April Thrive Challenge

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Comment by Lisa Whalen on April 28, 2011 at 4:03pm

I cannot actually post a photo as it involves my students at my place of work, but I have introduced recycling into my classroom at a high poverty school.  We have also been documenting and monitoring how much we recycle and how we are helping our planet in our science logs for four months now.

As of late we have also gained access to a link observing an eagle nest and three baby eaglets.  We observe the habits and discuss what connection our recycling may have on the other creatures on our planet.  My students actually bring in recycling from home because they wish to do the same with their own homes. No matter how bad their situation is at home, they come to school feeling as it they are making a difference in their lives and the lives of other creatures.  It is a wonderful thing.

Comment by Daniel Dorb on April 26, 2011 at 6:52pm

Currently I am the information suppport spokes person for this event and have been for the last 2 seasons.  This program is an awesome representation of several core values that 65000 Team Memebers work towards every day at my employment.   I was one of the stage winners last season and looking forward to becoming one again this season.

 

 

 

Our mission of The Green Trek Challenge.....

 

Is centered on promoting health, wellbeing and vitality.  The Green Trek Challenge was created from the desire to encourage Team Members to live a healthier lifestyle and have fun while doing so. The Green Trek Challenge will take place twice a year in a 3 month on, 3 month off rotation. This year we will run the challenge in FPs 1, 2 & 3 (beginning September 28) and then later in FPs 8, 9 and 10. These were determined as the best periods considering the various weather patterns across the country. We are encouraging each and every Team Member to participate in our first companywide Green Trek Challenge.  Every Team Member is eligible to participate in this voluntary event.

See below for all the details: The main premise is earning virtual raffle tickets (VRTs). You can earn them 7 different ways. The more you play the better your odds of winning awards.

 

Comment by Cristin Elisa on April 18, 2011 at 5:03pm

I know it's a small thing, but I'm finally in the habit of using (and then washing out, and re-using) my travel coffee mug, instead of buying and throwing away those cups every day.

Also, I've started printing double-sided. Hey - it's a start!

Comment by Cathy Sykora on April 12, 2011 at 11:15am

I moved my office upstairs.  I am harvesting daylight and reducing/eliminating the need for electrically supplied lighting.  Not to mention the fact that I am much more cheerful.  As you can see from the photo, I am also conserving my energy in tidying up.Daylighting is a really good way to green any work place.  To improve this even more I would put in tubular skylights to provide light and control it more.  For now, this is free and pleasant.  Some other things that I have done is to reuse and recycle furniture.  My desk is built on an old frame and my chair is from a display sale.  Most of the materials used are green too.

Comment by amber kaszta on April 11, 2011 at 5:17pm

i am a language instructor at the ymca in calgary.  we have somewhere around 200 students.  last year we started not supplying cups for coffee or tea.  the students and the staff have to bring travel mugs if they want a drink.  there is no cups period!  easy and very effective, i love it!

amber

Comment by Bryan Farris on April 8, 2011 at 4:18pm

Our company stocks a fridge full of soda and water for the employees.  Before I started here, everyone just threw their cans into their desk trash cans.  I got the office to start recycling the cans in a community bin.  I had to fish cans out of the trash for the first few weeks but now EVERYONE recycles their cans and bottles.

 

I've also successfully pitched getting rid of all the styrofoam and plastic kitchen utensils in favor of 100% recyclable materials.  We just got the first batch in, and I'm hoping this trend sticks.

Comment by Daniel Dorb on April 8, 2011 at 2:57pm

I empowered a team member to create a shutdown computer program for our companies 15,000 base PC's and monitors that are left on in the all locations after work hours ending at 7:pm.  According to DELL, the optiplex pc with LCD can cost up to $75.-$100. per year to operate if left running 24 hours a day. By shutting down 1 PC's for 13 hours per day the cost savings could be on average $35.72per year. The return of investment for the time spent to design, test  and bring program to production has saved approximately the following:

$15,000 x 39.47 =$592,137.  Thats half a million + dollars.

 

Enviornmentally that represents:

    1.  7,086696lbs of Carbon Emission saved.

    2.  5,921,370 kwh of energy saved.

    3.  Year Supply of VEGA products for 411 people (Based on $120. a month spending)

Which is equivlent to:

    1.  Taking of 590 cars off the road.

    2.  402,653 Trees to absorb the same amount of CO2

    3.  PC power management reduces energy and co2 by up to 40%

 

* Calculate your savings:  http://www.1e.com/energycampaign/calculation.aspx#/Calculator

Comment by Vega Krystal on April 7, 2011 at 1:38pm

@Leslie and @Wendy: Thanks for sharing! Remember that to qualify this month, you must include a photo! You can re-post and add a picture simply by clicking on the button beside "Link".

Let me know if you have any questions!

Cheers,

Krystal ~ Vega Team

Comment by Leslie on April 7, 2011 at 12:35pm

I work in a wastewater lab.  We have recycled the plastic sample bottles and paper for the last two years and we will be planting a flower and vegetable garden here for everyone this year.