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“Describing your experience in working to achieve your EcoStar award may be inspirational and helpful. Propose the concept of mentoring either in person or in writing.”- EcoStar Standard 23 Business to Business Mentoring, Page 101, EcoStar Action Guide. |
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Our mission is to help area businesses and organizations reduce their environmental impacts and operating costs by providing education, enabling collaboration and offering technical assistance.
This 501(c)3 entity was established in 2008 to respond to the growing interest in sustainability issues throughout all business sectors. To keep companies informed of best management practices for pollution prevention and enable them to use resources more efficiently, the Center provides: Workshops that raise awareness of strategies to implement more sustainable operational practices. EHS Roundtable, a monthly open forum where professionals with environmental, health and safety responsibilities discuss experiences, trends and best practices and explore ways to collaborate to best protect the health of employees, customers, and ecosystems. Recycling Assistance, including the development, improvement or expansion of a recycling program, from the collection of paper to comprehensive single stream programs to organics. These programs can decrease waste management costs by as much as 50%. · The Great Exchange, an award-winning forum that enables businesses and non-profits to repurpose waste streams and unneeded items that have reuse potential. In 2009, approximately 200 tons of materials were diverted from the landfill and participating organizations saved an estimated $75,000 in avoided disposal and purchasing costs. · Energy Efficiency Assistance, including outreach materials, employee education, conservation savings analysis, consumption benchmarking, energy efficiency reviews and comprehensive facility audits. These activities can lower annual energy costs by 10-25% and save companies thousands of dollars. · Walk-through Review that starts businesses down the road toward sustainability by providing them with a report that highlights opportunities for improved resource efficiencies and savings. · Green Business Certification as an EcoStar Achiever to companies that improve performance in 15 pre-defined areas. EcoStar helps members reduce costs, minimize ecological impacts, improve community and customer relations, and gain a unique competitive advantage. · Earth Day Celebration that enable businesses and area environmental groups to share information on their initiatives and efforts to protect local resources. This annual event attracts over 100 attendees that come to view 20-25 sustainability and environmental exhibits. Educational Tours to visit sites of interest, such as a recycling facility or a solar panel manufacturer.
This two-year old unique and innovative institution has quickly demonstrated its value. To date it has helped more than 50 entities from 15 towns gain ecological and economical efficiencies. Examples of success include: The EHS Roundtable initially met quarterly and attracted an average of 10 participants. This novel forum now takes place monthly and the number of attendees has doubled as a result of the value of the information shared. A manufacturer of fine giftware can promote itself as a zero-waste operation as a result of the assistance it received in the areas of waste reduction, recycling, and reuse partnerships; these advances also lowered waste management costs. Energy consumption was also reduced by more than 12% with the institution of a conservation campaign. A local metal fabricator saved an estimated $6,000 in one year by participating in the Great Exchange and reusing packing materials that previously other businesses were disposing. An area food manufacturer diverts more than 5,000 large plastics bags and 100 gaylords (large containers) annually for reuse through Great Exchange partnerships. As a result, they have significantly reduced their waste disposal costs and art groups, schools and charities, have avoided the need to purchase trash bags and storage containers. No-cost energy conservation and efficiency measures that could provide more than $86,000 in annual savings were identified for a Devens-based manufacturer of aerospace systems. |
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Devens Eco-Efficiency Center |
