Environment & Sustainability Turning Over a New Leaf!

In 2008 Schenck Company created a cross-functional team of associates, nominated by the Leadership Team, to promote and communicate Schenck Company’s Green initiatives, as well as to gather ideas to continue to improve our green performance within the community!

What‘s Happening:

5 EPA Certified Route Trucks and 13 Hybrid Cars
- Use Synthetic motor oils – twice the distance of regular motor oil
Use CSX Rail Lines
- Moving freight by rail is three times more fuel-efficient than moving freight on the highway.
Motion sensor lights used in our common areas
Programmable AC units that only turns on when people are in conference rooms
Ammonia system to cool the warehouse which uses less energy than Freon
Fluorescent bulbs in all buildings
Paperless invoicing for all vendors that would like to process invoices via email at apinvoices@schenck.com
RECYCLING PROGRAM
- We save over 200 trees per year by using a paper shredding and recycling company.
- Bins have been placed around the entire company to collect recyclables (glass, aluminum, and plastic).
- All cardboard is recycled. We have asked our employees to bring in their cardboard beer carriers to reuse or recycle.
- Out of Code and damaged beer is recycled – the liquid, bottles, and cans.
- All plastic wrap from the warehouse is recycled.

What‘s Next:

Allowing employees to volunteer some of their time to green initiatives. We would like to do at least one green project per year, such as a river or beach cleanup, in each of the 7 counties we serve.
Issue coffee cups to employees to reduce waste of non-reusable cups.
Recycle all eligible materials that are used at off-site events.
- We already recycle. Now we want to get the word out to our customers to think about what they can do to help.

What Can You Do:

First things first: Find out your carbon footprint
- Log on to carbonfootprint.com to see where you stand now, and then try to lower it.
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Each bulb you install could save $30 on your utility bill over the bulb‘s lifetime.
Change the air filter on your car and check your tire pressure regularly. This can help you save on your gas mileage.
Plug electric appliances into a power strip that can be turned off when they are not in use. Unplug your phone chargers from the wall as soon as your phone is charged.
Invest in a programmable thermostat. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher in the summer and a few degrees lower in the winter to save on heating and cooling costs.
Clean your lint filter on your dryer. A dirty filter causes your dryer to use 30 percent more energy. Better yet, hang dry your clothes and lower your utility bill.
Use rags or sponges for cleanup. These can be reused, just zap it in the microwave for two minutes to get rid of the germs. Be sure that the sponge is thoroughly wet to avoid a potential fire hazard.
Set your printer‘s default to double-sided and set the computer to sleep after five minutes of idle time.
Sign up at catalogchoice.com to get rid of the catalogs that go from the mailbox to the trash.
Always use cold water when you wash clothes. It cleans just as well as hot, and you will save up to $63 a year.
Install a low-flow showerhead. They don‘t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
Think before you buy. Instead of buying new, look for secondhand stores and shop garage sales.

There are so many more things that you can do. Just challenge yourself to try a few and you will see that it does not change your quality of life, it actually enhances it!