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Sustainability Initiative
May. 18th, 2007 04:59 pmSo, we were officially asked to volunteer ideas to help make the business more sustainable, as in eco-friendly.
Naturally - pun quite intended - I had an idea or two.
I'm posting these here because many apply to any kind of business, in any location. Many should apply to every business and every home as well, but that's beside the point. Or is the point. Anyway, without further ado I give you:
Some ideas for the sustainability initiative:
1. As a company of consumers, our choices are somewhat limited to get the company green. Use our position as a consumer to "vote" with our dollars and only buy from suppliers that have cleaned up their operations.
a. An organization (Greenpeace?) created a rating list of pc manufacturers scaled towards greenness. Buy only from the highest rated one.
b. Use only organic cleaning solutions and ensure the cleaning crews also use these solutions.
c. Use unbleached paper for all uses - from paper towels and toilet paper to specifications and contracts. Some complain about the darker/unfinished look to the paper, especially for sales and presentation purposes, but if *everything* we distribute is on such paper it proves we're actually going a step beyond lip service.
2. For the Bethlehem facility specifically, but may apply to other properties as well:
a. Disassemble the multitude of roof-mounted equipment, replacing with newer more efficient equipment in one area of the roof (or, better, in some other space.)
b. Use the cleared roofspace more efficiently: plant a green roof of native forbs and grasses.
c. Collect excess rainwater/snowmelt in a cistern; use for toilets and supplemental irrigation for the roof.
d. Replace lawn areas with small meadows or other native plantings. They use less resources to maintain (one mowing a year, no additional fertilizers).
e. Replace escalators with a spiral ramp (ala Lehigh Valley Mall) or stairs. They seem to be overly pricey maintenance wise, as well as using energy inefficiently.
f. Ensure all windows use insulated glass.
g. It's been a while since I lived in the area, but PPL used to offer electric choice. If we can, buy only from green sources. Hydro is not green - it is mercury-tinged blue.
h. Install solar arrays to the roof to supplement grid electricity.
3. Insist on work-from-home days - at least one or two per week where possible.
4. Help arrange car pools. Offer some kind of benefit for those who use it to encourage the lone wolf solitary programmer to get in a car with someone else. Maybe continental breakfast? Maybe free parking (i.e pooled parking passes)?
5. Provide a benefit that helps employees make changes to their home (solar, energy efficiency, etc.)
6. Encourage volunteering for workdays with groups such as The Nature Conservancy (which has several sites within an hour's drive from the office, as well as worldwide reserves) or the Lehigh Gap Nature Center.
Naturally - pun quite intended - I had an idea or two.
I'm posting these here because many apply to any kind of business, in any location. Many should apply to every business and every home as well, but that's beside the point. Or is the point. Anyway, without further ado I give you:
Some ideas for the sustainability initiative:
1. As a company of consumers, our choices are somewhat limited to get the company green. Use our position as a consumer to "vote" with our dollars and only buy from suppliers that have cleaned up their operations.
a. An organization (Greenpeace?) created a rating list of pc manufacturers scaled towards greenness. Buy only from the highest rated one.
b. Use only organic cleaning solutions and ensure the cleaning crews also use these solutions.
c. Use unbleached paper for all uses - from paper towels and toilet paper to specifications and contracts. Some complain about the darker/unfinished look to the paper, especially for sales and presentation purposes, but if *everything* we distribute is on such paper it proves we're actually going a step beyond lip service.
2. For the Bethlehem facility specifically, but may apply to other properties as well:
a. Disassemble the multitude of roof-mounted equipment, replacing with newer more efficient equipment in one area of the roof (or, better, in some other space.)
b. Use the cleared roofspace more efficiently: plant a green roof of native forbs and grasses.
c. Collect excess rainwater/snowmelt in a cistern; use for toilets and supplemental irrigation for the roof.
d. Replace lawn areas with small meadows or other native plantings. They use less resources to maintain (one mowing a year, no additional fertilizers).
e. Replace escalators with a spiral ramp (ala Lehigh Valley Mall) or stairs. They seem to be overly pricey maintenance wise, as well as using energy inefficiently.
f. Ensure all windows use insulated glass.
g. It's been a while since I lived in the area, but PPL used to offer electric choice. If we can, buy only from green sources. Hydro is not green - it is mercury-tinged blue.
h. Install solar arrays to the roof to supplement grid electricity.
3. Insist on work-from-home days - at least one or two per week where possible.
4. Help arrange car pools. Offer some kind of benefit for those who use it to encourage the lone wolf solitary programmer to get in a car with someone else. Maybe continental breakfast? Maybe free parking (i.e pooled parking passes)?
5. Provide a benefit that helps employees make changes to their home (solar, energy efficiency, etc.)
6. Encourage volunteering for workdays with groups such as The Nature Conservancy (which has several sites within an hour's drive from the office, as well as worldwide reserves) or the Lehigh Gap Nature Center.
