Ecology Action

What Ecology Action does

Ecology Action, founded in 1970 on the first Earth Day and headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with regional offices in Salinas and Watsonville. It delivers community climate solutions across California — and energy management services across 25+ states — operating through four program pillars: sustainable transportation, energy management, community resilience, and water conservation. Its service portfolio includes the Modo active transportation platform, the EVs for Everyone bilingual EV purchase-assistance program, free EV charging site assessment and installation for multifamily housing and small businesses, Complete Streets infrastructure planning with municipal partners, the Resilient Central Coast platform, and the Climate Victory Gardens turf-conversion program. Energy-side programs include ASHRAE Level 1 and 2 audits, retrocommissioning (RCx), HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, and EV charging upgrades delivered by a licensed California general contractor (GC Lic #980743 B & C10), alongside the Western State Food Bank Network Energy Efficiency Program. The WaterLink program (completed 2016–2019) historically served 24,664 properties and saved 148 million gallons of water in 2016 alone.

Cumulative reported impact includes 3,619,051 metric tons of CO2 emissions reduced, 621 EV chargers installed serving 6,932 people, $34M in annualized operational savings and 17M kWh in annual energy savings delivered since 2020, and $16.6M in incentives delivered to customers since 2020. By 2024 the organization had grown to over 100 team members across the Central Coast and Bay Area.

Revenue is generated primarily through government grants (federal, state, and local — including U.S. DOE, CARB, California Energy Commission, CalDWR, Washington Department of Ecology), foundation grants, individual donations, fee-for-service energy consulting and contracting for commercial properties, and administration of utility incentive programs. Go-to-market motions are hybrid: community-led engagement through policy partnerships and results-based activation; enterprise field sales for commercial HVAC, refrigeration, and EV charging projects; direct-to-consumer platforms (EVs for Everyone, Resilient Central Coast, Míocar EV car sharing); and event-driven programming (Bike Fest, group rides, Safe Routes to School). Named customers include H Mart, Thriftway (Stormans), Hyatt Regency SFO, Mutual Housing, Mercy Housing, Tyrone Properties, the Cities of Watsonville/Santa Cruz/Capitola/Scotts Valley, UC Santa Cruz, and the County of Santa Cruz.

Name

Ecology Action

Legal name

Ecology Action

Website

https://ecoact.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ecology Action is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that advances equitable climate solutions across California through EV adoption, EV charging installation, active transportation, Complete Streets planning, water conservation, and commercial energy efficiency services in 25+ states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Climate Action Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation (BPAIAMAA)

Keywords

• Community climate solutions
• Energy efficiency services
• EV charging installation
• Active transportation programs
• Water conservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grants and Donations: Primary revenue stream from government grants (federal, state, local), foundation grants, and individual donations to fund climate programs and community initiatives.
2. Energy Management Contracting Services: Fee-for-service energy efficiency consulting and general contracting services for commercial properties including audits, installations, and project management.
3. EV Charging Installation Services: Direct installation of EV chargers for properties, with costs covered through grants and incentives for qualifying properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ecology Action is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community climate solutions across five program areas: energy efficiency services (audits, retrocommissioning, HVAC, refrigeration upgrades), sustainable transportation (EV charging installation, EV purchase assistance, active transportation programs, Complete Streets planning), water conservation (turf conversion, Climate Victory Gardens), food bank energy efficiency, and community resilience education. The organization operates as a licensed California general contractor providing turnkey assessment-to-installation services, administering utility and government incentive programs across 25+ states, and reaching consumers through grant-funded community platforms.

Product overview

Ecology Action operates as a multi-program nonprofit organization rather than a single product company. Its climate action portfolio spans five interconnected program areas: (1) Active Transportation through Modo, which runs the Santa Cruz Bikeway and safe routes programs; (2) Electric Vehicle Services including EVs for Everyone (purchase assistance) and EV Charging Installation; (3) Complete Streets Initiative for infrastructure planning; (4) Community Resilience through Resilient Central Coast and Climate Victory Gardens; and (5) Energy Management Services providing funding navigation and general contracting for commercial energy efficiency projects. The organization also administers the Western State Food Bank Network Energy Efficiency Program and the completed WaterLink program. These programs function as distinct service offerings unified by Ecology Action's mission to advance equitable community climate solutions in high-GHG-emitting sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Modo: Active transportation platform helping community members find sustainable ways to get where they are going through biking, walking, and rolling programs.
• EVs for Everyone
• Resilient Central Coast
• WaterLink

