SANTA CRUZ -- County officials honored 45 businesses and organizations, the largest group ever, Tuesday for doing their part to reduce, reuse and recycle.

The 45 entities received certificates at the annual Green Business ceremony during the county supervisors' meeting Tuesday.

Jo Fleming, Green Business program coordinator, said the 199 certified green businesses have saved $707,500 in utility bills, supplies and operating costs. They also have:

Reduced hazardous materials and wastes by an estimated 342 drums, enough to fill 21 trucks.

Diverted more than 242,000 cubic feet of waste from landfills, equivalent to trash generated by 26,000 households.

Installed new lighting fixtures, sensors and security lights, which reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, by more than 5,000 pounds and cut electrical usage by 5.4 million kilowatt-hours, enough to power 1,000 average homes.

Saved 24.5 million gallons of water, enough for 900 residential swimming pools.

Used new paints to prevent release of 520,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds and other air pollutants, equivalent to what would be generated by 250,000 gallons of conventional paint.

Businesses recognized were:

Aptos: De Camara Management, Seascape Resort, Warmboard

Ben Lomond: Glen Arbor School

Boulder Creek: YMCA Camp Campbell

Capitola: Comerica Bank, Original Sin Desserts, Pristine Clinical Skin Care, Santa Cruz County Bank, Santa Cruz County Bank Business Lending, State Farm Insurance, Way of Life

Felton: American Dream Realty, Redwood Pizzeria

Santa Cruz: A+ Environmental Solutions, Albert's Organics, Aqua Safaris, American Cafe, California Grey Bears, Dreamscape Creative Landscape Solutions, Environment Control Monterey Bay, Opal Cliffs Auto Center, Peoples Coffee, Santa Cruz County Bank, St. Stephens Lutheran Church, Toadal Fitness

Scotts Valley: Central Coast Alliance for Health, Cruz'n Cellular, Sandabs

Soquel: Center for Transformational Neurophysiology, Dr. Tonya Fleck, Dr. Z's Mind Body Shop, Land of Medicine Buddha, SC41 Furniture, Somerset Door and Window, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, The Maynard Group, Vital Health Center

Watsonville: Collins Enterprises, Global Concepts, Head Start Santa Cruz County, Merry Maids of Santa Cruz County, Print Worx, Santa Cruz County Bank, Sterling Pacific Financial.