Midlands Business Journal | May 13, 2016
Looking to improve your operations? High- and low-tech options abound
Pat Birch, AIA, LEED AP
Schemmer’s Pat Birch, AIA, LEED AP, was featured in Midlands Business Journal on the topic of “How to Green Your Business.” She says the concepts of going “green” and sustainability became mainstream about six years ago in the architecture/engineering industries.
“Our firm seriously ‘greened’ our organization about nine years ago,” Birch said. “The adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by states and municipalities has played a key role in mainstreaming this, and firms have decided it’s the right thing to do – to be stewards of our earth in the ways that they can to make a difference.”
She notes there are still challenges with implementing green products and strategies, and is surprised to find not everyone recycles.
“I’ve been doing it 25-plus years at home,” Birch said. “So there can still be on-going training and awareness needed for employees.”
“Depending on where a business is located, it can be hard to find a company who will provide recycling services, and one which will take all types (paper, plastic, aluminum, glass); that can be a challenge for a business.”
At Schemmer, Birch says “buying copy paper with recycled content and Forest Stewardship Council (FCS) certification is easy and cost-effective” as there is currently a high demand for it.
“I also noticed the other day that the pens we buy at work are made of recycled plastic,” she said.
To read the full Midlands Business Journal article, view pages 36-37.
