Green Committee

In March of 2006, Steve Sliwa created the Insitu Green Committee, a volunteer group of Insitu employees which helps Insitu identify opportunities and implement activities which support environmental sustainability, reduce waste, and foster a connection to the local and global communities.  While it is important that individuals all do their part to impede global warming and care for our community, it is the corporations that have the ability to make the most impact.

"Business is the only mechanism on the planet today powerful enough to produce the changes necessary to reverse global, environmental, and social degradation." -Paul Hawken

Recycling

The first Green Committee task was to improve the recycling program at Insitu.  The committee is continually working to grow the list of recyclable items. 
A recycling process is now in place for the following items:

Glass, plastic, metal, etc.
Paper
Cardboard
Packing peanuts and bubblewrap
Scrap metal (aluminum, steel, lead, brass, etc.)
Batteries
Toner cartridges

The committee also held a 2 week cell phone recycling drive.

Conservation

Printing:  

The committee worked with IT to set up a green option for our existing printers which automatically prints double-sided and in toner saving mode.

Electricity: 

The committee executed a Lights Off Campaign.  There are signs throughout the facility reminding the last one out to turn off the lights.

Carbon Footprint

Facilities and the Green Committee are working to measure and reduce Insitu's carbon footprint, the impact Insitu has on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced.  As a first step in reduction, Insitu has switched to 100% renewable electricity.  Because 100% renewable electricity is not available through the local utility, Insitu is purchasing Green Tags through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF).  In return, BEF sends new renewable energy into the power grid to displace energy equal to Insitu's usage.

Community Service

The Green Committee has sponsored several community service events.

The Volunteers

Approximately 15-20% of the company has volunteered to serve on the Green Committee.  Without the volunteers, the Facilities team, IT, and the support of management, all the work to date would not have been possible.  And we're just getting started!