Wild Birds Unlimited

Current Sustainable Practices
Below are the initiatives Wild Birds Unlimited has completed on the Green Check scorecard.

Sustainability Management and Green Team

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

Awareness, Education, and Outreach

• Includes sustainability tips in a monthly newsletter.
• Provides a sustainability information board in a common area, such as a break room or kitchen.
• Includes a sustainability statement and training in all new hire materials.
• Hosts annual trainings or workshops to educate employees about sustainability issues, policies and procedures.
• Promotes sustainability accomplishments in external marketing materials.
• Hosted an environmental event at your location.

Energy Efficiency

• Established a power-down policy and checklist that includes items such as shutting off lights at night.
• Set water heater thermostats to a maximum of 120 degrees or install an inline water heater.
• Applied for energy credits, rebates or incentives.
• Replaced incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)- 25-50% replacement.
• Replaced incandescent or CFL lights with LED lights 25-50% replacement.
• Established a regular filter maintenance policy for your HVAC system.
• Have your HVAC system evaluated every 2 years by a certified service provider.
• Established a policy for purchasing that requires Energy Star rated appliances and electronics.
• Established a dress code that encourages employees to dress for thermal comfort.
• Installed programmable thermostats and use them to adjust temperature during unoccupied hours.
• Installed occupancy sensors in bathrooms, meeting room, and other infrequently used areas.
• Installed efficiency-rated HVAC of minimum standard SEER rating of 14.0.
• Performed external lighting audit.
• Daylight work spaces wherever possible.

Waste Reduction and Recycling

• Implemented a basic recycling program.
• Provide clearly marked recycling bins at work stations and/or in common areas.
• Train and requires staff responsible for cleaning to segregate waste and recyclable materials.
• Uses reusable mugs and dishware instead of disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
• Established 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.
• Develop or participate in an existing composting program.
• Replaced at least 50% of paper stock with post-consumer recycled paper.

Water Conservation

• Establish a policy for purchase of high efficiency (i.e. WaterSense) rated fixtures and appliances.
• Install water efficient faucets in all of the restrooms.
• Install water efficient toilets in all of the restrooms.

Water Quality

• Establish a policy for proper hazardous waste and chemical disposal.
• Organize or participate in a storm drain stenciling.
• Harvest rainwater through rain barrel system.
• Establish a policy for proper disposal of fats, oils, and grease, distribute to staff, and post in key areas.
• Post information in restrooms about proper disposal of “flushable” wipes and other items.
• Install outdoor ash trays to prevent cigarette litter, and make pocket ash trays available to staff who smoke.

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

• Established a policy to purchase non-Styrofoam cups and plates for use at the workplace or at events.
• Established a policy to purchase/lease EPA SmartWay Certified fuel-efficient vehicles.

Transportation Efficiency

• Establish and implement a no-idling policy.
• Install weather-protected bike storage (indoor or outdoor).

Innovation

• Tries to reuse as many food scraps as possible from preparation.
• Adjusts “plate size” to reduce food waste.
• Straw campaign.
• Outdoor solar lights.