Products and services

• Modo Active Transportation Program Active transportation platform encouraging people to walk, bike, and roll, including the Santa Cruz Bikeway pilot (11-mile low-stress bike route), Bike Fest events, group rides, and Safe Routes to School programs for community members across the Central Coast.
• EVs for Everyone Electric vehicle purchasing assistance program providing free 1:1 bilingual guidance to help Central Coast residents navigate incentives and the EV buying process, from maximizing rebates to deciding which EV fits their lifestyle.
• EV Charging Installation Free EV charging site evaluation and installation support for qualifying small businesses and multifamily housing properties in California, including site assessments, project designs, construction management, and access to rebates and incentives from utilities like PG&E and Peninsula Clean Energy.
• Complete Streets Initiative Street redesign initiative partnering with local agencies to implement transportation infrastructure prioritizing safety, accessibility, and sustainability for all users including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers. Includes Complete Streets planning for sidewalks, curb extensions, high-visibility crossings, protected bike lanes, transit access, signal timing, and street lighting.
• Resilient Central Coast Community-based platform empowering Central Coast residents to make sustainable changes in daily habits to reduce carbon emissions, including home efficiency and climate action guidance for homeowners and renters.
• Climate Victory Gardens Landscape transformation program offering free design services, rebates, and contractor referrals to Salinas Valley residents for converting turfgrass to water-efficient Monterey Bay Friendly Landscapes, including rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, and greywater systems.
• Western State Food Bank Network Energy Efficiency Program DOE-funded grant program supporting nonprofits (food banks, shelters, community centers) on the West Coast in planning and implementing energy efficiency projects including refrigeration, HVAC, lighting, and controls upgrades, with federal grants covering 62-77% of project costs.
• WaterLink Water and energy-efficiency upgrade program (2016-2019) providing free direct installation of hot-water conservation measures and turf conversion to underserved communities across Bay Area, Monterey Bay, and Santa Clara Valley, generating $7 million in annual utility bill savings.
• Energy Project Funding Services Funding navigation service helping commercial properties access utility incentives, federal/state grants, and on-bill financing for energy efficiency upgrades, having delivered $16.6M in incentives since 2020.
• Energy Project Contracting Services Licensed general contractor service managing commercial energy efficiency projects from assessment through installation, including ASHRAE Level 1 and 2 audits, retrocommissioning, HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, and EV charging upgrades across 25+ states.
• Míocar EV Car Sharing EV car sharing program providing affordable zero-emission mobility to Watsonville community members with 8 EVs stationed at key community locations, operated through the ZEV Co-op app and supported by a California Air Resources Board grant.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced over 3,619,051 metric tons of CO2 emissions over organizational history
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MíocarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2025EV car sharing operator partnered with City of Watsonville and Ecology Action for ¡Adelante Watsonville! program providing affordable zero-emission mobility.
• State of California Energy CommissioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner for EV charging infrastructure and sustainable transportation programs across California properties.
• PG&EcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility partner providing rebates and incentives for EV charging installation and energy efficiency projects for California customers.
• ChargePointcoreTechnology or IntegrationEV charging equipment manufacturer partner for charging station installations.
• Association of Monterey Bay Area GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning partner participating in Complete Streets Collaborative and Netherlands study visit for transportation planning.
• Dutch Cycling EmbassycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner that led ThinkBike Workshop and Netherlands study visit for bicycling infrastructure design expertise.
• City of WatsonvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey municipal partner for Complete Streets, Míocar EV car sharing, Traffic Gardens, and downtown planning initiatives.
• City of Santa CruzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Bay Street Corridor Complete Streets project and Santa Cruz Bikeway pilot.
• City of CapitolacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Bay Avenue Corridor Plan and Complete Streets improvements with roundabouts.
• City of Scotts ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Scotts Valley Drive Complete Streets project with buffered bike lanes.
• County of Santa CruzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Soquel Drive Buffered Bike Lane project and regional transportation planning.
• UC Santa CruzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for bike and pedestrian safety upgrades on campus corridors.
• Transportation Agency of Monterey CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transportation partner in Complete Streets Collaborative and Netherlands study visit.
• SCCRTC (Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transportation agency partner in Complete Streets Collaborative.
• Gazelle BikesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of ThinkBike Workshop for bicycling education.
• Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance (ANI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSub-recipient partner for DOE Food Bank program providing building ownership verification and webinar development.
• California Association of Food Banks (CAFB)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecruiting and engaging food bank facilities across California network for energy efficiency program.
• Santa Clara Valley Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater district partner in WaterLink program serving San Francisco Bay Area.
• Monterey Peninsula Water Management DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater district partner in WaterLink program serving Monterey Bay Area.
• East Bay Municipal Utilities DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater utility partner in WaterLink program serving East Bay communities.
• California Conservation CorpscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInstallation partner for public agency projects and turf conversion, providing green-job training.
• Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor utility partner for energy efficiency incentives across California service territory.
• Black Hills EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility partner for energy efficiency programs.
• EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utility District)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility partner for water and energy efficiency programs.
• Hawaiian ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility partner for energy efficiency programs in Hawaii.
• LA DWP (Los Angeles Department of Water & Power)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal utility partner for energy efficiency programs in Los Angeles.
• MCE (Marin Clean Energy)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity choice energy provider partner.
• Portland General ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility partner for energy efficiency programs in Oregon.
• SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility partner for energy efficiency programs in Sacramento.
• Seattle City LightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal utility partner for energy efficiency programs in Seattle.
• Seattle City LightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility partner for energy efficiency programs in Washington state.
• Peninsula Clean EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunched $28M EV Ready Program with $24M+ in project incentives for San Mateo County businesses.
• RemiscoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading national manufacturer and installer of energy-efficient refrigeration doors for retail settings.
• Washington Department of EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministering $15 million School Bus and Fleet Transition grant program for electric school buses in Washington state.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EcoActSC
• Facebookfacebook.com/ecologyaction
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecology-action
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecologyaction
• Xx.com/ecologyactionsc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecology Action