Greenopia: An eco-guide to Los Angeles

Can't find a good organic wine bar? Get a copy of the local eco-directory Greenopia and you'll have five different options to pick from!

The launch party for this greener, thicker, second edition happened four months ago, but Greenopia 2.0 just hit stores earlier this month. Greenopia's like cross between a Zagat guide and a yellow pages -- with an eco twist. With listings for everything from eco-friendly restaurants to green pet stores, Greenopia lets Angelenos quickly locate green goods and services they need -- or even green organizations they might want to join.

Showing the growth of green businesses in L.A., Greenopia's expanded impressively to 262 pages, up from the 140-page first edition that launched at Earth Day on the Promenade in 2006. Each business or service listed gets between one to four "leaves"; the more leaves, the greener the company.  Accordingly, each listing section of the book begins with an explanation of the criteria used to award the leaves. Restaurants, for example, are judged almost exclusively on the sustainability of the food products they use, while hotels are judged on their recycling and resource management programs, eco-friendly building materials and landscaping, and even "good ventilation and fresh air exchange for healthy indoor air."

This second edition includes little essays from local enviro-entrepreneurs and activists, including designer Linda Loudermilk, Akasha Richmond of Akasha restaurant, and Andy Lipkis of Treepeople. In addition, the end of the directory includes lists of local environmental organizations, eco-minded schools, and recommended books.

Greenopia did still miss a few green businesses. For example, Lou, the cute Hollywood wine bar that specializes in natural wines (many organic or biodynamic) and serves locally-sourced foods, wasn't included! If your business is green, get listed by contacting Greenopia.

Greenopia's available for $17.95 online, in stores around Los Angeles, or at book signings. For NoCalians, there's Greenopia San Francisco too.