CivicLex

Current Sustainable Practices

Sustainability Management and the Green Team

• Develop a written Comprehensive Sustainability Plan that includes goals in these categories: Sustainability Goals, Roles and Responsibilities, Policies and Procedures, Activities and Impact, and Timelines
• 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.
• Provide volunteers for community environmental projects annually.
• Host an environmental event at your location.

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 51-75% 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 policy for purchasing that requires Energy Star rated appliances and electronics.
• 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 programmable thermostats and use them to adjust temperature during unoccupied hours.
• Install occupancy sensors in bathrooms, meeting room, and other infrequently used areas.
• Insulate roof to control energy loss.
• 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.

Water Conservation

• 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 disposal of fats, oils, and grease, distribute to staff, and post in key areas.
• 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.

Sustainable Purchasing

• 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).
• Place bicycle storage closer than any other designated parking spot.