Open Neighborhoods, provider of the leading rooftop solar group-purchasing program in Los Angeles, announced that the organization has received designation as a Certified B Corporation. The new certification comes after a comprehensive evaluation of the company's environmental and social performance and legal accountability standards.

B Corporations are a new kind of company, which use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Unlike traditional corporations, Certified B Corporations are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their employees, suppliers, community, consumers, and environment. In just over three years, the 501(c)(3) non-profit B Lab has certified over 400 B Corporations from over 50 industries.

B Lab co-founder Jay Coen Gilbert said, "Certified B Corporations meet rigorous, independent social and environmental performance standards so that everyone can tell the difference between good companies and just good marketing."

Open Neighborhoods (www.openneighborhoods.net) provides a neighborhood social media platform offering services such as free Wi-Fi Internet and affordable rooftop solar. With active networks in Santa Monica, Venice, Mar Vista, Silver Lake, Hollywood and other areas, Open Neighborhoods is partnering with municipalities and neighborhood communities throughout Los Angeles County.

"With social responsibility at the core of our business, being a Certified B Corporation supports our mission to engage neighborhood communities with a platform for clean power and affordable broadband," said Open Neighborhoods co-founder James Brennan.

Open Neighborhoods is currently expanding its rooftop tolar program with a focus on communities throughout Los Angeles County. The upcoming Open Neighborhoods Community Solar program will offer free solar workshops and information sessions, rooftop assessments, pre-negotiated group pricing on installations, and affordable financing options to participants. The program will be open to residential and commercial customers and will also include multi-tenant properties. In addition, the company's Green Power for Communities™ program will create new fundraising opportunities for LA County schools, non-profits and community organizations.

"A key goal of our all of our programs is helping neighborhoods, either switching to clean energy, being informed on community activities or having Internet access for everyone," said Open Neighborhoods co-founder John Ayers.

In the coming weeks Open Neighborhoods will be announcing details of its new rooftop solar program offering significant benefits to participating residents, businesses and communities in Los Angeles County. To learn more about the company's Green Power for Communities program or to register and participate visit www.openneighborhoods.net/green-power-for-communities.

About Open Neighborhoods
Open Neighborhoods provides a social media platform to connect local neighborhoods with free Wi-Fi Internet and affordable solar power. Open Neighborhoods is a Certified B Corporation founded in 2008 with a mission to connect and inform local neighborhoods with local social networking, open Internet access and clean energy programs. The company was recently selected as a semi-finalist in the Cleantech Open national business competition for a multi-tenant software system the company is developing to allow renters and others to purchase solar power.

About B Corp
Certified B Corporations 1) meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance; 2) legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests; and 3) build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. As of January 2010, there are over 375 Certified B Corporations from over 50 industries, representing a diverse multi-billion marketplace.

About B Lab
B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between "good companies" and just good marketing; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab's GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.

Open Neighborhoods

Open Neighborhoods

Open Neighborhoods provides a social media platform to connect local neighborhoods with free Wi-Fi Internet and affordable solar power. Open Neighborhoods is a Certified B Corporation founded in 2008 with a mission to connect and inform local neighborhoods with local social networking, open Internet access and clean energy programs. The company was recently selected as a semi-finalist in the Cleantech Open national business competition for a multi-tenant software system the company is developing to allow renters and others to purchase solar power.

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