West Bend celebrates Earth Month

West Bend is serious about caring for the environment. To celebrate Earth Month in April, West Bend has planned an Earth Day Fair during Earth Week, April 21-25. At the fair, local conservancy and environment-focused organizations will share with our associates information about earth-saving energy alternatives, conservation, and eco-friendly products.
 
We’ve planned a computer equipment recycling day so associates can bring in old/unused personal computer equipment. We’ll render it inoperable before sending it out for recycling. West Bend also offers on-site battery, shoe, cell phone, and eyeglasses recycling year round.
 
Our Internal Services staff, as well as our Sustainability Committee, constantly identify opportunities and implement plans to support stewardship of our natural resources and reduce our environmental impact, while maintaining West Bend’s business objectives. We do that with ...

• Environmentally-friendly cleaning products;
• Microfiber mopping system and towels that reduce water consumption and chemical usage;
• Water conservation measures like low-flow plumbing fixtures, hands-free faucets, and drip irrigation;
• State-of-the-art building automation systems that control HVAC equipment, building temperature set points, and HVAC equipment on/off scheduling;
• Energy-efficient fluorescent lighting and electronic ballasts;
• A building automation system that controls all interior and exterior office lighting;
• LED light bulbs;
• Linen napkins and china used for catered events;
• Recycling more than 70 tons of paper each year;
• Recycling food and paper napkins left as garbage in our cafeteria, leftover and outdated food, and food scraps that can’t be used for other purposes; and
• Many other sustainability efforts.

 
Our building is Energy Star Certified which means we’ve met strict energy performance standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our buildings use less energy, are less expensive to operate, and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than our peers.
 
West Bend’s heating and cooling systems are state-of-the art and are huge factors in our energy efficiency. Other, less obvious, factors make a difference, too; for instance programmed lighting systems in parking lots and outdoor walkways, as well as special coating on the windows. Things we do, like closing blinds and turning off lights, keep our buildings cooler on hot summer days. When we’re more energy efficient, our operating costs are reduced.
 
West Bend provides organic gardens for associates. For a nominal fee, associates can plant, nurture, and harvest their vegetable and flower crops throughout the growing season. Plots are located on our corporate campus, enclosed with fencing, and near a water source.
 
At our corporate office we currently maintain less than five acres of manicured turf, which significantly reduces the need for irrigation and emissions from lawn mowers and other small equipment. The remainder of our 160 acres are restored prairie, wetlands, and woods, and home to 35 varieties of plants and flowers, more than 12,000 trees and shrubs, and many kinds of wildlife and birds.
 
West Bend is proud to do our part to make the earth a better place to live, not just during Earth Month, but every day of the year.