Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category

VSP Vision Care Honored as Regional Business of the Year

Posted on December 17th, 2009 by Jill N

Today, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) recognized VSP’s efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the environmental health of our region.  VSP received the SACOG Salutes! Business of the Year award for our work towards CO2 reductions through alternative mode transportation, and use of eco-friendly materials and operations.

Carlos O., Steve H., and Ana C. of VSP Corporate Services team, pose with Rancho Cordova City Councilmember Linda Budge (right center).

Carlos O., Steve H., and Ana C. of VSP's Corporate Services team, pose with Rancho Cordova City Councilmember Linda Budge (right center).

One of VSP’s corporate values is to support the community and environment we live in. We envision a campus that is environmentally responsible, healthy and prosperous, improving the quality of life of not only our employees, but also our community.

Our platinum LEED-EB certification in 2008 was a significant culmination of our efforts, and while it marks a milestone in VSP’s ongoing efforts to become a model of energy and resource efficiency, it has been just the starting point for us. We’re working towards LEED certification for our entire headquarter campus and are actively working on additional initiatives to further lower our carbon footprint. Carlos O. and Ana C.  joined our Corporate Services Director, Steve H., representing VSP as key members of a dedicated team that runs our Environmental Sustainability Program.

VSP’s goal is to continue to lead the way for other companies to implement sustainable business practices and being recognized by an organization such as SACOG is a great asset in working towards that goal.

Take a look as Steve accepts this prestigious award!

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What does the size of your carbon footprint say about you?

Posted on July 8th, 2009 by Jill N

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations Team.

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations Team.

One of my favorite “Do you know?” questions I like to ask people is about VSP’s ongoing commitment to the environment. One of VSP’s core values is to support our community by “positively impacting our communities and environment in ways that truly make a difference in people’s lives.” A lot of companies are talking about being “green” these days, and I am happy to say that VSP doesn’t just talk about it, they do something about it. And it has been inspiring!

VSP's HQ1 was certified as a LEED-EB Platinum buiding in October 2008.

VSP's HQ1 was certified as a LEED-EB Platinum buiding in October 2008.

After learning more about environmental sustainability, and looking into the USGBC and LEED, VSP made the decision to take HQ1 through LEED-EB certification starting in 2007. On August 29, 2008, VSP received platinum-level LEED-EB certification, the highest level possible, for our main corporate headquarters building. At the time of certification, there were only 14 other LEED-EB platinum-level certified buildings in the nation, and only seven in California. When certified, it was the oldest (15 years) platinum LEED-Existing Building certified by the USGBC!

But what is just as notable is VSP’s on-going efforts after certification. VSP is on a mission to not only reduce our own carbon footprint by continuing to invest in sustainable practices on campus (we have a goal to LEED certify all buildings on campus), but we have also shown a commitment to motivate a variety of other companies to become environmentally responsible in their business!

VSP has opened our doors to individuals and companies, including the State of California, to tour our campus and share the changes we have made such as reducing waste water, implementing innovative recycling programs, and subsidizing sustainable, healthy food choices for employees. (See video below) VSP shares our best practices, as well as lessons learned, at many conferences and we have encouraged our experience to be used in case studies by many other professionals in the industry.Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this VideoPress video.

Before I learned all of the above, I was fairly blasé about my own carbon footprint. But now I have a renewed sense of responsibility! How about you? Do you have examples of individuals or companies that have impressed you with their green practices?

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Doing Our Part for the Environment

Posted on January 7th, 2008 by Rob L.

VSP is “going green.” We’ve all heard about the effects of global warming on the environment, and the negative impact that businesses (and specifically buildings) can have. According to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), 12 percent of the water used, 30 percent of the greenhouse gases produced, 65 percent of waste output and 70 percent of electricity consumption in the U.S. comes from buildings.

We’re doing our part by earning the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design platinum level certification. When completed, VSP will be one of only a handful of buildings in California with this certification.

Our ultimate goal is to be more environmentally conscious and operate our buildings more efficiently. This also supports our ongoing focus of maintaining competitive administrative costs to allow more patients access to affordable vision care. Since September 2007 we’ve taken many steps to accomplish this, including:

  • Installing low-flow plumbing fixtures and water meters, and reducing our landscape watering by 50 percent.
  • Giving each employee a permanent water and coffee cup to eliminate the nearly 767,000 Styrofoam cups used on campus each year.
  • Installing automatic paper towel dispensers in restrooms.
  • Implementing energy upgrades and processes to monitor and reduce our energy use and carbon emissions.
  • Replacing large trash cans with smaller ones that clip onto recycling receptacles, encouraging employees to recycle more.
  • Using more products made of recycled materials.

We’re excited about these changes and how we can positively impact the environment. Please share your ideas with us and what you’re doing to “go green.”

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