We recently had the opportunity to speak with Lisa Shpritz, Senior Vice President at Bank of America. Lisa is smart, funny, and dedicated to the environment (and good business practices). In addition to her “real” job, Lisa also serves on the Board of Directors of the USGBC in the Finance, Surety and Corporate Real Estate seat.
Hope you enjoy Lisa and her take on the green workplace as much as we did:
What is your current role at Bank of America?
My official title is Environmental Risk and Sustainability Executive and I am part of Bank of America’s Corporate Workplace Group. My role is twofold: running an environmental risk group that manages environmental compliance and a sustainability team that focuses on integrating environmental practices and principles into the way Bank of America does business.
I have been with Bank of America for five years, coming here after graduating from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business. Prior to attending UNC, I worked in international environmental management for a telecommunications company.
This is the first time I have worked at a large company, and it is great. My background is in environmental management (I have a master’s degree in environmental management from Duke and a BA in Biology from Cornell), and I have always been interested in contamination and its effects on real estate (brownfields, for example). In business school, I made the connection between environmental management and business, and really focused on real estate.
At Bank of America, I get to pull all of my interests together, working on a really broad range of everything – cleaning brownfield properties, maintaining compliance, arranging air permits, dealing with hazardous waste and asbestos, and everything from carpooling and water conservation to LEED certification, recycling, and waste management strategies.
We have over 125 million square feet of space (approximately 10-11,000 buildings), and have lots of opportunities to improve the environment.
What green/sustainability-related project are you most proud of?
I think my greatest accomplishment at Bank of America is putting together our team. I never imagined that five years later the group would be what it is today. The team has recently expanded (we added six people in the last six months). The team is comprised of two environmental risk managers who are responsible for maintaining compliance for all of Bank of America’s domestic properties, an associate engagement manager, and a sustainability director plus her team, which includes a person dedicated to LEED-EB, a person dedicated to waste and water, one who is responsible for green leasing and transactions, a sustainable transportation manager, and a person dedicated to supply chain sustainability.
The associate dedicated to green leasing and transactions has a very challenging task. Many of our facilities are leased, and this person is responsible for making sure that the language in our leases is green. They are also responsible for working together with our landlords to integrate services like recycling and green cleaning – things you think would be easy, but when maintaining consistency over such a large portfolio, become very challenging.
Our sustainable transportation associate is responsible for running our Hybrid Vehicle Reimbursement Program (we reimburse associates $3,000 for the purchase of a new hybrid, electric, or compressed natural gas vehicle), setting up electric vehicle charging stations, and managing our compliance with trip reduction ordinances across the country, among other things.
The associate engagement position was developed to help Bank of America get the story out to our associates. We have lots of great programs available, but until now, did not have a good way of getting the information out.
Our program is based on a foundation of compliance, which I think is very, very important. Any sustainability program worth its salt is steeped in compliance. Many organizations are so rushed to get a program up and running that they forget to look at the basics.
I’m very proud that Bank of America has developed a solid, holistic, environmental program that is now integrated into the way we do business. It’s not extra, or other, or fringe; for example, LEED certification is now our standard for how we build our banking centers and renovate space.
What has inhibited you or Bank of America from making more progress on the sustainability front?
This is a hard question. From the very start, I had incredible leadership support from Bank of America’s senior management. At the very beginning it was a little tough because I think people were maybe a little suspect, but overall the reception has been incredible.
I think it helps tremendously that we have constructed our environmental management and sustainability programs so that they make sense financially – they are not an “add on,” but instead an integral part of the way we do business.
What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
If you are starting a sustainable program from the very beginning, the best thing to do is to pick a couple of “low hanging fruit” projects that will absolutely save money. Once you have documented the return on investment from these projects, use them to prove to leadership that there is a business case for going green. A perfect example of an easy win is changing out light bulbs. This is easy to implement and easy to show a return, no matter where your company falls on the green spectrum (white or deep green).
