Use high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, like high efficiency toilets (HETs) and urinals (HEUs)

Use a tankless or otherwise highly efficient hot water heater

Replace water-intensive grass with regionally native, climate resilient ground coverings

Have a composting program for your business food waste

50-74% of your workdays are remote

Install a smart irrigation controller that uses weather or soil moisture data to irrigate appropriately

Implement a comprehensive recycling program including education, proper sinage, and monitoring

Optimize your on-premise servers and business systems by ensuring the hardware is up-to-date and energy efficient

Create a pathway program for local youths to intern and eventually become employed at your company

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

Meet if not exceed Federal and State regulations for your industry

Schedule regular maintenance on company vehicles to ensure each vehicle is operating as efficiently as possible to reduce emissions

Install light switch occupancy sensors in proper locations to automatically turn off lighting when no one is present

Provide a product or service, as part of your company’s core strategy, that delivers a social or environmental benefit and/or focuses on an underserved part of the community.

Provide a benefits package that meets the needs of employees, and is well-defined, accessible and transparent to all workers

Provide a living wage for all employees, at all levels of the organization including both full time and part time workers

Create a detailed risk management plan for projects and programs

Choose a pest control service that minimizes the use of toxic pesticides

Prioritize working with business partners, service providers, etc. that are women-led, minority-owned and local small businesses

Define, institute, and clearly communicate a policy to prioritize employee diversity, equity, and inclusion

Arrange the workspace to take advantage of areas with natural sunlight

Ensure all windows are double pane, low-E, and energy efficient

Use a drip irrigation system for watering landscaping

Philanthropically donate a percentage of your revenue or profits and/or company time to an environmental cause

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)

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

Ensure all windows in your home are double pane, low-E, and energy efficient

Create and implement a human health and safety policy

Adhere to labor, child labor, forced labor, and reasonable working hour laws and practices

Disclose any risks to the environment or the public created by your company’s products or operations timely and publicly

Properly dispose of all hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics

Properly dispose of all household hazardous waste materials including batteries, paint and chemicals, lightbulbs, aerosol cans, and electronics

Conduct a comprehensive water usage assessment/audit to pinpoint specific areas of water usage and waste

Install water flow rate controls (aerators) on faucets

Ensure all windows and doors are properly installed, functioning, maintained, and weather-stripped, etc.

Encourage employee carpools

Significantly limit the amount of physical marketing materials you produce

Replace regular light bulbs with LED bulbs

Undergo regular and complete check-ups and maintenance of your HVAC or A/C system

Establish a paperless billing program for your customers

Have accessible green space somewhere onsite or in close proximity to grounds

Use an eco-friendly home pest control service that minimizes the use of toxic pesticides

Conduct multiple quality checks on your products and/or services before distributing to consumers to ensure highest possible quality

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

Give opportunity for all employees to provide feedback of any kind and feel secure and empowered to do so

Purchase home paper towels and toilet paper made from 50-100% recycled materials

Locate home office in room with ample windows to take advantage of daylighting

Recycle or sell your used toner cartridges

Purchase recycled or remanufactured toner cartridges

Develop a paper reduction policy that clearly defines when and how items should be printed

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

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

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

Reuse, sell, or donate used or unneeded furniture, equipment, and office supplies

Use virtual meeting platforms to replace travel when possible

Communicate your social responsibility initiatives with customers and other stakeholders in a way that clearly defines your company values, policies, objectives and actual performance

Evaluate customer and community satisfaction with your company through calculating your net promoter score (NPS)

Add shades/window covering to reduce heat gain

Provide regular formal review, linked to a comprehensive development plan, with clear and constructive feedback to all employees

Provide a trusted, impartial and empowered 3rd party for the remediation of significant conflicts arising between employees and the business/business leaders

Add shades/window covering throughout your home to reduce heat gain

Change your home HVAC or A/C filters every 90 days-6 months maximum as is recommended by your filter thickness and type

Reduce vampire loads by unplugging non-essential electrical appliances when not in use

Stop purchasing single-use plastic waterbottles. Install a water filter if necessary

Use a shared or centralized printer

Establish a clear governance and decision-making structure, including the composition of the board of directors, board committees, executives, and shareholders

Create and implement a policy for protecting sensitive information

Conduct regular cyber/data security checks

Include a specific commitment to a positive social and environmental impact in your corporate mission statement

Accept and evaluate employee’s feedback about violations of your corporate ethics and conduct policy

Create and implement an employee code of conduct

Create and enforce a policy for preventing and addressing discrimination and harassment

Designate an employee as community engagement leader or create a community engagement team

Minimize air conditioning usage through natural ventilation by opening windows

Train employees on your cyber/data security policies and what to do in case of a potential breach

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

Commit to inviting, receiving and acting upon customer and community feedback in a welcoming and constructive way at all times.

Use ceiling fans and windows in place of air conditioning

Communicate pricing and services transparently, authentically, and consistently to all customers

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

Relax the office dress code to allow for attire that doesn’t require dry cleaning