1 Inform Your Customers

Inform your customers about your green certification. For example:

• Post the Green Business Certification decal in a visible location
• Highlight your Green Business certification on your website and link it to the Green Business Certification page
• Assist at least one other business in learning about the green business certification program.

2 Inform Your Employees

Inform your employees about your green certification efforts and train them on your green procedures and practices. Incorporate in your newsletters, staff meetings, employee orientations, etc.

3 Energy Audit

4 Implement a Recycling Program

5 Purchase Environmentally Friendly Paper

Purchase 50% of office paper with post-consumer recycled content, SFI or FSC certification to support sustainable forest management practices and the purchase of recycled content paper products.

6 Properly Dispose of Hazardous Wastes

Properly dispose of hazardous wastes (including fluorescent bulbs/tubes, batteries, paint, cellphones, cleaning supplies, aeroseal cans, pesticides, etc.) at a Hazardous Waste Facility. Never throw or pour hazardous waste into regular trash receptacles or down a drain.

1 Close your blinds

Institute a written policy that ensures blinds and curtains are closed after hours

2 Turn it off

Institute a formal policy that encourages employees to turn off inessential equipment and lights when not in use

3 Go Natural

Use only natural lighting during daytime hours in applicable areas. Make this a standard procedure via signage and employee education. Put signs over light switches such as "Turn off when leaving."
Rearrange workspace to take advantage of natural sunlight.

4 Shift electrical usage to non-peak times

Shifting to non-peak usage helps keep less efficient plants from coming on line. Additionally, energy planning can save money.

5 Turn off computers and screens

Establish a policy to turn off computers and screens after hours, weekends, and holidays.

6 ENERGY STAR purchasing policy

Establish a policy that when replacing or adding new equipment or appliances, they shall have an ENERGY STAR rating.

7 Use "task" lighting

Light when and where extra light is needed, rather than lighting an entire room.

8 Space Heaters

Discourage personal space heaters

9 Dress right

Encourage employees to wear weather appropriate clothing to work

10 Temperature Setbacks

Set cooling to 74°F and heating to 68°F. Program the thermostats for unoccupied hours when the facility is closed with cooling set at 90°F and heating at 55°F.

11 Computer Power-Saving Mode

Change settings on office computers to turn off the display after 5 minutes, and go into sleep mode after 20 minutes of non-use. Discontinue use of screen savers.

12 Copier/Printer Power-Saving Mode

Reduce copier/printer power consumption by using stand by mode after 15 minutes of non-use and completely turn off at the end of the day

13 Staff Training

Involve your staff Create a plan to hold bi-annual training for staff on energy conservation.

14 Use the Stairs

Put up signs at elevators that encourage stair use.

15 Vending Machines

Implement "off-hours" shutdown schedule or install devices to automatically reduce vending machine energy use (VendingMisers).

16 Refrigerator Rules

Prohibit personal refrigerators and provide high efficiency refrigerators in common areas. Replace refrigerators >10 years old with Energy Star model. Maintain fridge coils free of frost and dust.

17 Dishwasher Usage

Post signage for employees to use dishwasher only when full.  Save energy and water!

18 Offset Your Carbon

Offset your carbon and purchase CO2 offsets or renewable energy credits for a minimum of 10% of your electrical usage.

19 Utility Bills

Track, understand and review your utility bills. Report any inconsistent high usage immediately to General or Facilities Managers.

20 HVAC Maintenance

Complete regularly scheduled HVAC maintenance. Clean or replace filters,heating and air-conditioning systems at least twice a year. Clean air-conditioning condenser coils at least four times a year.

21 Clean your light fixtures

Create and implement a schedule to clean lighting fixtures and lamps so that they are lighting as effectively as possible (dirt can reduce lighting efficiency by up to 50%).

22 hot water heater

Set hot water heater between 120-140F

23 hot water pipes

Insulate all major hot water pipes.

24 Contract Language for Cleaning Services

Develop contract language for cleaning services. Require lights to be turned off after areas are cleaned and/or schedule daytime cleaning.

25 Reduce Solar Heat Gain

Apply window film to reduce solar heat gain or use double glazing for 90% of windows.

26 Install ceiling fans

Ceiling fans can help reduce your cooling costs as they allow you to set your A/C thermostat higher. The breeze increases the evaporation of moisture from your skin making you feel cooler than you would without it.

However, keep in mind that ceiling fans cool people, but they don't lower room temperature. So make sure that you turn them off during unoccupied hours!

27 Lighting Controls

Use lighting controls such as motion sensors and/or photo cells.

