Eco-Forward

Build-out for Expanded Office (moved 10/2008):

• Bamboo flooring in showroom
• 100% Recycled Rubber Tire flooring in production area (also naturally anti-fatigue)  
• Walls painted with NO and LOW Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - used Eco-Spec (NO VOCs) and Aura (LOW VOCs) paint from Benjamin Moore 
• Use of Natural Lighting throughout office
• Motion Sensor light switches throughout office
• Ceiling Fans throughout office

Office Practices:

• Electricity purchased through Dominion's Green Power for Virginia

• Communication via email instead of fax or mail
• Encourage emailed invoices and statements
• Pay bills and vendors electronically when possible instead of through mail

• Print on backside of used paper when appropriate; recycle paper when its done
• Use paper supply with maximum available recycled content
• Recycling ink cartridges through Rapid Refill
• Use of rechargeable batteries
• Low flow toilets and faucets
• Thermostat turned up during summer nights and weekends and down during winter nights and weekends
• Turn off heat or air conditioning on nice days and opening front and back doors
• Use re-usable canvas bags instead of plastic bags when shopping for office supplies
• Use only Eco-friendly cleaning products without phosphates
• Office lunch: request that plastic utensils and napkins are not included and if possible request that food be packaged in recyclable materials such as plastic or paper instead of styrofoam

 

Printing Practices:

• Our Latex Grand Format Printer prints with the environment in mind!  We are able to print durable, high-quality signs without the harmful VOCs.
• Turn off equipment if not in use for 30+ minutes

 

Sign Production Practices:

• Earth friendly sign alternatives are available and promoted
• Scrap material for sign production used whenever possible
• Scrap substrate donated to Keep Norfolk Beautiful for local art programs
• Recycle un-useable scraps

 

Miscellaneous:

• Official Company vehicle is a Hybrid Toyota Prius
• Carpooling
• Signs By Tomorrow leases a Single Stream Recycling Container from Tidewater Fibre Corporation so that everyone in our shopping center has the opportunity to recycle cardboard, plastic and metal
• Educating customers about green practices and offer green sign alternatives
• Educate fellow franchisees with positive experiences and encourage them to brand a green business ethic
• Voice/write opinions to the local and national political leaders as a small, woman-owned business owner and encourage forward movement on tighter environmental policies and increased tax incentives for green practices.
• Sign Recycling program
• Support vendors who recycle and have  green business ethics
• Find out what current vendors environmental  policies and future goals are

Signs By Tomorrow - Chesapeake Partnerships  

Signs By Tomorrow - Chesapeake has partnered with Synergy Recycling to become an offical drop-off location for electronic recycling. 

 Check out Earth911.com  or give us a call at 757.548.5333 for details

Signs By Tomorrow - Chesapeake is Certified Virginia Green! 

 Check out our page posted on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) HERE