gold
611
Points Earned
Completed Initiatives
Initiative Description
Points
Install or lease from a building with a heat recovery system that converts waste heat to energy
60
Rent or purchase a building that is close to public transportation stops and bike paths
36
Install a smart irrigation controller that uses weather or soil moisture data to irrigate appropriately
27
Implement a comprehensive recycling program including education, proper sinage, and monitoring
27
Optimize your on-premise servers and business systems by ensuring the hardware is up-to-date and energy efficient
24
Create a pathway program for local youths to intern and eventually become employed at your company
24
Create an executive leadership team with women, minorities, and people from underrepresented communities in top leadership roles
24
Plant native, regionally-friendly plants to minimize water use and impact on local habitat
20
Eliminate all single-use paper, styrofoam or plastic cups, plates, and utensils in the kitchen area. Use reusable mugs, dishes, and silverware instead
18
Install light switch occupancy sensors in proper locations to automatically turn off lighting when no one is present
18
Hire an Energy Services Company (ESCO) to optimize energy usage
18
Provide a benefits package that meets the needs of employees, and is well-defined, accessible and transparent to all workers
18
Provide a living wage for all employees, at all levels of the organization including both full time and part time workers
18
Install a programmable thermostat to automate your HVAC or A/C system
16
Philanthropically donate a percentage of your revenue or profits and/or company time to an environmental cause
12
Reserve at least one day a year when your company volunteers for local environmental or community projects (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Earth Day, Save a Tree)
12
Provide an annual public report or update on your company’s environmental and social responsibility efforts, initiatives, and improvements
12
Provide equitable opportunities to ensure women have equal access to employment, leadership roles, and pay
12
Provide fair and appropriate breaks for workers based on hours worked and enforce a strict policy that they must take them
12
Institute a policy for providing training, certification, and professional development opportunities to employees
12
Adhere to labor, child labor, forced labor, and reasonable working hour laws and practices
12
Keep corporate accounting accurate and up-to-date, enabling operation decisions to be made about investing, hiring, and project management
12
Properly dispose of all hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics
9
Install a filtered water tap or water bottle refill station that provide high-quality drinking water
8
Become an annual sponsor, making a substantial contribution to a meaningful event promoting sustainability in your area
8
Conduct an energy assessment/audit to pinpoint specific areas of energy use and waste
8
Ensure all windows and doors are properly installed, functioning, maintained, and weather-stripped, etc.
8
Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce
8
Undergo regular and complete check-ups and maintenance of your HVAC or A/C system
8
Establish a paperless billing program for your customers
8
Have accessible green space somewhere onsite or in close proximity to grounds
8
Regularly evaluate employee satisfaction through interviews, surveys, or calculation of employee net promoter score
8
Conduct multiple quality checks on your products and/or services before distributing to consumers to ensure highest possible quality
8
Choose paperless billing with vendors, business partners, and suppliers when possible
6
Eliminate unnecessary paper usage as much as possible including forms, contracts, meeting agendas and materials, proofs, and drafts
6
Administer company-wide employee training on sustainability efforts both at work and at home
6
Conduct exit interviews to gain insights on company culture and operations and make improvements based on feedback
6
Give opportunity for all employees to provide feedback of any kind and feel secure and empowered to do so
6
Recycle or sell your used toner cartridges
4
Develop a paper reduction policy that clearly defines when and how items should be printed
4
Change your HVAC or A/C filters every six months or more frequently as is recommended by filter type
4
Regularly test your irrigation system to ensure proper configuration, optimized watering schedule, and eliminate overwatering and waste
4
Print and copy double-sided only
4
Make your business’ sustainability efforts a central part of your message by filling out and linking to your GBB Public Profile and publishing your sustainability commitment on your website
4
Reuse, sell, or donate used or unneeded furniture, equipment, and office supplies
4
Use virtual meeting platforms to replace travel when possible
4
Eliminate all physical marketing materials, rely only on digital methods
4
Use a shared or centralized printer
4
Designate your office as a smoke-free working environment with outside smoking areas 25 feet away from building entry areas and common walkways
2
Organize a sustainability committee to lead your organization’s sustainability program
1
Complete the GBB getting started steps
1
Develop a sustainability mission statement for your business and define your company’s core commitments
1
Populate your company’s sustainability accomplishments in your profile
1
Announce your commitment to GBB to all employees
1
Relax the office dress code to allow for attire that doesn’t require dry cleaning
1