GREEN PRACTICES CURRENTLY IN PLACE
Build-out for Newly Expanded Office:
- Bamboo flooring in showroom - bamboo is a quickly renewing resource compared to other hardwood floors
- 100% Recycled Rubber Tire flooring in production area (also naturally anti-fatigue)
- Walls painted with NO and LOW Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - used Eco-Spec (NO VOCs) and Aura (LOW VOCs) paint from Benjamin Moore
- Use of Natural Lighting throughout office
- Motion Sensor light switches throughout office (installing November 2008)
- Ceiling Fans throughout office (installing November 2008)
Office Practices:
- 100% of electricity purchased through Dominion's Green Power Program. Learn more at Green Power for Virginia.
- Communication via email instead of fax or mail
- Encourage emailed invoices and statements
- Pay bills and vendors electronically when possible instead of through mail
- Print on backside of used paper when appropriate; recycle paper when its done
- Use paper supply with maximum available recycled content
- Recycling ink cartridges through Rapid Refill
- Use of rechargeable batteries
- Fax-modem documents received and faxed directly from computers
- Low flow toilets and faucets
- Turning thermostat up during summer nights and weekends and down during winter nights and weekends
- Turning off heat or air conditioning on nice days and opening front and back doors
- Using re-usable canvas bags instead of plastic bags when shopping for office supplies
- Eco-friendly cleaning products without phosphates
- If maid services are used, use only companies that use environmentally friendly products and practices
- Office lunch: request that plastic utensils and napkins are not included and if possible request that food be packaged in recyclable materials such as plastic or paper instead of styrofoam
Printing Practices:
- Installation of new HP L65500 Latex Digital Printer - durable, high-quality prints without the harmful VOCs.
- Proper ventilation of VOCs from HP 9000 printer with Duster 2000
- Turn off equipment if not in use for 30+ minutes
Sign Production Practices:
- Use of eco-friendly sign substrate alternatives
- Use of scrap material for sign production whenever possible
- Scrap substrate donation to local school art departments, etc.
- Recycle un-useable scraps
Miscellaneous:
- Official Company vehicle is a Hybrid Toyota Prius
- Carpooling
- Signs By Tomorrow leases a Single Stream Recycling Container from Tidewater Fibre Corporation so that everyone in our shopping center has the opportunity to recycle cardboard, plastic and metal
- Educating customers about green practices and offer green sign alternatives
- Educate fellow franchisees with positive experiences and encourage them to brand a green business ethic
- Voice/write opinions to the local and national political leaders as a small, woman-owned business owner and encourage forward movement on tighter environmental policies and increased tax incentives for green practices.
- Sign Recycling program
- Support vendors who recycle and have green business ethics
- Find out what current vendors environmental policies and future goals are