Another easy win is being wiser about waste. Investing in a cardboard recycling program can lead to instant returns. Most commercial offices have waste streams that are very heavily comprised of cardboard. By recycling cardboard, waste removal fees will be lower, and, depending upon your municipality, you may be reimbursed for recycling the cardboard.
Generally speaking, when you are getting started, look at practices that are common sense, things that are “quick hits” that save money easily. Once you have established a market for environmental behaviors, it is easier to get approval.
What types of strategies have you found most challenging to adopt/push through? Changes we make in our portfolio have to make financial sense. We don’t make choices to do things just because it’s the right thing to do (although that’s certainly part of the decision-making process).
Our national energy team is fast and firm that we do projects that make sense for our shareholders, clients, and associates. Because of this, we’ve found a lot of support. It may sometimes limit the projects we do (for example, those with a 25-year payback are hard to sell), but has enabled us to maintain an incredible level of support for environmental programs.
When times get tough, our integrated approach has helped tremendously – sustainability is more likely to continue in rough times because it’s not as if it is a separate project with a higher price tag.
That said, the sustainable projects may have a higher first cost, but it is not much of a premium over “the normal way.”
Any parting thoughts?
For any students who may be reading this post: one of the areas with great future opportunities is sustainability marketing. There are lots of architects, designers, and scientists with great understanding of sustainability and environmental management; there are even a significant number of green MBAs, but there are very few people who understand both sustainability and true marketing. Many marketing professionals are interested in sustainability, but very few have been trained in both fields. That seems to be a big gap in the marketplace right now.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Interview with Lisa Shpritz, Environmental Risk and Sustainability Executive at Bank of America
Friday, August 13, 2010
Losing Money Motivates Green Behavior
I was listening to a lecture by one of my favorite psychologists, Dr. Robert Cialdini. His speciality is the power of "influence" particularly as it pertains to business. Here's a post about social influcence from TGW last year.
His topic in this lecture was the influence of scarcity. The idea is that perceived scarcity will generate demand. For example, saying offers are available for a "limited time only" encourages sales. But what might this mean for encouraging green behavior?
There was a study done in Santa Cruz, California. Researchers went door to door in certain neighborhoods with an official from the local power company who did an energy audit on each of the homes, telling homeowners where they should use weather stripping and insulate, and so on. And at the end of this audit, the official told half of them that if they would insulate their home fully, they will save $.75 a day every day. The other half were told, if you fail to insulate your home fully, you will lose $.75 a day every day. Significantly more people insulated their homes under the loss instruction then under the gain instruction.
His topic in this lecture was the influence of scarcity. The idea is that perceived scarcity will generate demand. For example, saying offers are available for a "limited time only" encourages sales. But what might this mean for encouraging green behavior?
There was a study done in Santa Cruz, California. Researchers went door to door in certain neighborhoods with an official from the local power company who did an energy audit on each of the homes, telling homeowners where they should use weather stripping and insulate, and so on. And at the end of this audit, the official told half of them that if they would insulate their home fully, they will save $.75 a day every day. The other half were told, if you fail to insulate your home fully, you will lose $.75 a day every day. Significantly more people insulated their homes under the loss instruction then under the gain instruction.
Language and perception is everything!
Image: Total Green Energy Solutions
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Interview with Gerry Faubert, HOK's Director of Integrated Design
Q: What would you say are current “trends” when it comes to organizations adopting green strategies or principles?
A: Not a trend but a common denominator is the basic tenet that clients will adopt green strategies when there is a compelling story. Chapters in that story include impact to their bottom line, affordability, cost savings, IRR, improved workplace environments. Organizations are realizing the importance of sustainability and many firms are have created a Sustainability Officer role within their firm to provide leadership, expertise, guidance and intelligence on sustainability issues across the broad spectrum of operating a business. At the outset of the internet revolution we saw the role of a CIO be introduced. We now have the Chief Sustainability Officer. This is definitely a growing trend.
