The following list is arranged in order of simplicity and least cost incurring steps, with one being easiest and ten most expensive. One-to-one consulting is available for those interested in developing their own plan. Please contact us for more info.
1) Implement a recycling policy, place clearly identifiable recycling bins at key locations throughout your place of business. Be sure to notify the company team of the change, providing them with a list of acceptable items (based on your regions recycling policies) and the location of each recycling bin.
2) Review quality control over workers performance and output. Experiment with less rigidness if possible, throughout the work day, providing workers with the opportunity to blow off steam, while continuing to grow a sense of team camaraderie. Shorter segments of work can enhance the quality and level of attention directed at the task(s) before an employee (examples of other companies utilizing this methodology include Google and Clif Bar, Inc.).
*Green impact: chopping up the demands on both power and bandwidth throughout the work day will help reduce consumption, as well as speed up performance of your network for those actively working at that time, further enhancing the quality and speed with which work is performed and delivered.
3) Offer incentives (for instance: money towards gas, based on percentage of increased productivity) for employees to carpool (or take public transit). Not only will it save your employees money, but so to will it help build a greater sense of community within your company, which in turn, should contribute to the overall quality of life and their subsequent performance at work (thereby increasing your company's productivity).
In addition, offer employees a flexible schedule to work from home a couple days per week to increase morale, productivity, and reduce transportation impact (if applicable to industry or individual’s role).
Also, if possible, provide company cars for work travel, choosing between hybrids, smart cars, and biodiesel vehicles
4) Replace lights with CFL's: reduces energy consumption, lasts many times longer than conventional light bulbs, thereby reducing replacement bulb expenses. Below is an example of the kind of savings this will translate to:
ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs:
- ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
- Save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime.
- Produce about 75 percent less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.
- Are available in different sizes and shapes to fit in almost any fixture, for indoors and outdoors
5) Purchase as near to as 100% sustainable, eco-friendly office and custodial products, equipment and furniture as often as possible.
Use Energy Star appliances, such as refrigerators in kitchens, and energy efficient office equipment, selecting laptops over desktops, lcd screens, and computers, fax machines, printers, and scanners with the lowest standby energy use possible. Download Local Cooling for office computers to optimize power consumption: www.localcooling.com.
Also, try reducing water impact by installing low flow faucets in the bathrooms and kitchen / break areas, low flush toilets, waterless / low flow urinals, and showerheads in any locker areas.
6) Organize a tree-planting event, sponsored in part or in full, by your company with your local community, gaining your organization free publicity, while continuing to enhance community interaction within your company. Also organize company sports teams and hiking / biking outings to encourage interoffice socializing and exercise.
*Bottom line impact: gain tax credits; be sure to consult with your state's policies regarding this.
7) Source your company's uniform/t-shirts/products out to a sustainable, local company whenever possible. If it's not possible to have it done locally, but can still get sustainable production, be sure to offset the CO2 generated by transpo costs.
8) Purchase alternative energy credits: wind, solar, etc. whenever possible.
*Bottom line impact: tax credits are available and will help to offset a part or all of this additional expense.
9) Calculate the total CO2 footprint of your company's transportation and offset on a recurring basis, be it monthly, quarterly or yearly. If possible, calculate the the company's entire footprint (including transportation) and offset it on whatever schedule you prefer.
*Bottom line impact: tax credits are available and will help to offset a part or all of this additional expense.
10) Design and build new stores, facilities and offices as sustainable as possible, considering life cycle impacts of all materials, products, and their uses. If a company owns (or is building) an entire building and doesn’t just have leased property, install bike racks, showers and lockers to encourage employees to bike to work or exercise on their breaks.
In addition, consider achieving LEED credits existing offices, through evaluating building maintenance, energy and water use, recycling, and indoor environmental quality.
*Bottom line impact: tax credits are available and will help to offset a part or all of this additional expense.
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