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 February 2013
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Making the Most of Earth Day: World Records, Haiku Competitions, and Other Ideas
 Last year, three companies broke a world record to mark Earth Day. Another organized a haiku competition, while the majority staged events large and small, from building attention-getting recycling sculptures to holding brown bag lunch talks. Some took part in worldwide movements, while others involved their companies in local volunteer projects.
What will you be doing on April 22? To give you some ideas, we took a look back at what some companies did in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and found that most Earth Day activities fell into several categories:
1) On-site events: - Big statements - In 2008 Yahoo! created hexagon dome "plants" (see photo above) out of used paper cups and placed the attention-getting sculptures on the lawn of their main campus to bring attention to their "Chuck the Cup" day. To remind tenants to recycle, Great Forest has created towers made out of hundreds of discarded cardboard cafeteria trays and plastic bottles. These "recycled" structures never fail to create buzz for Earth Day.
- Small showcases - Many companies organize brown bag lunch talks or Earth Day fairs to show their employees how to green their lives at work and at home. We've set up informational booths with fun and educational games, conducted green surveys, and even arranged to bring in electric cars and charing stations for show-and-tell. Earth Day recycling drives, especially e-waste events, are also very popular.
2) Competitions, Awards and Recognitions:- Earth Day is a great time to thank supporters of your company's green efforts. One company presented an iPad to its greenest employee.
- Friendly inter-office competitions are great motivators. Great Forest has organized a number of company-wide recycling competitions with great success pitting one floor or department against another.
- Last year, to encourage employees to visit their internal sustainability website, Marsh & McLennan organized a haiku contest looking for budding poets.
- And in Texas, where they think big, three companies broke the world record for collecting and shredding 11,920 pounds of paper in a 24-hour period.
3) Community Service and Action: - To bring the community together, a number of companies form green teams to motivate colleagues, identify opportunities and take charge of green initiatives. Often, these green teams end up driving the company's strategy as ideas and partnerships initiated by employees result in greater participation.
- Many also encourage their staff to participate in worldwide movements like Billion Acts of Green, or Earth Hour. Some companies match an employee's green pledge with a green act such as planting a tree.
- Many companies organize local volunteer opportunities for their employees to mark Earth Day. These include park cleanups, recycling drives and composting projects.
- Companies have also expanded their reach to include families. A few have invited children of staff to submit artwork about Earth Day for display in their offices.
For many corporations all over the world, Earth Day activities represent the culmination of their year-long green efforts. For others, it might be the ONE day that they focus on sustainability. No matter where you are on the green spectrum, you should take advantage of the attention Earth Day generates because it sets the tone for the rest of the year.
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How To Make Your Company Greener in 10 Steps?
The Business Journals recently talked to Great Forest about what companies can do to get started down a greener path.
"Even with existing office spaces and limited budgets, businesses can incorporate sustainable practices into their daily operations that will deliver a significant return on investment - for the environment and their bottom line."
The article goes on to explain that companies should start small. Once they get going, companies should always ask "What's next?" Read all 10 tips here. |
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5 Ways To Conserve Energy At Work
1. Flip The Switch - Lighting consumes about 18 percent of U.S.-generated electricity; another 4 to 5 percent of our electricity bill goes toward counteracting the heat these lights generate. If you find that you and your co-workers have trouble remembering to shut off the lights at the end of the day, motion-detecting lights may be your solution.
2. Go To Sleep - We're talking to your computers, not sleep-deprived employees. A 2009 study found that nearly half of American workers don't shut their computers down before they head home for the night, costing $2.8 billion in unnecessary energy costs every year. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests turning your monitor off or putting the computer to sleep before breaks of more than 20 minutes, and turning the computer off entirely if you plan on being away from your desk for two hours or more.
3. HVAC Checkup - Your office may have some energy loss from inefficient heating or cooling in your building. Start with the simple questions: How's the circulation? Are your air ducts clean? Are your filters old and clogged? In addition, regularly checking and maintaining the stripping around your office's doors and windows helps prevent wasteful gaps or leaks. Regular A/C maintenance and cleanings will also help it run more efficiently.
4. Follow the Star - Keep an eye out for Energy Star-labeled products, which may slash your energy expenditures by up to 30 to 40 percent according to the U.S. Department of Energy. These products use smarter technology to save energy. For instance, Energy Star-labeled office machines, such as computers, printers and copiers automatically enter a low-power mode after a certain period of inactivity, and Energy Star windows have more advanced insulation to help regulate room temperatures. 5. Lock the Thermostat - Agree as a company on a comfortable average temperature for each season and maintain that temperature, even if you have to lock the control. Install a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature according to the time of day. Why cool or heat the office while everyone is at home? In fact, by turning a thermostat up or down 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours each day, you could save almost 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bill.
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 Q&A: Can I recycle plastic bags?
It is a question Great Forest consultants get asked fairly often. From the bags you get with your takeout lunches to the plastic bags that encase every new piece of technology. What do you do with all the pastic bags? The good news is there they are recyclable. The unfortunate news is that they are not recyclable at your office. Your first option for plastic bags is to reuse them: reuse them on your next shopping trip, or scoop up after your dog. The bags that you do not reuse can be brought to collection bins located at most grocery stores. The website, www.plasticbagrecycling.org lists a directory of where bags are recyclable in your area.
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Great Forest Inc.
212.779.4757
2014 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10035
A pioneer in the industry with over 20 years of experience, Great Forest is one of the leading sustainability consultancies in the country. We improve environmental performance and reduce costs for clients nationwide ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to property management companies, hotels, retailers, financial and educational institutions, and municipalities.
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