green|spaces announces that EPB has completed its green|light Certification. To celebrate the organization’s completion of the green|light certification, green ribbon cutting ceremonies will take place at each participating building.
A program of green|spaces, green|light focuses on cultivating, promoting and commemorating sustainable business practices in organizations of all sizes throughout the Chattanooga area. green|light assesses environmental and social initiatives within a business, tailoring a holistic step-by-step action plan to create everyday policies and procedures that foster a culture of sustainability.
“EPB has long recognized and embraced the importance of environmental considerations in their daily operations,” said Michael Walton, green|spaces executive director.
“From investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, to ensuring nearly-perfect indoor air quality and to reducing waste-to-landfill with commercial composting, EPB has set a high bar for green businesses in Chattanooga. They have shown a strong commitment to the quality of life and quality of environment for their employees, customers, and the community.”
Under the continual guidance of Elizabeth Hammitt, EPB director of community and environmental stewardship, EPB identified six Green Building Leaders to identify and implement sustainability initiatives throughout their workplace. The Green Building Leaders included Jessica Sanders, Ann Woods, Hayden Cronen, Andrew Thompson, Vivian Kimbell and Kim Goines. EPB has included six buildings in the effort along with the downtown headquarters.
Each Green Building Leader had the task of auditing their respective buildings, soliciting coworker feedback, identifying the slate of goals, conducting information sessions and implementing sustainability initiatives.
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The first team, led by Ann Woods and Andrew Thompson, focused on minimizing water bottle usage, purchasing recycled content paper and office products, improving indoor air quality by enforcing designated smoking areas, and building raised garden beds for staff to tend to and enjoy.
• The second team, led by Jessica Sanders, initiated commercial composting, increased recyclables with Keurig pod recycling and education, included additional indoor plants for indoor air quality, and added a bike repair station for commuters.
• The third team, led by Hayden Cronen, switched all coffee to Fair Trade and large cream dispensers to minimize waste, installed watt stoppers in low-use areas for energy savings, educated employees and customers on native landscape importance, and worked on increasing recycling efforts from field techs.
• The fourth and fifth teams, headed by Kim Gouns and Vivian Kimball respectively, led efforts at EPB’s Brainerd and Hixson branches that included training co-workers on recycling protocols to increase output, initiating sleep mode on all electronics, and purchasing supplies in bulk containers, further minimizing their waste stream.
• The downtown headquarters team, led by Elizabeth Hammitt and Melissa Tinker refined existing LEED processes, piloted composting, and partnered with Crabtree Farms on a downtown pop-up Farm Stand series.
“I am proud of the hard work and dedication EPB and especially the Green Building Leaders have dedicated to the green|light program,” said Kelley Cureton, green|light program director. “Each leader played a critical role in ensuring that sustainability initiatives were both effective and enjoyed by their respective workplace, while embracing the mission of the program to its fullest extent. We couldn’t be more excited to officially celebrate EPB for their continued commitment and certify them as a green|light business!”
"Aimed at locally-owned businesses, green|light enhances employee attraction and public image, helps with energy and cost savings and positions organizations to become environmental stewards, all with the goal of creating a network of consciously-minded companies to which the community supports. By completing this certification, EPB continued their commitment to the community, their employees and the local environment," officials said.
For additional information about green|light or to get started with your company’s sustainability plan, contact green|light’s program director Kelley Cureton at 423-648-0983 or kelley@greenspaceschattanooga.org.