Ed Begley Jr. Inducted into International Green Industry Hall of Fame

Studio City resident was named into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Fresno State last week.

He was among the five businesses and organizations and four individuals who were granted that honor. 

The awards, which were created in 2010 by Fresno businessman Sam Geil, recognizes those whose workplace practices have displayed great achievements in the areas of environment and sustainability.

Since the submission deadline in October, the nonprofit group has poured over nominations from around the world to determine the most innovative in recycling, reducing air pollution, creating renewable energy and other green solutions.

The following winners were congratulated on May 10 during a ceremony in Fresno State's Satellite Student Union.

• Sunrun, a San Francisco-based company that offers solar leasing and power purchase agreements.
• University of California, Merced, which has six buildings that are LEED certified as well as students and faculty that are leaders in solar energy research.
• Green Apple Horse Network based in Marin County that helps the horse industry go green and manages a directory of green products and services.
• Electronic Recyclers International, a Fresno-based recycler of electronic waste with seven facilities nationwide.
• GRID Alternatives, an Oakland-based nonprofit that installs solar panels on low-income households throughout California.
• Ed Begley Jr., an actor and environmental leader who is chair of the Environmental Media Association and San Monica Mountains Conservancy.
• Christina Schwerdtfeger, who founded Coto Consulting in 2009 to provide environmental consulting services to private and public sector clients throughout the U.S.
• John Shegerian, chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International who not only founded ERI, but also started recycling website 1800recycling.com and co-hosts "Green Is Good," a weekly program on Clear Channel Radio discussing recycling, environmental issues and sustainability practices.
• Alan Tratner, international director of FD3's Green2Gold in Santa Barbara that promotes new green businesses and president of the Inventors Workshop International and Entrepreneurs Workshop.

Also honored were Climate Ride, a nonprofit in Missoula, Mont. that organizes charitable bike rides to support sustainable solutions, bike advocacy and environmental causes, and Aquacue, a San Jose firm who helps customers reduce waste and engage the community to reduce water bills and advance sustainability.