The North San Diego Business Chamber is out to prove that sustainability is smart business.
There is a “perceived tension” between sustainability and business, according to the chamber’s Chief Executive Officer Chris Thorne, with many people who think sustainable choices are costly. However, the North San Diego Business Chamber wants to change that misconception by prioritizing sustainability in its own everyday business practices.
“We can demonstrate as a business organization that sustainability absolutely is and should be a part of the conversation,” Thorne said. “It just makes good business sense.”
Founded nearly 50 years ago, the chamber is an advocate for more than 800 businesses across the San Diego region — 65% of which are small businesses.
“When you have the privilege of having a voice in the community, it’s important to be responsible with how you use that voice,” Thorne said. “As a chamber, we have a voice within the business community and exercising that responsibly matters to us.”
The North San Diego Business Chamber strives to serve not only its members, but the community at large — whether that’s through workforce development efforts, events that offer support for military or first responders, or an ongoing commitment to sustainability.
Their Sustainability Advisory Council is one way that the North San Diego Business Chamber does just that. One of several North San Diego Business Chamber advisory groups, the Sustainability Advisory Council meets monthly to discuss topics like environmental stewardship, sustainable infrastructure and green business development, as well as share best practices to balance sustainability and business goals.
The North San Diego Business Chamber leads by example — and one way that it’s done that is by partnering with San Diego Community Power to choose 100% renewable energy as a Power100 Champion.
Power100 Champions are businesses or organizations that choose Community Power’s Power100 service plan, which provides 100% renewable energy for an additional $0.01 per kilowatt-hour on top of Community Power’s standard service plan.
Becoming a Power100 Champion can help businesses fulfill sustainability goals, such as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.
“It’s the ultimate no-brainer there, when you can actually do good and be business smart about it,” Thorne said. “It’s easy to say ‘yes’ to a smart business decision, and easier still to say ‘yes’ to a smart business decision that also executes easily.”
Power100 Champions also gain access to opportunities to network with community leaders and their fellow Champions. For the North San Diego Business Chamber, these opportunities are new ways to connect with the business community that it serves — to collaborate and learn how like-minded businesses are incorporating sustainability in their everyday.
“Here in San Diego, sustainability is such a core part of what we are as a community,” Thorne said. “This is where we should be advancing it, modeling it and exploring it for others to see.”
