Carbon Footprint | VSP Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘carbon footprint’

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!

File under: Environment, VSP in the Community | Tagged: alternative mode transportation, carbon footprint, CO2, eco-friendly, Energy Star, Energy Star Certification, environmental health, Environmental Sustainability Program, LEED-EB, Platinum LEED-EB, SACOG, Sacramento Area Council of Governments, USGBC, VSP Vision Care
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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.

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.

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?