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues?
A: Recent funding opportunities such as the ARRA are spurring interest with clients and in turn rejuvenating interest in new solutions. Innovation thrives in times of turmoil.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: HOK’s Zero Emissions Building Prototype. The firm embarked on a challenge to test the ability to design an affordable 200,000 SF building which achieves net zero emissions on an annual basis.
Lessons learned were invaluable. The question “can form follow performance, be relevant and inform design?” A resounding YES is the answer. The experience is now being applied to other challenges such as existing buildings which is a very exciting opportunity.
Lessons learned were invaluable. The question “can form follow performance, be relevant and inform design?” A resounding YES is the answer. The experience is now being applied to other challenges such as existing buildings which is a very exciting opportunity.
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: All large firms are challenged by the complexities of organization, effective knowledge sharing and implementation. All these challenges need to be addressed with a simple pragmatic approach that stands the test of time. In terms of advancing sustainability a reference point could be a question to help validate a decision e.g. is what we are doing sustainable? Keep it simple and look for solutions with multiple benefits.
A: All large firms are challenged by the complexities of organization, effective knowledge sharing and implementation. All these challenges need to be addressed with a simple pragmatic approach that stands the test of time. In terms of advancing sustainability a reference point could be a question to help validate a decision e.g. is what we are doing sustainable? Keep it simple and look for solutions with multiple benefits.
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
A: Progress can be made with deliberate steps to effect change based on solid principles. Independent will has a role to play when attempting change. Three things you need to do:
1. Never, ever, ever give up. Keep the ball in motion.
2. Know what you want.
3. Fear not what you don’t know.
A: Progress can be made with deliberate steps to effect change based on solid principles. Independent will has a role to play when attempting change. Three things you need to do:
1. Never, ever, ever give up. Keep the ball in motion.
2. Know what you want.
3. Fear not what you don’t know.
Q: What is your favorite source for sustainability/environmental trends or information?
A: Nature, just look outside!
A: Nature, just look outside!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Interview with Paul Westwood, Sustainable Development Manager for Texas Instruments
Paul Westwood is doing some incredible work with Texas Instruments, particularly with regard to saving energy and reducing carbon emissions in TI's manufacturing facilities. Here's what he's working on now...
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: We just received LEED Gold certification for a large semiconductor assembly and test manufacturing facility in the Philippines. TI had the first LEED Gold wafer fabrication facility in the world in Richardson, Texas and now we’ve added the first LEED Gold assembly facility. This is only the 3rd LEED building in the entire country of the Philippines and one of the others is a TI LEED Silver facility.
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: Sustainability is still not well understood. People immediately want to start talking about the “green bling” of solar panels and wind turbines. It’s hard to get people to think about the whole system and how to eliminate waste and inefficiency first. The day to day work tasks sometimes cause people to seek the quick answer instead of the best answer. Being efficient and eliminating waste is a fundamentally good business practice so eventually everyone should get on board.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Interview with Sara Graham, HOK's Firmwide Sustainability Manager
Sara Graham has a particularly challenging job managing HOK's ever-expanding knowledge base on the subject of sustainability. How she stays sane I have no idea. But to say that she is an informed subject for an interview on sustainability trends is an understatement. Here's what she has to say about
Q: What is your current role at your organization?
A: Firmwide Sustainability Manager – focusing on knowledge management, practice leadership and sustainable reporting.
Q: What would you say are current “trends” when it comes to organizations adopting green strategies or principles?
A: Starting 10 years ago, leaders in the field were jumping on the LEED bandwagon – it’s been hard work, but finally LEED has now become relatively commonplace (as well as other rating systems worldwide). What is becoming increasingly important today is performance – of a building, of employees, of a company. Standard metrics are being defined for a whole host of topics to help the general public, employees, potential clients and investors truly understand how a company is performing in any given area.
