"25x'25" is
a rallying cry for renewable energy and a goal for America to
get 25 percent (25%) of our energy from renewable
resources like wind, solar, and bio-fuels by the year 2025.
INCREASING
AMERICA'S RENEWABLE ENERGY USE WILL:
.
BRING
NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO MARKET AND SAVE CONSUMERS MONEY.
REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON OIL
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST.
CREATE
NEW, RELIABLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA.
CLEAN-UP
THE AIR AND HELP REDUCE SMOG AND GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS.
Lead Answer, Inc. has made a two-fold commitment to the green
movement. Namely to do our share in reducing the size of our eco
footprint and to help other “office-based” businesses become more aware
of the simple things they can do toward this cause. With over 6,500
businesses of similar size, our smaller individual contributions can
make a big difference.
Green List
Below is a list of “green” conscience things we have adopted and
implemented within our entire company:
Recycle
PAPER –
FROM PRINTED
DOCUMENTS, PAPER TOWELS, PAPER WRAPPING, NEWSPAPERS, AND
CARDBOARD BOXES NORMALLY DISCARDED IN THE TRASH, WE HAVE
RECYCLING CONTAINERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT OUR BUSINESS SO THAT ALL
CAN CONTRIBUTE.
ALUMINUM AND
PLASTIC –
ITEMS NORMALLY
DISCARDED IN THE TRASH ARE COLLECTED AND DELIVERED TO OUR
COMMUNITY RECYCLING LOCATIONS. THE AMOUNT OF RECYCLED PAPER,
ALUMINUM, AND PLASTIC THAT NO LONGER ENDS UP IN THE GARBAGE HAS
REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF ACTUAL TRASH BY 50% WHICH ALSO RESULTS IN
A 50% DECREASE IN OUR WASTE BILL.
REFILL & RECYCLE
INK TONER CARTRIDGES –
RECYCLED FOR
SOMEONE ELSE TO USE.
Conserve Energy
ENERGY EFFICIENT
LIGHTING –
WE’VE PLACED
ENERGY-SAVING LIGHT BULBS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. NOT ONLY ARE THEY
MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT, THEY ALSO LAST ABOUT 10 TIMES LONGER AND
RESULT IN LOWER ELECTRICITY BILLS.
HEATING AND
COOLING –
WE CONSERVE
ENERGY BY ADJUSTING THE TEMPERATURE DURING THE EVENINGS AND
WEEKENDS.
WINDOW
TREATMENTS –
WE USE BLINDS ON
ALL OF OUR WINDOWS TO KEEP DIRECT SUNLIGHT FROM HEATING OUR
OFFICE DURING THE HOTTER PARTS OF THE SEASONS.
Education
SIGNAGE –
WE HAVE SIGNS
PLACED AROUND THE OFFICE TO HELP REMIND PEOPLE TO DO THEIR PART
AND RECYCLE AS WELL AS TO ONLY PRINT WHAT’S NECESSARY.
SHARING IDEAS –
WE INCLUDE
UPDATES WITH GREEN SUCCESS STORIES IN OUR REGULAR MEETINGS.
EMPLOYEE MANUAL
INCLUDES GREEN POLICY –
OUR “GREEN”
POLICY IS THAT WE CONTINUALLY MAKE EFFORTS TO SEEK A BETTER,
MORE ECO-FRIENDLY WAY TO RUN OUR BUSINESS. THOUGH IT’S NOT
MANDATORY, WE MAKE SUGGESTIONS SUCH AS BRINGING LUNCH IN A
RE-USEABLE CONTAINER WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TURNING DESKTOP
COMPUTERS OFF BEFORE LEAVING THE OFFICE, AND MAKING A CONSCIENCE
EFFORT TO CONSERVE WHEN POSSIBLE.
SPREADING THE
WORD -
OUR EMAIL
SIGNATURES REMIND OTHERS NOT TO PRINT THE EMAIL IF IT’S NOT
NECESSARY
B-CLEAN DATA
HYGIENE™ –
WE’VE PUT
TOGETHER A BUNDLE OF DATA PROCESSES DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE
PRINTING AND MAILING OF MAIL PIECES WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME,
INCREASING RESPONSE AND BOTTOM-LINE ROI. ALL DIRECT MAILERS
SHOULD CONSIDER THIS PROCESS SINCE THE COST OF THIS PROCESS IS
ALWAYS LESS THAN THE PRINT & POSTAGE SAVINGS; IT’S ALSO GOOD FOR
THE ENVIRONMENT.
Environmentally Friendly
Buying Decisions
CULLIGAN WATER
DELIVERY SERVICE -
THEY USE
POLYCARBONATE BOTTLES THAT ARE USED BETWEEN 40 TO 50 TIMES
BEFORE THEY ARE RECYCLED INTO OTHER PRODUCTS. THESE BOTTLES
NEVER END UP IN A LANDFILL.
RECYCLED PAPER -
WE PURCHASE ONLY
RECYCLED COPY/PRINTER PAPER. NOT ONLY DOES THIS REDUCE
DEFORESTATION, RECYCLED PAPER ALSO TAKES 60% TO 70% LESS ENERGY
TO PRODUCE THAN PAPER FROM VIRGIN PULP.
TOILET PAPER -
PUBLIX GREEN
BRAND
PAPER TOWELS -
PUBLIX GREEN
BRAND.
DONATE USED -
WE HAPPILY HAND
DOWN OUR USED EQUIPMENT FOR RE-USE.
Measuring our progress
It’s easy to overlook this crucial part of running a “green” business.
We keep track of our effort from charting the decrease in energy use to
how much trash per employee we accumulate over time. Measuring the
details of our progress keeps us focused on what we are attempting to do
and gives us material savings to celebrate. This conscience effort has
also extended into our own personal lives at home. We’re finding that
starting simple little efforts turn into larger, more impacting changes.
Our list of “green” conscience office based ideas will surely grow. Our
hope is that you’ll also consider adopting a more green routine. Please
email us with any suggestions and tips you might have and we’ll gladly
add them to the list!