28 LED lighting

Upgrade indoor and/or outdoor lighting to LEDs

29 Energy Management System

Use an energy management system to control large mechanical loads

30 Weather Stripping

Use weather stripping to seal air gaps around windows and doors

31 Exit signs

Use LEDs in exit signs

32 Use booster heater for hot water

Convert hot water heaters to on-demand systems.

33 Use economizers on AC system.

Use economizers on A/C for free cooling during mild conditions.

34 Replace multiple AC units with a single unit

Replace multiple AC units with a single unit with a SEER of at least 13.  SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and is a rating of the units' energy efficiency

1 Transportation Demand Management program

Develop and post a Transportation Demand Management program for your business.  View a sample program here.

Inform your customers about alternative transportation options to get to your location.

2 Find "green" rental car companies

Establish a policy where employees must request a fuel efficient car when renting cars for business travel.

3 telecommuting or flexible schedules

Offer telecommuting opportunities or flexible schedules to your employees.

4 electric vehicle charging stations

Offer electric vehicle charging stations for visitors and staff.

5 video-conferencing

Reduce air miles traveled via tele- or video-conferencing.

6 Maintain vehicles

Maintain your vehicles per manufacturer specs and track maintenance to improve vehicle life.

7 employee training

Do any of the following:

Encourage employees to consolidate trips and to patronize services close by that can be reached by bus, bike, and walking.

Provide employees with driver training for driving efficiently by avoiding idling and aggressive driving.  

Encourage employees to maintain vehicles and tire pressure.

8 preferential parking

Make sure carpools, electric, hybrid, or alternative fuel vehicles receive preferential parking at your facility.

9 Encourage Greener Commute

Do any of the following:
May is National Bike Month! Host a Bike to Work Day.  
Participate in Miami Valley Regional Planning Commissions Rideshare Program.
Provide a commuter van.

10 Green your fleet

Purchase or rent alternative fuel, fuel efficient, electric or hybrid vehicles for the company fleet to reduce your company's transportation footprint.

11 No idling

Establish a policy to reduce idling in company vehicles.

12 Incentivize alternative modes of transportation

For example, a bus pass or small bonus for not using a car.

13 Provide bikes

Provide bikes for employee errands so that employees can bike to meetings and ride around the neighborhood during workday breaks.

14 secure location to store bicycles

Install a bike rack or bike shelter in or near facility. Consider providing tire air pumps and flat tire repair kits for on-site use.

15 Provide shower facilities

This helps promote the practice of walking, joging, or biking to work.

16 Activity incentive programs

Support physical activity during the workday. For example:

• Encourage physical activity breaks during meetings
• Support flexible scheduling for employees who participate in physical activity (such as a longer break for walks or gym usage)
• Post signage that promotes stairwell usage
• Establish walking or bicycling groups for the workplace

17 Support healthy foods and beverages

Encourage better eating habits and food culture. Ensure that your employees have healthy vending and food options during the workday. Consider providing a space for eating that is well lit to encourage social support.

18 Promote drinking water

Provide any/all of the following:

• A filtered water bottle filling station.
• Water at meetings.
• Provide refillable water bottles and/or travel mugs.

19 welcome mats

Place welcome mats at the office entrance. This reduces unwanted chemicals/dirt from entering your workspace.

20 air-purifying plants

Place air-purifying plants throughout the office.

21 Controllability of Systems

Provide a high level of thermal and ventilation control for individual occupants or groups in multi-occupant spaces to promote the productivity, comfort, and wellbeing of building occupants.

22 Daylight and Views

Provide occupants with daylighting and view opportunities to provide a connection between indoor spaces and the outdoors.  Strategies include office layout and lower partition heights.

Studies have demonstrated that productivity increases dramatically for building occupants working in daylit areas.  In addition, daylighting decreases energy costs.

23 Cleaning Protocol

Provide clean and sanitary environment for staff and visitors in a manner that is earth and human friendly using cleaning products that meet Green Seal standard or products with low-volatile organic compound (VOC) whenever possible.

Reduce the exposure of building occupants and custodial personnel to potentially hazardous chemical containments that adversely impact air quality or impede occupants' well-being.  

24 community volunteer activities

Encourage/promote community volunteer activities by any of the following:

• Sponsor an annual community event that promotes sustainability within your community.
• Participate in/or sponsor environmental restoration projects and other community efforts to reduce environmental impacts.
• Encourage your staff to join any of DRG Action Teams.

