Blake Eames Desgin

Current Sustainable Practices

Sustainability Management and the Green Team

• Designate a Sustainability Coordinator or Green Team responsible for managing sustainability initiatives.
• Provide time for quarterly updates from Sustainability Coordinator in upper management meetings.

Awareness, Education, and Outreach

• Include a sustainability statement and training in all new hire materials.
• Promote sustainability accomplishments in external marketing materials (website, social media, newsletter, press releases, TV/radio ads).
• Provide volunteers for community environmental projects annually.
• Participate in a present or attend sustainability workshop.

Energy Efficiency

• Establish a power-down policy and checklist that includes items such as shutting off lights at night.
• Replace incandescent or CFL lights with LED lights 25-50% replacement.
• Establish a regular filter maintenance policy for your HVAC system.
• Have your HVAC system evaluated every 2 years by a certified service provider.
• Establish a dress code that encourages employees to dress for thermal comfort.
• Install power strips for computers and equipment to power down during non-business hours.
• Install or upgrade to energy efficient fans.
• Insulate roof to control energy loss.
• Perform external lighting audit.
• Daylight work spaces wherever possible.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

• Implement a basic recycling program.
• Conduct a waste audit (within the past two years).
• Provide clearly marked recycling bins at work stations and/or in common areas. Recycling bins must be paired with a waste bin.
• Train and require janitorial service or staff responsible for cleaning to segregate waste and recyclable materials.
• Use reusable mugs and dishware instead of disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
• Establish a policy for environmentally friendly printing such as two-sided printing, reusing copy paper, and electronic document sharing.
• Establish an electronic waste policy that diverts all e-waste away from landfill.
• Create a landfill diversion goal.
• Replace at least 50% of paper stock with post-consumer recycled paper.
• Develop or participate in an existing composting program.

Water Quality

• Establish a policy for proper hazardous waste and chemical disposal.
• Organize or participate in a storm drain stenciling.
• Establish a policy for proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease, distribute to staff, and post in key areas.
• Perform a stormwater pollution survey on your property with BGGS staff or other qualified professional.
• Coordinate or participate in a community litter clean-up.
• Install outdoor ash trays to prevent cigarette litter, and make pocket ash trays available to staff who smoke.
• Before washing parking lots, sweep debris/litter and do not use cleaners.

Urban Forestry and Landscapes

• Participate in a community reforestation project.
• Establish a native species-only plant replacement policy for tree and shrub planting.
• Remove all invasive species from property.
• Establish an Integrated Pest Management policy to reduce use of pesticides in the landscape.
• Establish environmentally friendly lawn care policies to reduce chemical pesticide and fertilizer use.
• Plant a pollinator garden.

Sustainable Purchasing

• Establish a policy for reducing the toxic chemicals/materials in your workplace.
• Establish a policy to purchase non-Styrofoam cups and plates for use at the workplace or at events.
• Establish a policy for purchasing locally, if available.
• Establish a policy for purchasing environmentally-friendly cleaning products.

Transportation Efficiency

• Establish an incentives or recognition program to encourage employees to use alternative transportation, such as carpooling, bicycling, or use of public transit.
• Establish and implement a no-idling policy.
• Adopt a telecommuting option and make it available to employees.
• Install weather-protected bike storage (indoor or outdoor).
• Participate in a bike to work challenge.
• Place bicycle storage closer than any other designated parking spot.
• Offer a group bicycle education/training opportunity.

Innovation

• Install a green wall – Blake Eames has a significant number of indoor plants.