Week Two of the 30-Day Challenge

As we enter week two of the Danville Area Sustainable Business Council’s March 30-Day Challenge, organizers are pleased with the results. 

Six businesses have demonstrated how much they care about their customers and our community by adopting a minimum of 25 sustainable “best practices” in five key areas of their operations.  

One of the first businesses to be named a Danville Area Sustainable Business is San Ramon Veterinary Hospital, operated by Dr. Glen Weber, who joins William White Insurance Agency, The Athenian School, Gayler Construction, Lani Studio and Design on the Line.

Weber and his staff implemented 34 environmentally friendly actions, including replacing older T-12 fluorescents with energy-efficient T-8 lighting; using dry floor-cleaning methods followed by damp mopping rather than spraying with water; reusing packaging materials; and reducing unwanted mailings.

What does it take to be a Danville Area Sustainable Business? 

A commitment to using environmentally friendly practices.  

These are often common-sense practices merchants already use because they save money. Some businesses are finding innovative solutions that others can adapt to their operations. 

Here are a few ways businesses are reducing solid waste:

The William White Insurance Agency donated used and unwanted equipment to a recycling program that supports breast-cancer research. This keeps items out of the landfill and helps a worthy cause. The agency also has stopped using paper cups and replaced them with mugs that are rinsed out in the sink for immediate reuse. The same mugs are used for water dispensed from a reusable five-gallon bottle. This simple change eliminates hundreds of plastic bottles.

Gayler Construction janitors reuse the garbage bags that line waste baskets and trash barrels. Instead of removing the bags and replacing them daily, the trash is dumped into a single container.

Design on the Line owner Annette Logan is using refilled toner cartridges, which saves money and keeps cartridges out of the trash. She discourages the printing of e-mails and is replacing disposable items in the break room with permanent ones. 

These simple changes impact our environment and our community. If you want to know how you can become an environmentally friendly operation, attract more customers and receive publicity for your efforts, consider joining the 30-Day Challenge and being designated a Danville Area Sustainable Business.

For more information on businesses that are adopting environmentally-friendly practices and about the 30-Day Challenge, visit Danville Area Sustainable Business Challenge.

Check back Mondays and Fridays for more updates about how local businesses are becoming sustainable.