Upgrade from older fluorescent T12, T8 and T5 lamps to LED alternatives
Use a tankless or otherwise highly efficient hot water heater
Limit impermeable surfaces such as parking lot blacktop and concrete sidewalks or install a rain garden
Replace water-intensive grass with regionally native, climate resilient ground coverings
Implement a comprehensive recycling program including education, proper sinage, and monitoring
Create an executive leadership team with women, minorities, and people from underrepresented communities in top leadership roles
Plant native, regionally-friendly plants to minimize water use and impact on local habitat
Develop a comprehensive water use and conservation plan with measurable goals to optimize water usage
Meet if not exceed Federal and State regulations for your industry
Eliminate all single-use paper, styrofoam or plastic cups, plates, and utensils in the kitchen area. Use reusable mugs, dishes, and silverware instead
Create a detailed risk management plan for projects and programs
Install a programmable thermostat to automate your HVAC or A/C system
Purchase all office paper products made from 50-100% recycled materials
Arrange the workspace to take advantage of areas with natural sunlight
Purchase ENERGY STAR qualified or similarly highly efficient appliances
Develop an office thermostat policy that maintains internal air temperature within the recommended temperature range, and eliminates A/C and heating usage when the building is not occupied
Provide equitable opportunities to ensure women have equal access to employment, leadership roles, and pay
Provide fair and appropriate breaks for workers based on hours worked and enforce a strict policy that they must take them
Institute a policy for providing training, certification, and professional development opportunities to employees
Pay top executives no more than the minimum compensation necessary to ensure productive and effective performance
Create and implement a human health and safety policy
Properly dispose of all hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics
Install a filtered water tap or water bottle refill station that provide high-quality drinking water
Conduct an energy assessment/audit to pinpoint specific areas of energy use and waste
Encourage employee carpools
Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce
Use environmentally-friendly, non-toxic, bio-based cleaning products
Replace regular light bulbs with LED bulbs
Establish a paperless billing program for your customers
Have accessible green space somewhere onsite or in close proximity to grounds
Choose paperless billing with vendors, business partners, and suppliers when possible
Eliminate unnecessary paper usage as much as possible including forms, contracts, meeting agendas and materials, proofs, and drafts
Administer company-wide employee training on sustainability efforts both at work and at home
Recycle or sell your used toner cartridges
Purchase recycled or remanufactured toner cartridges
Change your HVAC or A/C filters every six months or more frequently as is recommended by filter type
Regularly test your irrigation system to ensure proper configuration, optimized watering schedule, and eliminate overwatering and waste
Designate carpool, hybrid, and EV parking spaces that are in preferred areas of your parking lot (e.g. closer to the building entrance or covered)
Reduce junk mail by removing your organization’s name from national direct marketing databases
Use reusable cleaning products such as towels and sponges, eliminating paper towels
Print and copy double-sided only
Choose bio-based, reused, recycled, recyclable, or FSC certified boxes and bags for shipping
Use virtual meeting platforms to replace travel when possible
Create and implement an employee code of conduct
Regularly disclose business practices, operations, and financial statements to shareholders and stakeholders
Minimize air conditioning usage through natural ventilation by opening windows
Purchase trash liners made from 50-100% recycled materials
Designate your office as a smoke-free working environment with outside smoking areas 25 feet away from building entry areas and common walkways
Use ceiling fans in place of air conditioning when possible
Reduce “vampire loads” by unplugging appliances when not in use
Organize a sustainability committee to lead your organization’s sustainability program
Complete the GBB getting started steps
Develop a sustainability mission statement for your business and define your company’s core commitments
Populate your company’s sustainability accomplishments in your profile
Announce your commitment to GBB to all employees
Use natural odor elimination
Relax the office dress code to allow for attire that doesn’t require dry cleaning