Green initiatives reach beyond employees to community
When David Mowat, the CEO of Vancouver-based credit union Vancity, became one of 19 Canadians trained to give Al Gore’s presentation on climate change earlier this year, some people might have accused him of jumping on the green bandwagon.
But Mowat and Vancity have been committed to the environment since the early 1990s and in 2005 the credit union set a goal to become carbon dioxide neutral by 2010 — meaning the amount of carbon dioxide the company emits will be equal to the amount of carbon dioxide that is not being emitted because of the company’s investment in green projects.
Mowat has been leading by example for several years and became carbon neutral in 2005. He reduced his own emissions by 25 per cent by trading in his Audi for a hybrid Honda Accord and teleconferencing more to decrease business travel. To offset the remaining emissions, he invested in Pembina Wind Energy Certificates.
The company is well on its way to meeting its target, said Ellen Pekeles, the vice-president of community leadership.
“We’ll hit it early,” she said. “I think people are so totally committed. It’s not a new strategy for Vancity, so it’s much a part of everybody’s culture.”
Back in 1995, Vancity built its corporate headquarters on the SkyTrain line to make it easier for employees to commute to work. As part of its push to get employees out of their cars, Vancity provides discounted bus passes, has showers and change rooms for cyclists and provides Smart cars for employees who need to get home when public transit isn’t working.
Thanks to these initiatives, 58 per cent of the company’s 2,000 employees don’t use a car to get to work.
However, the credit union recognizes that not everyone can give up automobiles so it encourages carpooling and provides a cash incentive of about $2,000 to employees who purchase a hybrid car. Vancity also has a clean air auto loan, which is a reduced-rate loan for low carbon-dioxide emitting cars, also available to credit union members.
Vancity’s commitment to the environment is one of the credit union’s three corporate social responsibility commitments. The other two include helping to eradicate poverty and strengthening communities by working with non-profits.
The company invests 30 per cent of its annual profits into programs that support these three initiatives. This year, Vancity will invest $650,000 into environmental grants, including grants to the David Suzuki foundation to help other businesses develop green strategies and $250,000 for bus passes for University of British Columbia students.
These investments help recruit and retain employees, said Pekeles. On employee surveys, nearly 100 per cent of respondents answered “yes” when asked if community work makes them feel good about working at Vancity.
“It’s very clear that people come to work here because of our commitment to the community,” said Pekeles.
Besides increasing the number of employees who use alternative transportation, Vancity is reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by reducing waste. Initiatives include setting company printers to automatically print on both sides of the page, promoting recycling and providing small waste bins that are barely big enough to fit a Starbucks cup, said Pekeles.
“It’s a real disincentive to having garbage,” she said. “It makes you think of everything that you’re throwing away. It’s small, but very profound.”
Vancity has also made a dent in reducing its energy expenditures and has saved $2 million in energy costs since the early 1990s and has decreased its energy consumption per employee by 50 per cent. It has done so by upgrading its heating and cooling systems as well as investing in efficient lighting.
The credit union recognizes that there’s only so much it can do to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. To offset the remainder of its emissions, Vancity also provides $100,000 in grants to other organizations that need money to help them reduce emissions. It’s a way for the company to put its money where its heart is, said Pekeles.
But Mowat and Vancity have been committed to the environment since the early 1990s and in 2005 the credit union set a goal to become carbon dioxide neutral by 2010 — meaning the amount of carbon dioxide the company emits will be equal to the amount of carbon dioxide that is not being emitted because of the company’s investment in green projects.
Mowat has been leading by example for several years and became carbon neutral in 2005. He reduced his own emissions by 25 per cent by trading in his Audi for a hybrid Honda Accord and teleconferencing more to decrease business travel. To offset the remaining emissions, he invested in Pembina Wind Energy Certificates.
The company is well on its way to meeting its target, said Ellen Pekeles, the vice-president of community leadership.
“We’ll hit it early,” she said. “I think people are so totally committed. It’s not a new strategy for Vancity, so it’s much a part of everybody’s culture.”
Back in 1995, Vancity built its corporate headquarters on the SkyTrain line to make it easier for employees to commute to work. As part of its push to get employees out of their cars, Vancity provides discounted bus passes, has showers and change rooms for cyclists and provides Smart cars for employees who need to get home when public transit isn’t working.
Thanks to these initiatives, 58 per cent of the company’s 2,000 employees don’t use a car to get to work.
However, the credit union recognizes that not everyone can give up automobiles so it encourages carpooling and provides a cash incentive of about $2,000 to employees who purchase a hybrid car. Vancity also has a clean air auto loan, which is a reduced-rate loan for low carbon-dioxide emitting cars, also available to credit union members.
Vancity’s commitment to the environment is one of the credit union’s three corporate social responsibility commitments. The other two include helping to eradicate poverty and strengthening communities by working with non-profits.
The company invests 30 per cent of its annual profits into programs that support these three initiatives. This year, Vancity will invest $650,000 into environmental grants, including grants to the David Suzuki foundation to help other businesses develop green strategies and $250,000 for bus passes for University of British Columbia students.
These investments help recruit and retain employees, said Pekeles. On employee surveys, nearly 100 per cent of respondents answered “yes” when asked if community work makes them feel good about working at Vancity.
“It’s very clear that people come to work here because of our commitment to the community,” said Pekeles.
Besides increasing the number of employees who use alternative transportation, Vancity is reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by reducing waste. Initiatives include setting company printers to automatically print on both sides of the page, promoting recycling and providing small waste bins that are barely big enough to fit a Starbucks cup, said Pekeles.
“It’s a real disincentive to having garbage,” she said. “It makes you think of everything that you’re throwing away. It’s small, but very profound.”
Vancity has also made a dent in reducing its energy expenditures and has saved $2 million in energy costs since the early 1990s and has decreased its energy consumption per employee by 50 per cent. It has done so by upgrading its heating and cooling systems as well as investing in efficient lighting.
The credit union recognizes that there’s only so much it can do to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. To offset the remainder of its emissions, Vancity also provides $100,000 in grants to other organizations that need money to help them reduce emissions. It’s a way for the company to put its money where its heart is, said Pekeles.
