Death education, end of life planning and support, legacy project, living funeral, vigil planning, home funeral guidance, memorial projects, celebrant, and green funeral consultant.
Current Sustainable Practices
Below are the initiatives Bluegrass Death Doula has completed on the Green Check scorecard.
Sustainability Management and the Green Team
- Develop a written Comprehensive Sustainability Plan.
- 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 sustainability tips in a monthly newsletter.
- Provide a sustainability information board in a common area such as a break room or kitchen.
- 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.
- Sponsor an environmental booth at an existing community event.
- Participate in a present or attend sustainability workshop.
Energy Efficiency
- Assess, track, and document energy consumption using Energy Star Portfolio Manager or similar program.
- Establish 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.
- Replace incandescent or CFL lights with LED lights 76-100% replacement.
- Achieve a year-over reduction in energy usage from the baseline of at least 5%.
- 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 policy for purchasing that requires Energy Star rated appliances and electronics.
- Establish a dress code that encourages employees to dress for thermal comfort.
- Assess energy consumption by conducting a plug load inventory.
- Install power strips for computers and equipment to power down during non-business hours.
- Install programmable thermostats and use them to adjust temperature during unoccupied hours.
- Install occupancy sensors in bathrooms, meeting room, and other infrequently used areas.
- Conduct an energy audit or assessment (within the last three years).
- Install or upgrade to energy efficient fans.
- Insulate roof to control energy loss.
- Install efficiency-rated HVAC of minimum standard SEER rating of 14.0.
- Perform external lighting audit.
- Daylight work spaces wherever possible.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Implement a basic recycling program.
- 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.
- Replace at least 50% of paper stock with post-consumer recycled paper.
- Develop or participate in an existing composting program.
Water Conservation
- Conduct a water audit within the last three years. Monitor and record water usage, check indoor and outdoor pipes and fixtures for drips and leaks.
- Establish a policy for purchase of high efficiency (i.e. WaterSense) rated fixtures and appliances.
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.
- Harvest rainwater through rain barrel system.
- Post information in restrooms about proper disposal of flushable wipes and other items.
- Coordinate or participate in a community litter clean-up.
Urban Forestry and Landscapes
- Participate in a community reforestation project.
- Assess the ecosystem services of trees on property using the National Tree Benefits Calculator.
- 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 to purchase/lease EPA SmartWay Certified fuel efficient vehicles.
- Establish a policy for purchasing environmentally-friendly cleaning products.
Transportation Efficiency
- 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).
- Provide employee shower and dressing room facility.
- Offer a group bicycle education/training opportunity.
Innovation
- Install a green wall.
- Innovation of choice.
Member since 2022