25 Green Cleaning

Provide clean and sanitary environment for staff and visitors in a manner that is earth and human friendly. Download sample policy

1 Have a Solid Waste Assessment Done For Your Facility

Montgomery County Solid Waste District can provide free solid waste assessments for Montgomery County businesses! For more information contact Barbara Asberry at 937-781-3062.
Check with your Solid Waste District for similar programs if you're outside Montgomery County.

2 Clearly Labeled Recycling Bins

Position clearly labeled recycling bins co-located next to all trash receptacles at break rooms, conference room, and lobby areas.

3 Make Recycling Easy

Have individual recycling bins available at employee desks or at a centralized location in close proximity to all employees.  Verify that the cleaning staff is aware of your recycling/ waste management system.

4 Two Sided Printing

Make two-sided printing and copying standard practice in your business (set printers and copiers to default to duplex printing). Make single-sided the exception instead of the rule.

• Work with IT staff to implement this default setting for all office computers and printers.
• Staff can still print single sided when required (e.g. Human resources, client documents, other confidential documents), but this should be the exception instead of the default.

5 Think Before You Print

Circulate documents electronically instead of using paper-based memos or faxes. Include this in your business policy.

6 Document Defaults

Set document defaults to smaller fonts and margins.

7 Use Electronic Billing

Use electronic billing methods to invoice customers and receive payment.

8 Permanent Dishware

Stock your cafeteria, break room or kitchen with reusable food service ware, such as mugs, dishes, and utensils, for staff and customers use.

9 Reduce Junk Mail

Unsubscribe to all junk mail and reduce the number of catalogs and newspapers sent to your business. Consider using free programs such as www.catalogchoice.org

10 Unwanted but Usable

Donate old electronics, furniture, equipment, and building materials.  If it's not useable, recycle it.

11 Food Scraps Composting

Implement a program to compost employee food scraps.

12 Eliminate bottled water

Distribute refillable water bottles and/or travel mugs to all employees. Install a drinking water filter system and eliminate use of bottled water.

13 Reuse Rinse Water

Use kitchen rinse water and/ or residual drinking water to irrigate indoor plants.

14 Re-Use Area

Designate a sharing or re-use area for employees' use.

15 Reduce Packaging

Purchase products with no packaging, less packaging or reusable packaging. If possible, request that vendors/suppliers ship deliveries in returnable containers.

Design marketing materials that require no envelopes-simply fold and mail.

16 No Styrofoam

Eliminate use of all Styrofoam products.

17 Green Catering

Use catering services that purchase local and/or organic produce, and use only recyclable or compostable or reusable dishes.

18 No Single Containers

Eliminate use of 'single containers' from coffee areas such as Keurig, individual creamers, sugar packs, etc. Use large refillable containers instead and buy coffee, tea, condiments, and any snacks provided to employees in bulk to avoid unnecessary packaging waste

19 Green Purchasing

Write and implement a green purchasing policy.

20 Buy Local

Purchase local products. Do business with other green businesses.

21 Bleach and Chlorine-Free Paper

Use unbleached and/or chlorine-free paper products (copy paper, paper towels, napkins, coffee filters, etc.).
Look for paper products that are unbleached or that are whitened using a chlorine-free process (sometimes labeled PCF for Processed Chlorine-Free). Chlorine-containing bleaching agents are often used to turn paper and janitorial products bright white. The bleaching process can generate various chlorinated pollutants which tend to persist in the environment for a very long time.

22 Janitorial Paper Products

Purchase at least one janitorial item (paper towel, toilet paper, etc...) with post-consumer recycled content.

23 Greener Office Supplies

Use non-toxic (water based, low VOC) office supplies such as ink markers and pens.

24 Inventory Your Chemicals

Conduct and maintain an inventory of chemicals and potentially hazardous materials used in your business. Check Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and labels for all cleaning products, building maintenance materials, pesticides, and fertilizers you use. Identify and use safer, greener, or natural alternatives.

25 Reusable Office Supplies

Purchase Reusable Office Items such as refillable pens, erasable white boards & wall calendars.

26 Replace Aerosols with Pump Dispensers

Even modern-day, CFC-free aerosol sprays emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to ground-level ozone levels, a key component of asthma-inducing smog.

27 Just in Time Policy

Implement "Just In Time" purchasing policy and "first in, first out" for chemicals and limit access to hazardous chemicals.

28 Eliminate Paper Hand Towels

Eliminate paper hand towels by installing air hand dryers in restrooms.

29 Use Approved Cleaning Products

Stock at least one non-toxic, biodegradable cleaner, such as a multipurpose, glass, restroom, floor or dish washing detergent.

