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Green $en$e Guide
An in-depth look at how local businesses can get on the right
Green $en$e track.
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Hampton Roads businesses have achieved impressive results!
Significant reductions in water and sewer bills, stormwater fee
credits and lower waste disposal costs can be realized by implementing
site-specific measures that are cost-effective and position your
business as environmentally friendly—an increasing concern for
discerning Hampton Roads customers.
By implementing Green$en$e measures, your company can also achieve or
exceed regulatory compliance, making you eligible for various local
and regional awards---another boon to marketing!
Many measures are inexpensive or merely require a change in processes,
but not all Green$en$e measures are quick and inexpensive. In those
instances, there are many financial and informational resources to
help you get started.
In many businesses, employees become more than enthusiastic partners
and can be your best ambassadors for ensuring a company-wide embrace
of the Green$en$e philosophy---Going green without putting your
business in the red!
The Green$en$e Program seeks to target area businesses with the
greatest potential to make an impact and realize financial savings.
Those clients include:
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Sites that use large volumes of water for irrigation.
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Industries that use water for cooling or cleaning, such as hotels and
motels, manufacturing, health care facilities, multi-family or group
living facilities.
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Companies with existing or in need of stormwater Best Management
Practices (BMPs) or maintenance plans.
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Businesses that generate large amounts of recyclable waste products
such as plastic, cardboard, Styrofoam, or wooden pallets.
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Any company that generates a surplus item that could be of use to
another business.
The guide centers on three key environmental areas where your business
can implement proven, cost-effective strategies to conserve water,
manage stormwater and polluted runoff, and decrease their waste
stream.
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Establishing a waste reduction /
recycling program takes much planning. following the steps outlined in
this chart can make the task easier.
Planning:
- Secure upper level management support
- Appoint coordinator
- Conduct waste audit
- Interpret data/make decisions about program
Implementation:
- Apply waste minimization techniques
- Utilize waste exchanges
- Choose materials to recycle
- Locate market / hauler
- Set up collection system
- Secure equipment / supplies
- Publicize program
- Begin program
- Evaluate & report; adjust program as necessary
Developing a Green$en$e Plan For Your Business
Getting all employees
involved in going green is an important aspect to assure success.
Remember that a successful program includes four important components:
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commitment of top
management;
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thorough understanding
of your operations---water system, stormwater management and waste
stream;
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comprehensive plan
committed to paper; and
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ongoing, active
participation of all employees.
Step 1: Commitment of Top Management
A successful program
requires support from top management in theory and in practice. This
includes acceptance of Green$en$e as a long-term investment rather
than a “quick-fix” budget item. Benefits include:
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Reduction of water,
sewage treatment, waste disposal and energy costs.
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Enhancement of your
organization’s community relations through promotion of Green$en$e
efforts.
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Keeps you (or gets you)
in compliance with local, state and federal regulations.
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Many Green$en$e
recommendations show immediate returns on your investment!
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Market yourself as a
green business to savvy, environmentally conscious consumers in
Hampton Roads.
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Gain operating
efficiencies, cost reductions and perhaps even extra income as a
result of implementing a Green$en$e Action Plan.
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Simple checklists
provided in the Green$en$e Guide allow you to get started
immediately.
An organizational
policy statement such as the following gives a Green$en$e plan impact
and reflects management’s intentions.
“We understand the importance of the region’s limited natural
resources. Our organization demonstrates this commitment through
developing and maintaining a comprehensive environmental program that
assures improved resource management and increases our
cost-effectiveness.”
Step 2: Understanding Your Processes and Systems
A
thorough understanding your current processes and systems is necessary
to achieve change. Perform a
Water Audit Checklist to help you become more knowledgeable about
your water system. A Site
Inspection Checklist will help to familiarize yourself with
stormwater issues at your site. A
Waste Reduction Checklist will assist in the understanding of your
waste practices. We encourage you to use these handy checklists to
begin your Green$en$e program.
Step 3: Writing Your Green$en$e Plan
Written commitment of
your program is critical to success. The following are basic elements
to consider prior to implementation: Organizational Policy Statement:
Reflects the commitment of top management (as shown in Step 1).
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Goals: Set specific,
measurable, and achievable goals. State the goal measurement
(gallons, percentage, etc.), date to be achieved, area of facility,
and action item(s).
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Action plan :
Outline each specific task and support each action with a
cost/benefit analysis where applicable. State immediate actions
which are no-cost or low-cost, actions requiring capital expenditure
and actions requiring changes in business processes or practices.
Use current or proposed rates to calculate dollar benefit.
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Employee Awareness
Program: (See Step 4). Decide who will be responsible for plan
implementation. Establish a Green$en$e committee with a responsible
leader, or, in smaller facilities, one employee who will develop and
implement the plan.
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Implementation,
evaluation and revision: A viable plan is flexible and evolving.
Review it periodically and revise it when necessary. The original
plan should state when reviews take place and how revisions occur.
Step 4: Employee Participation and
Public Awareness
Employee awareness and cooperation is critical. The first three steps
of plan development will be unworkable without the willing
participation of employees. There are several ways to gain their
commitment, such as having the head of your company (CEO, president,
owner, etc.) write and distribute a letter of support for the program
to employees, developing a Green$en$e committee, and instituting a
communications plan to keep your employees informed about the new
policies and programs.
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