DEPTID - 161

Who's Taken the Pledge?

Go Green! Business Pledge Partners

Go Green! Business Pledge Members

GO GREEN! BUSINESS PROFILES

 

all of us childrens theatre2

Miranda Sue Hartmann, Artistic Director
All-of-us Express Children's Theatre

At this children's theatre they recycle everything possible, collect old batteries & used ink cartages, and even have fundraisers with old electronic goods.  But the main goal at this theatre is to make history; becoming the first "Green" children's theatre in the country!  They have plans to do a capital city campaign to build Lansing's first green theatre.  "We are searching for more and more ways to become more environmentally conscious; switching over to completely recyclable office supplies and grant-seeking to replace all lighting with energy-efficient lighting in the future."

She suggest having all of your board members or employees on-board before going green, it will make the process as painless and smooth as possible.  "We have all of our board members behind us, the guest love what we are doing, and our community response is great." 

 

Megan recycling at Big Brothers Big Sisters

Megan Bensette, Events Coordinator
Big Brothers Big Sisters

A major focus of the Big Brothers Big Sister's office is recycling. Products are sorted into their respective containers and delivered to a local recycling drop-off every week. Employees pitch in by donating their time to make sure this gets done after hours.  Bensette says, "[employees] are just happy to help out with the environment."  Other greening efforts include making sure all electronics and lights are turned off when they are not being used.

Her advice for other employers is to make sure employees stick to the practices you've set in place by making the process as simple as possible; "make sure there are separate bins (labeled) for recycled products in every area where a wastebasket is located." 

 

CADL DowntownLansingLibrary

Steven Jackson, Faculty Supervisor
Capital Area District Library

Libraries have always been in the forefront of environmental consciousness, from educating the public to practicing green habits.  At the Capital Area District Library they follow this ideal and go above and beyond.  Everything gets recycled: whether it be office paper, cardboard, light bulbs, pop cans, or computers; they make sure it ends up where it is suppose to go, not where it is most convenient.  Although, Mr. Jackson states, "it is all pretty easy to practice and after you have been doing it for as many years as we have, you just get used to it."    He also suggest, that if you are trying to take the first step, to have a place to store all your recyclables until they are picked up or dropped off.  Employees will have an extremely smooth transition if they have and know where the designated areas are?especially if they are labeled correctly.

There practices include: shredding and recycling all forms of paper products including newspaper, recycling of cardboard and pop cans.  Light bulbs are taken to "Clean Lights" in Mason, MI; he says, "You definitely have to be responsible about disposal of light bulbs with all the mercury involved."  Computers are donated to local causes, unless they are broken, then they are also disposed of at Clean Lights."  Printer cartages are recycled by there original companies and microfilm has its silver extracted, to keep it from entering into the environment in a harmful way.

 

capital macintosh

David Smith, Owner
Capital Macintosh

At Capital Macintosh they recycle everything from paper products to batteries; mentioning that it is extremely easy to do, especially if you have everyone on board. Mr. Smith also pointed out, " We try to tell everyone about the Go Green pledge and what they can do to help out in there community, we even have a newsletter that gives people a couple of ideas with staying environmentally friendly."  This includes listing resources like freecycle.com or checking out the USPS.com for a listing of ways or ideas to remove and dispose of stuff.

They did suggest that an easy and painless way to get started would be to start using the one-sided paperwork as scrap paper?   "You'll notice the paper it'll save you immediately."  Also, a message to larger businesses is to make the transition to green easier for your employees and you should know that there will be some expenses?so be ready for them, although they will save you money in the long-run.  

