NOTE: You are required to do 9 out of 14 of the items listed below in order to be an UP ON GREEN member.
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1. OUR COMPANY uses high-efficiency lighting approved by Energy Star such as,
T8s, T5s, LEDs, CFLs (>75%).
Please identify what lights your company is using:
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ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING - The environmental benefits: If each business changed one incandescent or halogen lightbulb to a CFL it would be the equivalent of removing 1 million cars off the roadways, in the U.S., each year. If an incandescent lightbulb were replaced with an LED, it would be the equivalent of removing 9 million cars off the roadways each year in the U.S.
ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING - The financial benefits: Installing Energy Star-rated lights (LEDs, Compact Fluorescent Bulbs, T5s, T8s) can save 20% or more in energy costs. And for a greater savings consider adding motion sensors where appropriate. To learn more click on the link to the Energy Star website above.
AN EXAMPLE - How a lightbulb can change your bottom line: UPonGREEN is currently working with a business, that has retail operations in multiple states, meet the UPonGREEN Criteria. By converting a portion of their lighting to Energy Star-rated bulbs the energy costs that they will save will be reinvested to help fund a health insurance plan for their employees, a benefit they are presently unable to offer due to the expense. This initiative is expected to also provide additional savings through an increase in employee satisfaction thus reducing employee turnover and the related hiring/training expenses. It's important to note, the lighting changes do not negatively impact the retail ambiance of their business. Just one more example of how 'greening' your business is good for business.
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| Click their logo to view their website. |
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Click the UP logo to view ServiceLighting's Eco-Profile.
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ServiceLighting.com is the internet's first light bulb company. They offer the largest online selection of energy saving fluorescent bulbs and cutting-edge LED lighting products for homes and businesses. ServiceLighting can help qualifying businesses determine the best lighting solutions for their operations and identify rebate, refund and government incentive programs. ServiceLighting also provides many supplementary products, such as light fixtures, flashlights, batteries.
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2. OUR COMPANY recycles paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, batteries, electronics
and fluorescent lights throughout the company. We also provide recycling
containers in customer areas.
Please name the recycling company that you hire for pickup:
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RECYCLING - The environmental benefits: According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (April 2008) less than 35% of households and even fewer businesses recycle such as glass, aluminum, plastic, paper, electronics, batteries, fluorescent bulbs. When the number of people recycling reaches 75%, it will be the equivalent of removing 33 million cars from the roadways in the United States. Recycling is within everyone's capabilities and it can be one of the most important actions we can do for the environment and our future.
RECYCLING - The financial benefits: Recycling can reduce the frequency and the amount of garbage hauling and therefore can result in an decrease in expenses. In addition, Cone Research (2007), found that 92% of employees surveyed have an increased positive image of the company they work for when it practices environmentally and socially responsible initiatives such as recycling. Improved employee relations, has been found to decrease employee turnover. Also, national and global studies (Gallup, Good Purpose, Tandberg) reveal more than 85% of consumers state they will switch companies or products to support ones that are more enviornmentally and socially responsible if given the opportunity. Green is a marketshare issue. Recycling is a great way to publicly & visually demonstrate that your company cares. Consider branding the recycling bins with your company's logo to market the fact that your company is doing what it can to make a difference... and get UPonGREEN.
Click on the logos below to learn more about recycling for your business.
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3. OUR COMPANY uses post-consumer recycled paper throughout all office printers,
fax machines & copiers.
What is the percentage of post-consumer content in your office paper?
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POST CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER - The environmental benefits: On average it requires 60% less energy to produce paper from recycled stock than from virgin materials. Producing a ton of virgin paper requires 20 trees and 7,000 more gallons of water than a ton of 100% recycled paper.
POST CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER - The financial benefits: Work toward ‘paperless’ to offset the sometimes higher costs of post consumer recycled paper and to also reduce the expense of toners, ink, equipment, repairs, and disposal. When possible, double-side the paper used in your printers, copy and fax machines and look for equipment that provides that feature automatically.
Click on the logos below to learn more about post consumer recycled paper for your business.
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4. OUR COMPANY manages its temperature with a high-efficiency programmable
thermostat and we adjust it to 68 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the
summer and reduce it to the greatest energy efficient setting possible during
non-labor hours. |
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ENERGY-STAR RATED TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT - The environmental benefits:
ENERGY-STAR RATED TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT - The financial benefits: Managing your heating and air conditioning with programmable Energy Star rated thermostats and systems and setting your temperature for greatest energy efficiency (without negatively impacting the productivity of your workforce) can save your company 15% or more in overall energy costs. In addition take into account, more energy efficient temperature settings during non-working hours. There are many incentives currently available for businesses to upgrade their heating and air conditioning systems to more efficient systems.
