Going green for the holidays-office edition

The holidays are here! That usually means generating 25% more waste than normal, but you can change that. Below are ten ways in which you can have a green(er) holiday season at the office!

• Reuse decorations from last year. Nothing says you have to spend money on expensive decorations every year.
• Ditch the old lights and go with LEDs. If the office uses holiday lights, make sure they are the LED kind. These will last longer and use less energy.
• Use real plates and silverware or at least compostable for the office holiday party. If you go out for a lunch consider a place that uses compostable dishware or real dishes.
• Instead of exchanging new gifts, partake in a white elephant where folks bring in used items (google “white elephant game” for details). If you do a new gift exchange have a caveat that it has to be a green gift.
• If your business gives employees gifts, think about green gifts like a reusable bag with the company’s logo on it, reusable straws, reusable towel, mug, etc.

The above list is not comprehensive but a way to start thinking about a green holiday.

Welcome new GreenSpot business members

A new section in the GreenSpot Business eNewsletter is welcoming businesses that joined since the last eNewsletter. We welcome the following organizations who have made the pledge to a more sustainable way of doing business.
• Vegan Restaurant Week
• Custom Computer Warehouse
• Parsons
• Body Rolling with Renie
• 2LMN, Inc.
• Columbus Printed Arts Center
• Aldea
• Thomas & Marker Construction Co.
• Shared Power Network
• Emergency Pest & Wildlife LLC
• Hubbs Heating & Air

GreenSpot annual report

Thank you to those who have already submitted your annual report! For those still tying things up for another year, remember to submit your GreenSpot report. Businesses approved as a GreenSpot on or before September 30, 2019 are asked to submit an annual report. It is a great way to document your progress. The report is due January 31, 2020.
Log into your account and click on the Annual Report option (menu top right side) 
Information provided in your report will be used to determine which businesses will receive the GreenSpotLight awards.

Update your information 

Have you changed your business name, location, or contact person? Let us know so we can update the GreenSpot online map that lets our users find your business. Send updates to GreenSpot@Columbus.gov.

Did you know they are a GreenSpot member? ms consultants 

ms consultants strives to be as green as possible both in the office and in the projects they create. Each year, ms looks for new opportunities to be more sustainable across all of their offices. They have established several corporate recycling programs, with a few of their notable successes including:
• Reducing 20,293 pounds of greenhouse emissions by instituting teleconferencing and web meetings
• Replacing conventional lighting to energy-efficient lighting
• Implementing a company policy of turning off equipment and lighting when not in use
• Installing motion sensors or timers for lighting common spaces and offices
• Primarily using 100% recycled paper for marketing materials
• Sharing the sustainability message by promoting GreenSpot in the company newsletter and internal communications
Additionally, through their corporate programs, ms has recycled:
 9.2 tons of computer and electronic equipment
 38.2 tons of paper and cardboard
 944 pounds of aluminum and plastic
Beyond the office, ms provides sustainable design services to a variety of clients and has completed LEED certified, Green Globes certified, and green infrastructure projects across the nation. Finally, ms has also helped reduce waste throughout our communities. One nonprofit organization, after an ms workshop, cut their waste from the original, daily 360 gallons of trash to just under 10 gallons of trash a day. That’s a 97% reduction!