 

Gone 2 the Dogs

Jana Nicol, Owner
Gone to the Dogs

Jana Nicol of Gone to the Dogs takes recycling very seriously.  She recycles everything from cardboard to doggie chew-toys.  Jana has found an effective way for disposing of packaging peanuts while creating a local network at the same time; "We pass our packaging peanuts & other packaging products on to other businesses that can reuse them."  This technique not only reduces Gone to the Dogs' disposal costs, but saves other businesses money in purchasing packing supplies, while also strengthening connections within the Lansing business community.  Also in the spirit of environmental friendliness, Gone to the Dogs  is planning on opening a completely new section of the store called, "Dog-Gone Green;" devoted to selling nothing but "Green" friendly products (bio-degradable waste disposal bags, chew toys, treats and clothing).  Jana strongly encourages other businesses to get involved in the green movement.  She suggests that others "try to work with recycled products any opportunity that you get, because it will not only save money but help the environment.  Your customers will also take notice that you are making an effort to make a difference."

 

grace boutique2

Summer Schriner, Owner
Grace Boutique

This women's clothing store owner, besides recycling cardboard & reusing one-sided paperwork as scrap/note paper, has turned to the internet as a resource for passing on some of the unused goods and materials. "I use craigslist for all of my extra fixtures and materials, and a lot of my old packaging materials get reused as shipping containers for online auctions."  Their recycling efforts are for the more part, painless and easy, but she does have one suggestion for new comers?use the local recycling resources.  She says that cardboard is her biggest problem, "Opening up a new business, you never estimate the amount of cardboard you are going to go through?that's why Friedland Inc is such a great resource!"   

 

Gone 2 the Dogs

Lynne Martinez, Executive Director
Greater Lansing Housing Coalition

Being a direct source for the "green" movement as builders of the communities of the future of Lansing, they have made a commitment to strive to be an example for local businesses and communities throughout the city.  They exclusively use energy efficient products in all of their building projects: including light bulbs, furnaces, insulation and windows as well as other utilities.  The idea of going green is automatically passed on to these homeowners with the purchase of every house they build!



Lansing Principle Shopping District turner st north

Andrea Ragan, Marketing Manager    
Downtown Lansing, Inc.

The Downtown Lansing, Inc. decision to "Go Green" was made even before Mayor Virg Bernero's initiative was set into place.  They have been involved in recycling for years; including paper based products, plastics and metallic products.  Newer additions which cut down on energy costs include motion sensors placed on all light switches, and self-insulated blinds that maintain temperature no matter whether you desire a warm or cooler indoor environment. 

Marketing Manager, Andrea Ragan suggests that this practice is fairly easy and will end up saving you and your business money.  One of the most noticeable greening efforts of the PSD has been the use of one-sided paperwork to be reused as notepaper or scrap; she says, "Recycling paper goes a long way, we probably only use about a case of paper a year."

 

Timothy Muffitt Leads the Lansing Symphony Orchestra 

Catherine Guarino, Director of Communications & Ticket Sales
Lansing Symphony Orchestra

Recycling has become an everyday practice at the offices of The Lansing Symphony Orchestra.  They cut down on printer and paper usage also, through the use of computers networks to complete business transactions and communicate throughout the office; as well as for marketing purposes.  The next step is making improvements to the building itself, "We are always looking for new ways to make our business more efficient!" 

She passes on her ideas to guests and other businesses, but says the Go Green window decal you get from taking the pledge is the best promotion.  The advice she has to offer includes: taking advantage of the technology you have available instead of putting everything on paper, and to make recycling convenient by having readily accessible and labeled recycling containers.  "Besides saving money, you are doing something good for the environment?why wouldn't you do it?"

 

Lansing Principle Shopping District turner st north

Gene Townsend, Owner
The Lenawee Company

The Lenawee Company honors its pledge to Go Green by trying to recycle anything and everything possible, being a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Development) certified builder, and carefully managing their waste material.  The system they use is, for the most part, fairly painless and mostly routine-it's a way of doing business that they've become accustomed to.  Not only has Going Green given the Lenawee Company something to be proud of, it has also gained them public recognition for being one of the only "green" building companies in the Lansing area.

When asked about the importance of recycling, Townsend said that "everything that has the potential to be thrown out, also has the potential to be reused by someone for something."  His suggestions for the future include "Think of it as a hill you want to climb?in order to maximize your experience, figure out what drives your business; whether it be energy, parking, waste removal, travel, or out-growing a current business space?rethink your practices and make your business more efficient." 

