Compute the commute If you have the option, leasing or owning a building near mass transit makes environmental sense on a variety of levels. By having employees take a bus, train or trolley, you’re decreasing the volume of emissions from their vehicles, with the
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side benefit of helping them avoid the frustration of traffic jams and eliminating parking problems. But there are other commuting aspects to consider, too. In particular, vehicle chargers have
become a popular trend, with California leading the way in EV adoption and companies such as Amazon planning a move to all-electric fleets. “Charging stations are relatively inexpensive to put in and maintain,” Russell says. “Our landlord installed high-voltage quick chargers and let everyone use them for free for a year. It’s not designed to be a major revenue source, but rather trying to make it convenient for tenants.” Finally, for those employees who’d prefer to get in a workout and cycle, run or walk to work, offering shower or locker facilities is an appreciated perk.
Evaluate your office footprint Even with energy-efficient lighting, recycling and other green programs, simply running an office is a sustainability factor. “COVID-19 has really made a lot of companies reexamine
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how large a footprint they need,” Russell says. “Along with the cost to lease or own, you’re paying to operate and maintain the office with utilities and everything else. To the extent that you can downsize and become more efficient, you’re being a wiser and more frugal consumer.”
Encourage responsible construction Licensed contractors should adhere to California regulations as a matter of business practice, but you should still confirm they’re using low-VOC
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(volatile organic compounds) materials for tasks such as gluing down carpet, painting and other chemical usage. A healthy building equals healthier workers!
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