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues?
A: Legislated mandates are definitely helping to rapidly establish many sustainable goals. Whereas sustainability has gotten fairly far over the last 10 years on interest alone, the rest of the market is now paying attention because they have to.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: I spend much of my time collecting and reporting energy and carbon performance data for HOK’s projects and our own offices – as modeled in design and as performing in real time. Energy efficiency certainly isn’t the only important element to sustainable design, however, it does present an extremely useful benchmark in understanding how a variety of systems work (or don’t work!) together.
I am also presently working on a campaign to recognize leaders in sustainability across HOK – see our series on HOK Life!
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: Until recently, it really has been a cost and effort issue for many of our clients. Now that sustainability is being mandated for more and more markets, we are obviously seeing an uptick in demand.
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
A: A colleague of mine uses this phrase often and it definitely rings true for me just about every day – “You can’t change what you don’t measure.” Clients are increasingly wanting more assurance that buildings are performing as designed.
Q: What is your favorite source for sustainability/environmental trends or information?
A: For design issues, Buildinggreen.com is tops. For general sustainability issues, I try to get my information from a variety of sources – stories of every kind and from every angle are out there. Mostly NPR, email-delivered newsletters and RSS feeds and even Facebook!
A: Firmwide Sustainability Manager – focusing on knowledge management, practice leadership and sustainable reporting.
Q: What would you say are current “trends” when it comes to organizations adopting green strategies or principles?
A: Starting 10 years ago, leaders in the field were jumping on the LEED bandwagon – it’s been hard work, but finally LEED has now become relatively commonplace (as well as other rating systems worldwide). What is becoming increasingly important today is performance – of a building, of employees, of a company. Standard metrics are being defined for a whole host of topics to help the general public, employees, potential clients and investors truly understand how a company is performing in any given area.
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues?
A: Legislated mandates are definitely helping to rapidly establish many sustainable goals. Whereas sustainability has gotten fairly far over the last 10 years on interest alone, the rest of the market is now paying attention because they have to.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: I spend much of my time collecting and reporting energy and carbon performance data for HOK’s projects and our own offices – as modeled in design and as performing in real time. Energy efficiency certainly isn’t the only important element to sustainable design, however, it does present an extremely useful benchmark in understanding how a variety of systems work (or don’t work!) together.
I am also presently working on a campaign to recognize leaders in sustainability across HOK – see our series on HOK Life!
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: Until recently, it really has been a cost and effort issue for many of our clients. Now that sustainability is being mandated for more and more markets, we are obviously seeing an uptick in demand.
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
A: A colleague of mine uses this phrase often and it definitely rings true for me just about every day – “You can’t change what you don’t measure.” Clients are increasingly wanting more assurance that buildings are performing as designed.
Q: What is your favorite source for sustainability/environmental trends or information?
A: For design issues, Buildinggreen.com is tops. For general sustainability issues, I try to get my information from a variety of sources – stories of every kind and from every angle are out there. Mostly NPR, email-delivered newsletters and RSS feeds and even Facebook!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Interview with Chris Hood, Hewlett Packard
Chris Hood has overall design responsibility for Hewlett Packard's global office portfolio. He's got his fingers in all kinds of major projects and initatives, and is particularly insightful and passionate when it comes to sustainability.
Q: What would you say are current “trends” when it comes to organizations adopting green strategies or principles?
A: Increasing interest and participation but still a great deal of standing on the sidelines due to unfavorable timelines for ROI in making changes to improve performance. Most initiatives still seem to be project lead with emphasis on LEED certification (in the United States) and less on systemic project focus on a whole range of actionable environmentally sound design and implementation practices. Building operations seem to support a limited number of green initiatives but there is lots of room for improvement (recycling, energy reductions etc.)
