To help you make a nomination, please consider the following evaluation measures. Not every measure will relate to every nominee. These lists are for guidance only and need NOT be specifically addressed in your one-page nomination. Ideally the nominee’s work touches on each of the 3 E’s of sustainability - Environmental health, Social Equity and Economic prosperity. Each nomination will be evaluated based on how well the nominee’s actions reflect these basic sustainability criteria:
- Future and long-term oriented
- Aware of ecological and resource limits
- Regional as well as local in scope
- Cognizant that everything is interconnected
- Concerned with creating diverse and balanced communities
- Inclusive of social equity and well-being
- Supportive of public involvement in community decisions
Award Eligibility
The only explicit award limitation is that nominee’s work MUST have a local impact (within San Mateo County).
- If a nominee lives outside the County or is based outside the County, but their work for which they are being nominated is inside the County – they are eligible for an Award
- If a nominee lives inside the County or is based inside the County, and the impact of their work is inside the county or has positive national or global implications – then they are eligible for an Award
- If a nominee lives inside the County, but their work has an impact only outside the county, then they are NOT eligible for an Award.
Evaluation measures for a company nominee:
- Are less toxics or fewer natural resources used to produce products as compared to other companies in the same industry?
- What are its recycling and waste reduction efforts?
- Does it provide public transit incentives?
- List any energy efficiency or water conservation measures taken.
- Does it adhere to or go beyond environmental regulations for their industry?
- Are its products effective, durable and safe?
- What is the employee turnover rate?
- Is the company involved in sustainability groups within its industry?
- Does it pay a living wage?
- Does it provide benefits?
- Does it have a diverse workforce?
- Are its products produced overseas? In sustainable conditions?
- Does it have goals to maintain and improve sustainability?
- Does the company train and promote at-risk employees?
- Are the methods and results of the company’s sustainable practices defined, measurable and repeatable?
Evaluation measures for an Education nominee:
- Does it have significant educational curriculum on environmental, economic and/or social equity topics?
- Does it have environmental activities (biological exploration, fruit picking, gardening)?
- Does it have activities teaching social equity (diversity groups, tolerance groups, community service groups)?
- Does it have tutorial or remediation programs for at-risk students and English language learners?
- Does it recycle?
- Does it have an environmental policy (commitment to less-toxic products, water conservation, energy efficiency)?
- Does it have a specific environmental program (solar school, recycled-content playground)?
- Does it use local or organic food in lunch?
- Does it promote carpooling or public transit?
- What is the employee turnover rate?
- Is there strong leadership and parent support?
- Is there widespread participation in establishing and monitoring its objectives?
- Are the methods and results of its sustainable practices defined, measurable, repeatable?
Evaluation measures for a non-profit or government agency nominee:
- Does it promote environmental, economic or social equity ideals and provide a useful service?
- In what ways is it accomplishing its goals?
- Does it have a minimal environmental footprint resulting from operations (recycling and waste reduction, green building facilities, energy efficiency and water conservation, public transit incentives)?
- Does it pay a living wage?
- Does it provide benefits?
- What is their employee turnover rate?
- Does it have funding mechanisms in place to ensure ongoing income to continue programs?
- Is there widespread participation in establishing and monitoring their objectives?
- Are the methods and results of their sustainable practices defined, measurable and repeatable?
Evaluation measures for an individual nominee:
- Have his/her efforts resulted in toxics reduction, waste reduction, saving habitat, pollution reduction, wildlife protection, environmental equity, environmental purchasing, etc.?
- Has he/she brought about significant change in the area of social equity (diversity, health, tolerance, community service, education, affordable housing, civil rights, etc.)?
- Has he/she mobilized a larger group of people?
- Are his/her efforts resulting in permanent systemic changes?
- Is his/her project not compromising one issue for another issue?
- Are the methods and results of his/her sustainable practices defined, measurable and repeatable?