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

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