 

Lansing Center

Eric D. Hart, CEO
Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority

While managing to provide outstanding service at some of downtown Lansing's biggest venues, Mr. Hart, has also taken a new approach of promoting an environmental consciousness within his facilities.  Hart has implemented a number of measures to change the face and outlook of the City of Lansing for many years to come.  A few of these changes include adding low-flow water valve & toilets (with auto-flush sensors) to reduce water waste, establishing a large scale recycling program, utilizing environmentally friendly cleaning products (no bleach or ammonia additives), switching to  energy-efficient bulbs, and implementing  a "lights-out" policy after closing hours. 

Some plans he has for the future of LEPFA are the adding solar panels to the roof of the Lansing Center, improving  insulation, utilizing wind energy to power several of the facilities, implementing an industrial composing program to recapture the food waste generated by the Lansing Center and  Cooley Law School Stadium, and purchasing  more green products.

The impetus for these changes has been Hart's concern for our planet.  He says, "These are all easy conversions you can make over time to improve efficiencies and lower operating costs, but the main reason you should do this is for the future of our planet!" He recommends "auditing your services to figure out where you are not green, and then make a change for the better of your business." 

 

Linn Owen Jewelers, Business Profile of the Week

Steward Powell, Owner
Linn & Owen Jewelers

The main focus at this jewelry store is placed on recycling; so much so, that they have someone that comes in Thursdays and Fridays to specifically deal with the recycling effort of the business.  "He is extremely environmentally aware and make sure that we are doing the things that need to be done."  He says that all of the employees have responded positively and 100% support the Go Green movement the city is trying to take.

 

mama bears

 Cecilia J. Garcia, Owner
Mama Bears LLC

At this all natural, all organic restaurant, they have made the business of being green their actual business.  Using non-disposable and bio-degradable products is complemented by the strict use of local foods, an extensive recycling efforts and a compost program to divert food scraps from the waste stream.  Owner Cecilia Garcia says, "the employees are really proud of what they are doing, and love the fact that they are making a difference!"  The customers are also trying to get involved and the staff at Mama Bears shows them everything from how to do composting to where to buy locally-- they even share reading materials on organic foods and ways to practice recycling. 

The local networking is really working out for them; with the local farmers market sending over customers and Mama Bear's staff returning the favor by promoting locally bought foods.  Garcia explains that "buying locally not only builds a good relationship with the local businesses, but it also saves on gas usage."  In fact, they plan on purchasing products exclusively within 100 miles of the store and have included future plans to purchase a "green" delivery vehicle.

SUCHbuilding

Ms. Karen Stefl, Partner
Such Video

On top of normal recycling duties Karen at Such Video has the addition of a pretty extensive list of electronics that need to be taken care of.  She has to ship all of her electronic component and round mediums (CDs, DVDs, etc?) to California to be disposed of properly.  Other than that; batteries and normal paper products are recycled. As well as, light bulbs being replaced with energy efficient bulbs and packaging peanuts are dropped off at UPS stores for reuse.

She says her decision to "go green" is more of a personal choice to want to save the environment.  Although she does suggest, "Take baby steps?you don't have to dive right in, it is a process; however you will save money by using recycled goods."  Karen also mentioned that another good way to get rid of your electronics is by attending electronic events where they recycle used electronics.   

 

travelers club

 Will White, Owner
Travelers Club International Restaurant

The Travelers Club is a unique business; combining fine cuisine with the areas only Tuba museum.  Even with the task of balancing two businesses in one, they find the time to stay green.  Owner Will White promotes environmental stewardship amongst employees recycling, water conservation and energy efficiency programs.  The staff has  also found a way to save money while helping others out, by donating used oil to alternatively fueled vehicles.  Will says the employees have responded positively, he might have to remind them from time to time, but they are all pretty supportive. 

The "Local-First Initiative" is a major priority at the Travelers Club; with constant promotion of the purchase of locally produced and provided products.  Mr. White says, "a lot of the green' ideas are simple, common sense and cost-saving measures.  There is a lot of information available online and through environmental groups on steps to take."