A: Increasing interest and participation but still a great deal of standing on the sidelines due to unfavorable timelines for ROI in making changes to improve performance. Most initiatives still seem to be project lead with emphasis on LEED certification (in the United States) and less on systemic project focus on a whole range of actionable environmentally sound design and implementation practices. Building operations seem to support a limited number of green initiatives but there is lots of room for improvement (recycling, energy reductions etc.)
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues?
A: Not yet. We believe we are trying to take a leadership position and get ahead of any government mandated programs
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: There are two: one is the very aggressive reduction in space that we are currently making. Getting rid of space is the most effective thing we can do to improve our overall carbon footprint. The second is to introduce a sustainable design checklist for use in each and every project across the company. This gives us a scorecard for every project and a natural focus for improving performance over time. The checklist is ultimately practical and does not carry the burden of proof which formal certification systems (such as LEED) require, but nonetheless does cause us to “do the right thing.”
A: There are two: one is the very aggressive reduction in space that we are currently making. Getting rid of space is the most effective thing we can do to improve our overall carbon footprint. The second is to introduce a sustainable design checklist for use in each and every project across the company. This gives us a scorecard for every project and a natural focus for improving performance over time. The checklist is ultimately practical and does not carry the burden of proof which formal certification systems (such as LEED) require, but nonetheless does cause us to “do the right thing.”
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: Simply the burden on precious resources (incremental capital and the extra demands on the time of very busy people). Despite that we are making strong progress.
A: Simply the burden on precious resources (incremental capital and the extra demands on the time of very busy people). Despite that we are making strong progress.
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
Don’t be hamstrung by the arduous process of formal certification of green building programs: just do the right thing, regardless. Much of the certification process does not actually add any environmental value, it simply proves what has been already been done. Surely this is the most important thing. The bragging rights for high level certification are something we can largely do without. Especially when some of the measurement criteria are flawed and incite the wrong behavior.
Don’t be hamstrung by the arduous process of formal certification of green building programs: just do the right thing, regardless. Much of the certification process does not actually add any environmental value, it simply proves what has been already been done. Surely this is the most important thing. The bragging rights for high level certification are something we can largely do without. Especially when some of the measurement criteria are flawed and incite the wrong behavior.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Walking & Biking...It's for Real!
Check out an awesome infographic in GOOD that shows the increase of bicycling and pedestrian activity, as well as the increase in investments for bicycle and pedestrian-friendly projects:
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Interview with Anica Landreneau, Sustainable Design Practice Leader with HOK, Washington DC
Anica Landreneau is a regular blogger for The Green Workplace and a real dynamo at HOK. It's incredible she has the time to blog given her reponsibilities... stewarding hundreds of LEED Certification projects across our practice, helping elevate sustainable thinking at the firm and writing green policies for the General Services Administration, the District of Columbia and others. Here are some of her thoughts...
Q: What is your current role at your organization?
A: Sustainable Design Practice Leader at HOK. My team has both internal clients (design teams at HOK) for whom we provide sustainable design guidance, and external clients (e.g. GSA, DC government, private companies) for whom we provide guidelines, policies, implementation strategies and tools.
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues?
Q: How have recent legislation or corporate/federal mandates changed the way your organization addresses environmental issues?
A: Sustainability is no longer a feel-good option. It is mandated by law or driven by market demand to a point of contractual obligation. Every project we work on has sustainable targets. This means that the workforce in this market is starting to be pretty knowledgeable about green buildings. This translates to building occupants starting to know more about how the built environment can be green and asking about workplace behavior and practices that they can employ to do their part.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: We’re developing educational materials for the U.S. Green Building Council on how to green existing schools. It’s a tremendous feeling to think we’ll be indirectly improving the learning environment for students all over the U.S. through our work. Most jurisdictions have tighter budgets right now and there aren’t a lot of new schools going up. We’re addressing the millions and millions of square feet of all those old, unhealthy and inefficient schools out there!!