Click the logo below to learn more about energy wise temperature management.
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5. OUR COMPANY offers incentives for employees to use public transit, carpool,
hybrid vehicles or non-motorized transportation. Please note any incentives your
company offers to employees using alternative transportation means:
. What percentage of your employees are taking advantage of these incentives?
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INCENTIVES FOR LOW OR NO CO2 TRANSPORTATION - The environmental benefits: If each car in the US had improved mileage of 2.7 mpg we would eliminate our oil dependency from the Persian Gulf.
INCENTIVES FOR LOW OR NO CO2 TRANSPORTATION - The financial benefits: Studies indicate that the amount of income each employee earns is not the most important reason for employee loyalty. Job statisifaction and loyalty comes from the overall environment of the company a person works for, the interest level of their responsibilities and the overall reputation of the company. Companies with an eco-purpose, such as offering incentives for carpooling or mass transportation, can benefit by attracting high quality, loyal employees. which in turn can decrease a companies expenses by keeping attrition rates down, and morale UP, (not to mention employee transportation expenses down). In addition, offering incentives for employees to bike or walk to work encourages healthier lifestyle choices for employees and consequently healthier employees, which can help keep a company's increased expenses due to illness, down as well as possibly decrease their over all health care benefits expenses.
Click on each logo to learn more about no or low CO2 transportation for commuting to work.
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6. OUR COMPANY hibernates the monitors on its computers after 5 minutes without
use and shuts the computers down completely during non-work hours. (Additionally
we keep brightness levels on our screens down to a level that is safe &
comfortable for our employee's eyes, yet at levels that conserve energy.) |
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HIBERNATING OR SHUTTING COMPUTERS OFF - The environmental benefits: 500 computers set to hibernate after 5 min and shut down completely during non-working hours will prevent 72.5 tonnes of CO2 from emitting. (It takes 51,000 adult trees to offset 72.5 tonnes of CO2 ).
HIBERNATING OR SHUTTING COMPUTERS OFF - The financial benefits: The scenario stated above would save $24,000 electricity/yr ($.10/kwh) for the business.
Click on the logo below to learn more about hibernating & shutting down your computer(s).
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7. OUR COMPANY has removed its name and continues to keep the company off junk
mail and catalog lists, which are unnecessary and go unread. (Assign one person
in your organization to manage this and to verify the catalog or junk mail
company has indeed removed your company's name.) |
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REDUCING OR ELIMINATING INCOMING UNWANTED MAIL - The environmental benefits: More than 100 million trees worth of bulk mail is received each year. That’s the equivalent of deforesting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every four months. (And most is never opened)
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING INCOMING UNWANTED MAIL - The financial benefits: The services that help your company remove its name from unwanted mailing lists can help save your company expense involved in time spent handling or opening the unwanted mail, expenses related to disposal or recycling the mailings (heavy catalogs especially).
REDUCING OR ELIMINATING OUTGOING UNWANTED MAIL - The financial benefits: There are new services evolving that help your company more precisely target audiences who are interested in your offerings, helping your company reduce the enormous expense of flock-shoot printing and mailing and helping your company earn a higher rate of response and return on its mailings.
Click on the logos below to learn more about eliminating junk mail coming into your office.
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8. OUR COMPANY has installed low-flow and high-pressure plumbing fixtures and
maintains the plumbing to prevent leaks, drips and water waste. |
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MAINTAINING PLUMBING TO ELIMINATE WATER WASTE - The environmental benefits: One dripping faucet can waste 2,000 gallons a year. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that at least 36 of the 50 states will experience local, regional or statewide water shortage by 2013. Each day the average American spends 100 to 176 gallons of water every day. In many countries people survive on less than 5 gallons per day.
MAINTAINING PLUMBING TO ELIMINATE WATER WASTE - The financial benefits: Maintaining plumbing to prevent drips, leaks and running toilets can help a company save the expense of wasted water, increasingly problematic plumbing and related issues such as; damaged sheet rock, structural decay, tile, mold, health issues... Additionally, poor plumbing sends a negative message to your employees and customers which can result in decreased respect for other areas of your business and/or unfavorable experiences resulting in lower revenues. Consider installing low flow/high pressure fixtures to conserve the water and your dollars even more. The rate of return is generally quick and worth the investment Don't forget to recycle old plumbing fixtures and hardware.
Click on the logo below to learn more about conserving water in your business.
