Greening Your Start Up

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Greening Your Start Up!
Fenwick West LLP
When selecting a facility, what should you
consider?

• Is the facility close to public transit? Is it
  centrally located to employee population/client
  base?
• Is it close to public amenities? Grocery stores,
  shopping, dry cleaning, restaurants, etc.
• Is the building owner or landlord open to
  including Green language in the lease or
  sublease? e.g., Landlord and tenant agree to
  cooperate with one another in using reasonable
  endeavors to promote and implement the efficient
  use of resources.
• Does the facility have a good window line for the
  possibility of harvesting daylight and reducing
  lighting? Employees love natural light and
  studies show it increases productivity.
• Does the facility include a secured bike cage and
  showers? If not, does it have space to build
  them?
• Does the facility have a Recycle Program in
  place?
• Does the facility include sustainable materials
  such as ceiling and carpet products? Are the
  restrooms utilizing sensored faucets, dual flush,
  low flow toilets or waterless urinals? Is the
  facility energy efficient? Does it have any
  certifications such as Energy Star or USGBC LEED?
• Is the Landscaping well thought out with drought
  resistant plants and proper irrigation to
  mitigate water loss?

What are some of the basic things you can do to
Green your facility or company?

• Dedicate someone within your company to research
  the many local, state and federal programs that
  offer support and ideas for getting you started.
  Make sure to familiarize yourself with any rebate
  programs. Check the local utility providers
  website to see if they have any programs. Many
  of them offer free assistance!
• Create a Green Team that involves all levels of
  your workforce. The Green Team is a great vehicle
  for generating ideas, soliciting input,
  implenting policies and communicating results.
• Continued

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Fenwick West LLP

• Educate employees on what they can do at work and
  home to conserve energy. Sponsor local Green
  initiatives and encourage employees to
  participate. Have fun events that highlight
  sustainability. Create fun contests between
  departments or offices to see who can conserve
  the most. Post results internally and offer
  prizes for the winners.
• Offer employee incentives to use public
  transportation. Create an internal carpool
  program or team up with 511 or other providers
  (e.g., Ridespring, Vanpool and Zipcar) to create
  an inexpensive personalized webpage that can
  promote and facilitate your carpool program.
• If you can, work with the Landlord or Property
  Management to install carpool/hybrid parking
  spaces in the most desired locations to reward
  your employees who participate in reducing their
  carbon footprint.
• If you provide bottled water or soft drinks for
  your employees, find alternatives such as large
  pitchers of water with lemon or lime slices
  and/or distribute mugs with company logo to
  employees to further reduce waste.
• Use compostable utensils and paper products in
  the kitchen. Use recycled paper products in the
  restrooms and kitchens. Purchase recycled office
  supplies, including paper, pens, pencils,
  notepads, etc.
• Reduce shipping impact by using local vendors
  whenever possible.
• Encourage or mandate employees to turn off
  computers, printers and copiers at the end of the
  day or when away for 3 or more hours. Even sleep
  mode takes energy! Set up copiers and printers
  for double sided finishing.
• Reduce lighting schedules where possible.
  Harvest the regions abundance of daylight!
  Recycle light bulbs and use compact fluorescent
  bulbs when possible. Close blinds on hot days.
• Reduce unwanted mailings http//stopjunkmail.org