is environmentally aware. He has recycling bins for everything from computers to cell phones -- his paper products come from recycled materials.

Clifford Waldeck, Waldeck's Office Supply: "I want my business to become a place that is green from the ground up."

He has joined others from around the Bay Area who share that view as part of a new program praised today by a representative from the United Nations. It's called the Business Council On Climate Change, or BC3 -- companies coming together to share ways to reduce greenhouse gases.

Gavin Power, United Nations Global Compact: "The bottom line is this -- if the environment fails, markets fail, and as contributors to the problem companies have a responsibility to act."

Pet Camp in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood prides itself on taking good care of its clients and the environment.

Mark Klaiman, Pet Camp: "If a mom and pop operation can do it, and a relatively low tech business -- like Pet Camp can do it, pretty much anyone can."

The solar panels on the roof are one of the reasons Pet Camp is the first and only certified green board and care facility in the country. Inside are huge 20 foot diameter fans that use less power than a lightbulb, lighting has been converted into the most energy efficient, toilets are low flow, even animal waste matter is converted into electricity.

The city of San Francisco believes it will take efforts like that to make a difference.

Gavin Newsom, S.F. Mayor: "We have our initiatives as a city that are very aggressive and are examples to others, but we cannot do it without the private sector stepping up."

Right now the Bay Area business efforts are voluntary, but the U.N. warns that is no substitute for effective regulations.

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