30 Use Only Low and Zero-VOC Paints

Use solvents and paints that have lower emissions than required by current standards.

1 Eliminate irrigation and fertilizer

Eliminate irrigation and fertilization by planting native and drought resistant vegetation only.

2 test irrigation system

Manually check for leaks, and repair all broken sprinkler heads/equipment monthly. Turn on irrigation system and walk each station to check for leaks and proper coverage.

3 Adjust sprinklers for proper coverage

Adjust sprinklers for proper coverage to achieve even water distribution and to eliminate all runoff into paved surfaces.

4 Non-daylight hours Watering

Set the irrigation controller start time during non-daylight hours (before 7 am or after 9 pm). Watering in early morning or dusk helps avoid evaporation

5 Decrease impervious surface area

Reduce the amount of impervious surface by using permeable pavement and other options.

6 Apply mulch

Apply 2-3 inches of mulch in all non-turf planting areas.

7 hydro-zoning

Make necessary changes to assure proper hydro-zoning (grouping of plants with similar water needs and sprinkler types) of irrigated areas, for example, separate bed and turf zones.

8 rotating nozzles

Install rotating nozzles on all sprinkler heads.

9 drip irrigation

Install non-spray or drip irrigation in all shrub, tree, and planted bed zones.

10 turf grass watering

Reduce turf grass water consumption by eliminating watering, and allow the grass to go dormant.  It will come back!

11 Reclaimed Water

Use captured rainwater or recycled graywater for irrigation.

12 Plant trees

Plant / maintain trees to help reduce amount of water runoff.

13 irrigation efficiency training

Provide irrigation efficiency training for all landscape staff or contractors through a reputable training program.

14 Storm Drain Litter

Prevent litter from entering the storm drain by regularly cleaning litter and debris in front of your business, by dumpsters, and in receiving areas. Ensure tight-fitting lids on dumpsters.

15 chemical storage areas

Locate chemical storage areas away from catch basins, drywells, and floor drains.

16 Prevent soil from washing into storm drains

Mulch, use ground cover, or use a barrier to prevent exposed soil from washing into storm drain.

17 outdoor areas dry sweeping

Use dry sweeping to clean concrete or asphalt surfaces instead of using water to wash down surfaces. Use high pressure, low water use cleaning techniques only when necessary. Always send wastewater from pressure washing to landscaping or the sewer not the storm drain.

Never use a hose and/or soap to clean outdoor areas. This includes parking lots, sidewalks, alleys or patios.

18 No Dumping

Label storm drains with "No Dumping, Drains to (appropriate body of water)" message.

19 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program

Eliminate or reduce use of chemical pesticides by:

• Specifying in pest control contracts that primary pest management methods include non-chemical pest prevention and pest exclusion.
• Using traps, barriers and less toxic pesticides (such as soaps, oils, microbial and baits)
• Applying on an as-needed (vs. Set) schedule.
• When chemical pesticides are necessary, use those labeled "caution" rather than "warning" or "danger".
• Set up storage and sanitation procedures
• Utilizing planting, irrigation and cultivation (e.g., pest-resistant plants) to minimize pest attractants.

20 Prevent pest attraction

Prevent pest attraction by eliminating improperly stored foods, open trash bins, and dense foliage around your building.

21 erosion control

Prevent erosion during earth disturbing activities by using mulch, ground cover, or barriers.

22 vehicle spill kit

Keep a spill kit handy to collect spills or leaks from company vehicles.

23 Drain carwash water into sewer

Carwash water should NOT enter storm drains, catch basins, dry wells, or retention/detention ponds. Perform vehicle maintenance, repair, and washing offsite.

1 low-flow aerators

Install these devices on all ""non-critical use"" lavatory faucets to reduce water use.

2 Track Water Use

Review your water bill monthly for leak/spike indications.

3 Leak Detection and Repair

Regularly check for and repair all leaks in your facility

4 high efficiency toilets and urinals

When renovating replace all urinals flushing at greater than 1.0 gallon with high efficiency urinals, flushing at less than 0.5 gallons, or waterless urinals. Retrofit toilets flushing at higher than 1.6 gallons with high efficiency toilets (1.28 gallons or less per flush).

5 water pressure

Maintain water pressure between 60-80 PSI to optimize performance

6 Encourage water conservation

Encourage water conservation and post signs in restrooms and break rooms.

7 Window cleaning

Change window cleaning to ""as required""

8 Faucets

Install low flow self-closing or automatic & sensor faucets.

9 cooling systems

Optimize cooling systems to provide or use alternative onsite sources of water.