Fairfield | Hudson Valley | Westchester Focus : Living & Working Green - Real Estate & Construction

Companies make strides to be eco friendly
By ANGELIQUE CHIELLI

A recent survey of 397 Connecticut businesses by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association found more are “keepin’ it green” in an effort to create more jobs and improve the socioeconomic terrain. In addition, the survey gives a peek into the ways businesses are environmentally involved with their companies, as well as their communities.

The survey shows half of business leaders believe by adopting green business practices their companies can attract bigger vendors and additional partners and 45 percent think they can gain younger, environmentally conscious workers.

The survey also showed many Connecticut companies have taken energy cost-saving measures and 82 percent of companies recycle.

Despite the efforts, respondents said barriers such as lack of understanding green business practices, cost and lack of leadership on the issue prevent businesses from going greener.

Overall, the survey illustrates Connecticut businesses are making an effort to maintain an environmentally friendly workplace, as well as remaining socially conscious on the issue.

Tarrytown House Estate and Conference Center on Sunnyside Lane is installing motion-sensitive thermostats in its guest rooms. The thermostats keep the room at a balanced temperature while guests are not in the room.

Tarrytown House also has saved thousands of gallons of reservoir water by digging its own well to water its 26 acres.

Executive Chef Paul Sant keeps the food fresh at the estate by growing some herbs and crab apples in a garden on the site. Tarrytown House also purchases food from local vendors and farmers because the carbon footprint is much smaller in comparison with purchasing food from around the country or world.

Connecticut Light & Power Co. (CL&P) uses electric hybrid Ford Escapes for transportation when riding the circuits of meter-reading routes. Biodegradable hydraulic fluid is used in CL&P vehicles, as well as synthetic lubricants.

To save paper, CL&P’s parent company, Northeast Utilities, gives its shareholders a choice to receive annual reports through e-mail. When shareholders elect to receive the report via the Internet, Northeast makes a $5 donation to the American Chestnut Foundation to plant a Chestnut tree in Connecticut.

 

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