Archive for August 12th, 2008

By Steven F. Young of Wainwright Bank, today’s guest blogger

As the country’s leading socially progressive bank, Wainwright is considered a pioneer in what has come to be known as “green banking”. Since 1993, long before the term ‘green’ was widely used, Wainwright Bank has employed sustainable practices simply thinking of it as a part of its commitment to social responsibility. The concept is quite basic: in all aspects of doing business equally consider the impact on people, planet and profit. Or in other words, do no harm.

Recycling

Wainwright purchases recycled paper products with the highest post-consumer waste content possible. This includes monthly statements, brochures, ATM receipts, annual reports, newsletters, copy paper, envelopes – even toilet paper. Whenever available, vegetable-based inks are used instead of less environmentally friendly oil-based inks. Paper, cans and bottles are recycled at the headquarters and branch offices.

Energy Conservation

The lighting at the Wainwright Bank headquarters building has been retrofitted in accordance with the EPA Green Lights program. Energy Star rated computer equipment and appliances are purchased for new and replacement electronic devices. Employees are provided a subsidy to encourage the use of public transportation and none of the branches has a drive-through teller, thus helping to reduce gas consumption, pollution and traffic congestion.

Products

The Wainwright Bank Green Loan™ provides discounted home equity loan financing for home improvement projects that reduce energy consumption including solar systems, windmills, new septic systems, windows, insulation and more.

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In the new ‘green world,’ a lot of emphasis is being placed on reducing carbon emissions, recycling, organic food, sustainable living, etc. There is another component to going green that not many of us consider or even know about.

Look at the computer monitor sitting in front of you, for example. Initially, it is just that: a monitor. It does its job just by turning on. What about the system that your monitor is connected to? As long as it’s functioning normally, you don’t really think about it.

What you may not realize is that you may have done your part in preserving the environment just by purchasing the very monitor you’re using to read this post.

On July 1, 2006, the EU launched a directive called RoHS, which stands for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances. This directive became law and is required by each member state as a guide in developing its own enforcement and implementation policies to reduce electronic waste. The RoHS directive restricts the use of six hazardous substances over a specific ppm (parts per million) level in the manufacturing of electric and electronic equipment.

The six hazardous substances are:

1. Lead
2. Mercury
3. Cadmium
4. Hexavalent Chromium
5. Polybrominated Biphenyls
6. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether

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