Building A Green Team

How do we start? Get senior level support (Owner, President) and make it known throughout your organization/company that you have this support. Recruit team members. Evaluate what environmental practices are already in place. Are you in compliance?

Facility manager – person who handles heating, cooling, maintenance, parking lots. Purchasing decision-maker If you lease, ask your commercial property manager to participate in some way. Representatives from each department. Designate one person to coordinate. Team Members?

Don’t assume anything—walk around. Check stormwater outflows, hazardous waste (fluorescent lighting), fleets, waste, energy use? Dumpster dive!

Environmental Policy Statement Look at other company’s environmental policies as examples. Write it down and frame it, put it in the lobby where customers can see it. Post it on your website. Inform your employees. Don’t bury it in a book, post it where staff and your customers an be reminded of it on a regular basis.

Conduct a short in-house training on environmental aspects and impacts for team. Regulatory requirements vs. voluntary best practices. 10% vs. 90% DDOE can help with basic best practices and direct you to help for specific sectors. Write an Environmental Plan

Keep it simple – recommend 10 steps or practices. Take notes of your meeting and share with the staff. Don’t try to do everything; people will get “tired” – the deadly green fatigue.

What’s in the Plan? Recycling Waste reduction Energy efficiency retrofits Reduce water consumption Stormwater Best Management Practices Green purchasing Materials substitution Purchase renewable energy Environmental compliance E-cycling “Green meetings” Carbon offsets Green roof IPM/landscaping

Measure Track your data (gallons, kilowatts, btus, miles). Energy efficiency expressed as GHGs reduced. Track the difference – show that your efforts help the “bottom line” of the company. Reduce risk, reduce costs, save money $$$.

Share your story Write a case study – good or bad Post it on the website Network with similar business types facing similar pollution/waste issues. “You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” Apply for an award – Mayor’s Environmental Excellence Awards

Questions? Comments? Contact: Mary Lynn Wilhere Business Outreach Office of the Director Government of the District of Columbia District Department of the Environment 51 N Street, NE, 6th Floor Washington, DC Office: