Sustainability Practices

Business Operations and Practices

Guards Against Corruption

The business has policies or code of ethics that guard against corruption.

A. Yes

Up-to-date Housekeeping Items

The business is up-to-date with its bookkeeping and accounting, cash flow, workplace health and safety, licenses and permits, and insurance policies.

A. Yes

Laws and Regulations Compliance

The business is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations (e.g., taxes, health code, etc.).

A. Yes

Marketing Plan

The business has a marketing plan.

A. Yes

Customer Service Policy

The business has a written customer service policy/philosophy and follows it (such as a return or refund policy).

A. Yes

Stategic Business Plan

The business has a strategic, future-oriented business plan in place.

A. Yes

Sustainability Initiative Staff

The business has a designated staff member or team responsible for the oversight and implementation of sustainability initiatives (may include business owner).

A. Yes

Sustainable Practices Training

The business includes sustainable practices in the training of new and existing employees.

A. Yes

Employee Health Encouragement

The business encourages its employees to exercise or stay healthy and fit.

A. Yes

Local/Sustainability Marketing

The business markets itself as a local and sustainability-oriented business.

A. Yes

Pursuing Sustainability Grants

The business has pursued grants for energy efficiency or other sustainability projects, façade improvements, and/or anything else that seeks to improve the business’s performance.

A. Yes

Sustainability Policy/Goals/Principles

The business has a written sustainability policy, sustainability goals, or sustainability principles to guide its operations.

A. Yes

Local Bank Account

The business has chosen an independent, small community bank or credit union to maintain at least one of its business-related checking or savings accounts.

A. Yes

Sponsors Community/School Events

The business sponsors community or school events.

A. Yes

Encourages Employee Community Service

The business encourages its employees to engage in community service, or has designated "volunteer days" or activities for employees (may include business owner).

A. Yes

Owner Participates as Local Leader

The business owner participates in/is a member of a community-oriented committee, board or local business association.

A. Yes

Prohibits Discrimination

The business prohibits discrimination in both hiring and customer service, and values inclusion and diversity.

A. Yes

Interviews Wide Range of Candidates

The business ensures that a wide range of candidates are interviewed for job openings.

A. Yes

Minority, LGBT, or Woman-owned Business

The business is a minority, LGBTQ+, or woman-owned business.

A. Yes

Occupancy

Eliminated Harmful Chemicals for Pest Control

The business has eliminated the use of harmful chemicals for pest control, both inside and outside its building.

A. Yes

Low Use of VOCs

The business only uses or has only used paints, finishes, coatings, stains, primers, adhesives, and sealants that are low-emitting (i.e., low in volatile organic chemicals [VOCs]).

A. Yes

Cool/White Roof

The business has a cool/white roof.

A. Yes

Silver LEED Certification

The business resides in a building that has attained Silver certification or better under any LEED rating system.

A. Yes

Transportation

Employees Ride Share

The business has employees who share car or van rides to commute to and from work.

A. Yes

Owner Lives Within 5 Miles

The business is owned by a proprietor who lives within 5 miles of his or her business.

A. Yes

Employees Use Public/Alternative Transport

The business has employees who use public transit or hybrid, electric, or alternative fuel vehicles to commute to and from work.

A. Yes

Employees Bike or Walk

The business has employees who bike or walk to and from work.

A. Yes

Hybrid/Electric/Alternative Vehicles for Business Travel

The business uses hybrid, electric, or alternative fuel vehicles for its business-related travel.

A. Yes

Energy Conservation and Management

Energy Use Tracking

The Business is aware of how much energy it uses and tracks its monthly progress on energy savings.

A. Yes

Sets Water Heater to 120°F

The business sets its water heater(s) to 120°F, if its water heater uses a tank.

A. Yes

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

The business uses ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to track its energy usage.

A. Yes

Assessed Energy Certificates/Credits/Carbon Offsets

or has assessed opportunities to purchase renewable energy certificates, carbon offsets, or clean energy credits (if answered NO to above).

A. Yes

Energy Audit/Assessment

The business has undergone an energy audit or assessment in the past five years

A. Yes, we have undergone a professional energy audit/assessment

Professional Energy Audit/Assessment Implementation

and has begun to implement recommendations from the audit/assessment (if answered YES to professional audit).

A. Yes

Computer Power Settings

The business has adjusted the power settings on its computers to save energy.

A. Yes

Phantom Load

The business unplugs little-used appliances, electronic equipment, and lighting fixtures to avoid “phantom load.”

A. Yes

ENERGY STAR Product

The business uses at least one ENERGY STAR approved product, such as an HVAC unit, refrigerator, dishwasher, or computer (look for a blue ENERGY STAR logo on the product.)

A. Yes

Natural Cooling

The business uses natural cooling (e.g., opening windows and doors) in place of air conditioning, when feasible.

A. Yes

Programmable Thermostat

The business uses a programmable thermostat and sets it lower in the winter and higher in the summer.

A. Yes

HVAC System Cleaning

The business replaces filters and or cleans its HVAC system.

A. Yes

Energy-efficient Windows

The business uses multi-pane and/or energy-efficient windows.

A. Yes

Weatherization

The business has sealed leaks around doors, windows, outlets, corners, and other joints ("weatherization").

A. Yes

Building/Pipe Insulation

The business has insulated its pipes and ducts, ceilings, and walls.

A. Yes

Alternative Heating System Installation

The business has installed an alternative heating system (i.e., one that does not heat with oil, gas, or electricity).

A. Yes

Fluorescent Light Replacement

The business has replaced its fluorescent light bulbs or tubes (as they have burned out) with low-mercury fluorescent light bulbs or tubes.

A. Yes

Task/Zone Lighting

The business uses task lighting and/or zone lighting instead of entire-room overhead lighting.

A. Yes

T12 Fluorescent Light Replacement

The business has replaced its T12 fluorescent light tubes (as they have burned out) with T8 (or lower) tubes.

A. Yes

LED Exit Signs

The business has replaced existing exit signs with LED models or has retrofitted an existing exit sign with LEDs.

A. Yes

Waste Management

Print Preview

The business uses "print preview" on their word processor to reduce wasteful printing.

A. Yes

Waste Reduction/Recycling Policy

The business has a waste reduction and recycling policy and has informed its employees about waste reduction and proper recycling practices.

A. Yes

Donates Usable Items

The business donates usable items, such as furniture, shelving, etc. to organizations such as Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, Construction Junction, Goodwill, or others.

A. Yes

Asks Customers About Bags

or asks customers if they would like a bag before bagging their items (if answered NO to above).

A. Yes

Water Conservation and Management

Water Use Reduction Policy

The business has a water use reduction policy and has informed its employees about proper water conservation techniques (e.g., not leaving the faucet running when water is not being used, ensuring that faucets are completely off and not dripping, etc.).

A. Yes

Tracks Water Usage

The business is aware of its water use and tracks its monthly progress on water usage.

A. Yes

Toilet Water Savers

The business has put water savers in its toilet tanks (e.g., Toilet Tummy).

A. Yes

Stormwater Awareness

The business is aware of what happens to the stormwater leaving its property.

A. Yes

WaterSense Fixture

The business has installed at least one WaterSense approved water fixture, such as a faucet, toilet, urinal, or related accessories.

A. Yes

Products, Services, and Purchasing

25% of Products from Local Markets

The business sells products of which at least 25% are made in local markets (defined as within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania or a 150-mile radius from the business).

A. Yes

25% of Supplies from Local Suppliers

The business chooses to purchase at least 25% of its operating supplies from locally-owned suppliers.

A. Yes

Biodegradable/Environmentally-friendly Cleaning Supplies

The business uses biodegradable, environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies (if allowed by law for its industry/sector).

A. Yes

30% Post-Consumer Recycled Material Paper Products

The business buys paper products (e.g., printing paper, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.) made with at least 30% post-consumer recycled content.

A. Yes

Paper Products Free of Bleach/Chlorine

The business buys paper products that are free of bleach and/or chlorine.

A. Yes

Supports Fair-trade Items

The business supports fair-trade items.

A. Yes

Sustainable/Environmentally-preferable Purchasing Policy

The business has a sustainable/environmentally-preferable purchasing policy (e.g., it seeks out and buys environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies, furniture, and other items).

A. Yes

Cooperative Purchasing With Local Businesses

The business engages in cooperative purchasing with other local businesses or organizations.

A. Yes