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: A lot of our owners don’t want to be the first project to try something new (or new in the market region) so there is a perceived barrier to adoption for new products, materials, and technologies. Our industry also tends to worry about trying new materials out on a building if we haven’t seen them in performance on another building for 20-30 years! This makes what we do as individuals – through changes in our behavior – even more important since we can have an immediate impact while the market is slower to adopt new technology.
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
A: Keep at it and savor the small victories!! This is a social movement and sometimes just influencing a small number of people or projects in small ways has enormous impact over time. it’s easy to get frustrated when we think we’re not getting enough done – but every new project is a new opportunity to go a little further. It adds up!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Interview with Craig Arnold, Real Estate at BMW
Craig Arnold, responsible for Real Estate Building Projects in Americas for BMW, shared with us some insights about sustainability at BMW...
Q: What would you say are current “trends” when it comes to organizations adopting green strategies or principles?
A: We recently added an Energy Manager position to my department. The real cost of energy today and the in the future coupled with the opportunities to pursue alternative energy makes this a viable position with a substantial ROI. The Energy Manager is responsible for all direct and indirect energy consumption meaning he has input into the suppliers we choose based on their energy practices. Progressive companies are learning about new opportunities but trying to chase these with the existing staff. A dedicated professional charged exclusively with developing the energy strategy is a current trend for large companies.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: Even in South Carolina where our electrical energy is one of the cheapest in the country we have been able to use landfill Methane Gas to generate our own electricity and save millions of dollars annually. It has been a huge win for the financial and environmental departments without artificial sources of funding, assistance or external incentive to do so.
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: Our largest facility is in South Carolina with substantial but smaller facilities on the West coast and Northeast. The availability of inexpensive energy is both a blessing and a curse for our South Carolina facility. Our global sustainability targets are based on consumption. Justification for energy per/unit reductions often comes with a conflicting budget target. You can imagine an energy saving project in Europe making perfect sense on all fronts (consumption, budget) while in the South Carolina the project cannot fly with an energy rate as little as one third the European rate.
A: We recently added an Energy Manager position to my department. The real cost of energy today and the in the future coupled with the opportunities to pursue alternative energy makes this a viable position with a substantial ROI. The Energy Manager is responsible for all direct and indirect energy consumption meaning he has input into the suppliers we choose based on their energy practices. Progressive companies are learning about new opportunities but trying to chase these with the existing staff. A dedicated professional charged exclusively with developing the energy strategy is a current trend for large companies.
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A: Even in South Carolina where our electrical energy is one of the cheapest in the country we have been able to use landfill Methane Gas to generate our own electricity and save millions of dollars annually. It has been a huge win for the financial and environmental departments without artificial sources of funding, assistance or external incentive to do so.
Q: What has inhibited you or your organization from making more progress on the sustainability front?
A: Our largest facility is in South Carolina with substantial but smaller facilities on the West coast and Northeast. The availability of inexpensive energy is both a blessing and a curse for our South Carolina facility. Our global sustainability targets are based on consumption. Justification for energy per/unit reductions often comes with a conflicting budget target. You can imagine an energy saving project in Europe making perfect sense on all fronts (consumption, budget) while in the South Carolina the project cannot fly with an energy rate as little as one third the European rate.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Interview with Melissa Perlman, Public Relations at Office Depot
We interviewed Melissa for The Green Workplace book a while back and took the opportunity to find out more of what Office Depot is doing today...Q: What is your current role at your organization?
A: Manager of Public Relations, Office Depot. In my role, I focus on developing messaging, materials and programs to highlight Office Depot’s environmental initiatives to a variety of stakeholders, including media, associates and customers. Some examples include Office Depot’s annual Corporate Citizenship Report (www.officedepot.com/corporatecitizenship ), the Environmental Website (www.officedepot.com/environment ) and press materials (available at http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/environment and http://socialpressofficedepot.com/environmental-initiatives/ ).
