Green practices we've implemented by suggestion of our Eco-Conscious Employees.
Plastic/Glass recycling for the break rooms- Susan Deiter, HR Director
Turning off your monitors screen-savers to save electricity- Mark Reber, IT Director
Optional paperless paychecks (contact your HR department to see if your provider offers them)-
Mary Shei ,Customer Service
Plan your commute to avoid unnecessary driving (stop at the grocery store on your way from work instead of going home then back out again)- Chris Cavaretti, Pricing Manager
Use reusable grocery bags instead of plastic- Joanie Lotze, Director of Marketing
Motion sensors for lights - Karen Mckenna, Sales
Avoid overnight shipping for packages. In Florida, ground delivery only takes one day for most, if not all carriers. Dianna Gannon, CFO
Switch to Low-Mercury Fluorescents Bulbs. They have 70% less mercury and last twice as long as other florescent bulbs- Bob Shapeta, Maintenance
Keep a recycling box by your desk for convenience; its also a nice reminder- Chrissy Cassata, Sales
Burn CD backups instead of paper backups; it saves space & paper - Sheila Laughlin,
Director of Web & Media
Common Eco-Friendly Practices
Use mugs for coffee and reusable bottles for water.
Use thermal coffee carafes in place of hot-plates.
Use reusable lunch bags, containers, and flatware.
Reusable grocery bags are great and can be used as company promotional items.
Print two-sided for office documents.
Use e-mail for communication and avoid printing them out.
Switch to recycled content office paper.
Implement a company-wide recycling program that is easy to follow.
Video-conference instead of traveling.
Switch to high-efficiency light bulbs or add motion-sensors.
Turn off machines when not in use, unplug chargers when not charging.
Avoid screen-savers. They don’t save energy, only your monitor.
Set computers to its energy-saving mode.
Use lower contrast settings on your printer to save toner.
Recycle your ink cartridges.
Carpool to work and lunch.
Work from home when appropriate to reduce carbon emissions.
Consider your commute. Make necessary stops in the most direct route. Many cars, a hybrid we hope, are equipped with a GPS.
If a staff member is enthusiastic about Green issues, consider appointing them as the company "Green Guardian". A little enthusiasm can go a long way.
Write an Environmental Policy or Mission Statement.
Gas-tips
Drive Sensibly: Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town.
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned: Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
Planning and Combining Trips: With a little planning, you can avoid retracing your route and reduce the distance you travel as well. You'll not only save fuel, but also reduce wear and tear on your car.
Choose a More Efficient Model: The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $775 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $3.10). That's $3,875 extra in fuel costs over five years!