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9. OUR COMPANY offers drinking water for employees and guests of our company
that isn't packaged or shipped in plastic. |
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OFFERING ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC BOTTLED WATER - The environmental benefits: Plastic bottles are a petroleum product; they are difficult to recycle but worse to decompose. Last year > 30 billion bottles went into landfills. Hard-lined filtered water dispensers eliminate most production, packaging, distribution, disposal issues related to single serving and 5-gallon water bottles.
OFFERING ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC BOTTLED WATER - The financial benefits: Hard-lined filtered water systems can save your company 20-70% vs. five-gallon jugs or individual bottles.
Click on the logo below to learn more about choosing bottleless drinking water for your business.
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10. OUR COMPANY buys locally whenever possible (within a 100 mile radius). |
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BUYING LOCALLY WHENEVER POSSIBLE - The environmental benefits: Improving and shortening the links between creation-to-consumption has infinite environmental and natural resource benefits that positively impact the quality of water, air, soil and our health.
BUYING LOCALLY WHENEVER POSSIBLE - The Financial benefits: Sourcing your products or services from local businesses can help reduce your purchasing costs and can stimulate your local economy.
Click on the logo below to learn more about choosing bottleless drinking water for your business.
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11. OUR COMPANY offers and/or buys organic, natural, sustainable, and/or
renewable products (> 20%). |
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ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE AND/OR NATURAL - The environmental benefits: By increasing useage and demand of sustainable, natural and/or organic products we reduce dependence on non-renewable resources which tend to be harmful in their production and cause numerous harmful by-products. Organic and natural products have been shown in a number of studies to contain more vitamins, nutrients and cancer-fighting antioxidants than processed or synthetically enhanced ingredients. These products are good for the environment and good for our health.
ORGANIC, SUSTAINABLE AND/OR NATURAL - The financial benefits: There are increasing demands for healthier products and that demand is making the prices for such products more competitive. The market for 'greening' products is increasing faster than any other category in the marketplace. The future of our economy will reside with a balance between "good for the environment and good for the pocket-book". With the advancement of this emerging 'green' industry comes new jobs and a reduced reliance on off-shore suppliers ... while never losing sight of the global economy. It is the quintessencial sustainable economic stimulus package of our time, if we capture it.
Click on the logo below to learn more about sustainability.
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12. OUR COMPANY encourages its employees and its suppliers to become UP ON GREEN
members. |
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ENGAGING & INSPIRING OTHERS TO GET UP - The environmental benefits: Encouraging your employees, suppliers and/or customers to meet this baseline creates exponential environmental progress in every regard. Meeting the basics is the foundation that needs to be achieved by the masses of our society to help us reduce our expenses, measurably improve our impact on our environment and prepare us for advanced green solutions.
ENGAGING & INSPIRING OTHERS TO GET UP - The financial benefits: Green is a market share issue. In multiple studies such as Cone Research, Gallup, GoodPurpose, Tandberg, (2007) 92% of employees surveyed have an increased positive image of the company they work for when it practices environmentally and socially responsible initiatives. Improved employee relations, result in a decrease in employee turnover. Additionally, more than 85% of consumers surveyed stated they will switch companies or products to support ones that are more enviornmentally and socially responsible if given the opportunity. UPonGREEN can help your company not only reduce expenses through these basic environmental intiatives, but it can also effortlessly help your business earn marketshare and become an EcoHero by inspiring others to do the same.
Encourage your employees, customers & suppliers to get UPonGREEN and be part of the solution.
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13. OUR COMPANY has received an energy audit within the past 12 months to help
ensure maximum efficiency in its energy usage. Please list the organization that
performed the energy audit for your company and the month/year of the audit:
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ENERGY AUDIT - The environmental benefits: If each company received an audit and implemented minor changes, the US could reduce national CO2 emissions by 15% or more.
ENERGY AUDIT - The Financial benefits: Audits often detect many energy saving opportunities that haven’t been realized by the business and can often find energy savings in excess of 15-20% for each company.
Click on this logo to learn more about energy saving opportunities for your business.
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14. OUR COMPANY donates and/or volunteers for social and/or environmental
betterment organizations.
Please list organizations that your company supports.
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DONATING & VOLUNTEERING - The enviromental benefits: The influence of a businsses good efforts through monetary, goods or time donations generates a win for the benefactor and a win for the entire cause due to the exposure & awareness that company can generate for the cause ... above and beyond the gift(s) given.
DONATING & VOLUNTEERING - The financial benefits: Studies indicate that a company's social and eco-reputations positively influence their employee retention, market share, reputation in the community and consumer loyalty ... all of which directly related to reduced expenses, more dependable earnings and increase revenues.
Click on this logo to learn more about energy saving opportunities for your business.
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Please note whether your company donates and/or volunteers:
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