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2010, Office Depot joined with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce to launch the Office Depot “Green Office Makeover Contest.” With the contest, Office Depot was looking to identify and reward the businesses taking actions to be green. Entrants were asked to submit an official entry with essays related to their achievements in the area of environmental sustainability. We received a number of entries from small and medium sized businesses (Office Depot’s primary customer base) in the South Florida market and utilized a judging panel to choose a winner and two runners-up. The winner of the Office Depot Green Office Makeover Contest received a prize package worth over $4,000, including greener office furniture, technology, supplies, and a consultation with Office Depot’s Director of Environmental Strategy.
This program garnered local and national attention and did a fantastic job to highlight what businesses are doing and can do to reduce their environmental footprints and save money at the same time. Office Depot received feedback from chambers and other organizations across the country hoping to roll-out the program with their respective constituents – and we are looking to do just that!
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
A: It is critical that professionals in the communications field are aware of what their companies are doing to be green first and foremost. At Office Depot, I spend a significant amount of time talking about how Office Depot is implementing green practices in our own operations (i.e. building LEED certified stores, piloting fuel-efficient vehicles for deliveries, purchasing and using recycled paper and other supplies in our facilities, etc.) Once it is clear that Office Depot is taking the steps to increasingly buy green and be green, we can talk about how we are selling green to our customers…and how we can help them be green (and of course save green)! Some of those latter conversations incorporate Office Depot’s selection of 9,200 products with environmental attributes, variety of environmental solutions (tech recycling, ink and toner cartridge recycling, tech trade-in, etc), and our catalog of green products (The Green Book). Customers can learn more at www.officedepot.com/greeneroffice .
A: Manager of Public Relations, Office Depot. In my role, I focus on developing messaging, materials and programs to highlight Office Depot’s environmental initiatives to a variety of stakeholders, including media, associates and customers. Some examples include Office Depot’s annual Corporate Citizenship Report (www.officedepot.com/corporatecitizenship ), the Environmental Website (www.officedepot.com/environment ) and press materials (available at http://mediarelations.officedepot.cc/environment and http://socialpressofficedepot.com/environmental-initiatives/ ).
Q: What green / sustainability-related project are you working on now that you are most proud of?
A. In recognition of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2010, Office Depot joined with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce to launch the Office Depot “Green Office Makeover Contest.” With the contest, Office Depot was looking to identify and reward the businesses taking actions to be green. Entrants were asked to submit an official entry with essays related to their achievements in the area of environmental sustainability. We received a number of entries from small and medium sized businesses (Office Depot’s primary customer base) in the South Florida market and utilized a judging panel to choose a winner and two runners-up. The winner of the Office Depot Green Office Makeover Contest received a prize package worth over $4,000, including greener office furniture, technology, supplies, and a consultation with Office Depot’s Director of Environmental Strategy.
This program garnered local and national attention and did a fantastic job to highlight what businesses are doing and can do to reduce their environmental footprints and save money at the same time. Office Depot received feedback from chambers and other organizations across the country hoping to roll-out the program with their respective constituents – and we are looking to do just that!
Q: What advice would you give others in your position trying to make a difference for the environment?
A: It is critical that professionals in the communications field are aware of what their companies are doing to be green first and foremost. At Office Depot, I spend a significant amount of time talking about how Office Depot is implementing green practices in our own operations (i.e. building LEED certified stores, piloting fuel-efficient vehicles for deliveries, purchasing and using recycled paper and other supplies in our facilities, etc.) Once it is clear that Office Depot is taking the steps to increasingly buy green and be green, we can talk about how we are selling green to our customers…and how we can help them be green (and of course save green)! Some of those latter conversations incorporate Office Depot’s selection of 9,200 products with environmental attributes, variety of environmental solutions (tech recycling, ink and toner cartridge recycling, tech trade-in, etc), and our catalog of green products (The Green Book). Customers can learn more at www.officedepot.com/greeneroffice .
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