Goal

Our Board of Directors, Management and staff have embraced the sustainability philosophy of being eco-friendly and environmentally conscientious.  We aim to create awareness so our employees take a more concerted effort to maintain natural resources at work and throughout their lives that include recycling, waste management and energy efficiencies.  Our goals will include continuing informing staff of our initiatives to be a more sustainable, on new mandates and procedures.

JUST ADD “GREEN” TO YOUR ROUTINE BY STRIVING TO REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!207006871324

Saratoga Bridges Practices

Agency-wide

  • Utilize recycled paper products
  • Recycle paper, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, plastics and glass
  • Discourage bottled water
  • Recycle ink and printer cartridges
  • Reuse plastic containers
  • Discontinue the purchase of Styrofoam
  • Implement an energy policy that includes turning off or dimming unnecessary lights, lower thermostats in unused spaces and install motion sensors for lights
  • Utilize two sided copies
  • Implement paperless systems (such as work orders etc.)
  • Utilize ‘green’ cleaners while eliminating non-green products
  • Switch to Compact Fluorescent lighting
  • Recycle computers, monitors, televisions and other electronic equipment
  • Coordinate transportation to internal and external meetings
  • Utilize salt reduction techniques for snow removal

 

Transportation

  • Utilize Bio-Fuel in agency vehicles
  • Utilize the agencies waste oil for heat the bus garage
  • Implement an idling policy for agency vehicles

 

Residential

  • Utilize Energy Start rated appliances
  • Utilize low VOC paints and finishes
  • Use low flow shower and faucets.
  • Change furnace filters with greater frequency
  • Utilize organic methods for gardening
  • Discontinue the use of disposable dishware where possible
  • Encourage buying locally owned produce, meats, etc. from local farms

 

Day Programs

  • Utilize Energy Star rated appliances
  • Utilize low VOC paints and finishes
  • Use low flow shower and faucets.
  • Utilize timers to lower the heat & raise the air-conditioning temperatures
  • Change furnace filters with greater frequency
  • Utilize photo cells and/or timers for lights
  • Utilize organic methods for gardening
  • Discontinue the use of disposables
  • Establish a relationship with a farmer to sell produce, eggs, etc. throughout the agency

 

Shopping

  • Bring own bags to the grocery store
  • Support local farmers and economy by shopping close to home
  • Buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging
  • Eat what’s in season
  • Buy organic food
  • Get a library card
  • Choose reusable instead of disposable products
  • Reuse your Ziploc bags
  • Fill up a freezer, since the fuller it is, the less energy it uses to keep food frozen
  • Use mugs or thermoses

 

Cleaning

  • Turn faucet off when washing dishes or brushing teeth
  • Install low-flow shower heads and take shorter showers
  • Turn off the dishwasher’s drying cycle
  • Pre-wash dishes only if you have to
  • Use concentrated soaps and cleaners… less packaging means less waste

 

Electronics

  • Conserve energy by using power strips
  • Don’t charge cell phones overnight
  • Use rechargeable batteries
  • Unplug electronics
  • Shut down computers

 

Tips for You:

Homes

  • Utilize Energy Start rated appliances and double-pane windows
  • Clean the refrigerator coils for better productivity
  • Cover pots on the stove to avoid losing heat
  • Keep your shades down in the summer and up in the winter
  • Use a push lawn mower
  • Purify indoor air with plants instead of artificial room fresheners
  • Buy or borrow pre-used moving boxes
  • Compact your non-recyclable trash and use fewer bags
  • Seal up your house with better insulation and leaky windows and doors
  • Bring lunch to work in reusable containers
  • Fix leaky faucets
  • Install a ceiling fan to improve heat and cool-air circulation
  • Start composting

 

Vehicles

  • Car pool
  • Use clean fuel efficient vehicles
  • Ride your bike
  • Keep air pressure in tires inflated to reduce fuel efficiency
  • To save gas, drive under 60 mph
  • Keep cars tuned-up
  • Unload your trunk since lighter vehicles use less gas
  • Stop idling in your car
  • Take public transportation

 

General

  • Get off junk-mail lists by registering with the Direct Marketing Association’s DMAchoice tool
  • Shred old paper for packing instead of using Styrofoam peanuts
  • Skip the elevator and take the stairs
  • Sign up for online banking to stop paper statements
  • Cancel phone-book delivery
  • Donate old cell phones and help save the African gorilla ( eco-cell.org)
  • Spend more time outdoors
  • If you see litter, pick it up
  • Spread the word!