The Pacific Northwest has long been on the forefront of environmentally friendly thinking, embracing the sustainable revolution. As an engineering, design and construction firm born in the Northwestern United States, sustainability is simply an integral part of Evergreen Engineering’s DNA. Our employees and our firm actively practice energy efficiency and sustainability through a number of means. From the way we run our offices; through support for LEED accreditation and CEM designation for applicable employees; to sustainable design and construction practices, Evergreen Engineering is always thinking green.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY: WHERE WE STAND

Evergreen has an active policy of promoting sustainable efforts wherever possible. We support our employees in thinking “green” and encourage them to make suggestions on how we may improve our efforts. Evergreen has a Sustainability Committee comprised of members from multiple disciplines, tasked with the responsibility of improving our sustainable efforts. The group has been effective on multiple levels, whether it be in purchasing paper with higher recycled content; the adoption of soy based inks in our engineering pads; sustainability workshops for our staff; participation in community outreach programs, or replacement of disposable products with reusable ones, this group is actively improving Evergreen’s efforts each and every month.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY: HOW WE THINK

Our engineers evaluate design of building systems to make the best use of the needs of the facility as well as the short and long term costs of related infrastructure systems. Construction managers and general contractors manage projects so that disposal of materials is minimized, and that the logistics of sourcing material are considered. We encourage our clients to consider the long term costs of materials and equipment, and show them how to maintain equipment so as to minimize energy use and maximize equipment life. We also provide energy analyses and run models as needed to support the project requirements.
The USGBC LEED accreditation program has become a key standard for professionals in the design and construction field. Evergreen encourages staff members to pursue their LEED education, training, and accreditation. Furthermore, one of Evergreen’s partners is a Certified Energy Manager, a valuable skill on both external and internal projects.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY: WHAT WE DO

Internal to Evergreen Engineering is an employee run, and company supported, Sustainability Group. This group advises company management on ways to be more efficient and reduce consumption. To date this group has been instrumental in dramatically increasing recycling of paper, batteries, aluminum, glass, and plastic. Our IT group has implemented controlled printing practices in an effort to reduce the amount of paper used by only printing what is necessary.
Through the efforts of the Sustainability Group, Evergreen now purchases office paper with a higher level of PCW, has increased use of real dishes and silverware in the lunchroom and for catered lunches and events, and has adjusted the climate control systems such that we only heat and cool really as needed and get plenty of fresh air into the system. The company also purchased special containers so that coffee grounds can be collected and used by employees in their gardens.

OUTREACH & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

SOLV IT
– Evergreen Engineering employees volunteered with the SOLV IT organization on community outreach programs
Bike Commute Challenge
– Multiple Evergreen employees participate in the Bicycle Transportation Alliance Bike Commute Challenge each year
NWEI discussion course
– Employees participated in a Northwest Earth Institute discussion group, held at Evergreens Hillsboro location. Lessons learned in these sessions were implemented by employees both at work and at home.

IN THE OFFICE

We are striving to use a greater proportion of recycled products wherever possible.
Many disposable products have been replaced with reusable ones particularly in our lunchrooms.
We have broadened our recycling efforts (glass, batteries, for example).
Collection of coffee grounds for employee use in home composting.
Evaluated our office supplies & cleaning products to select less non-toxic & more sustainable choices.
Evergreen is in the process of installing motion sensors to reduce excess and unnecessary use of lighting/electricity.
Maintain a company policy of turning off PCs and lights nightly to conserve energy.
We are implementing a company-wide program to replace all fluorescent lights from T12 to T8.

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Evergreen employees LEED certified employees across multiple disciplines.
Evergreen hosts in-house training in support of employees earning LEED certification
Strive to incorporate sustainable design practices into projects even if they are not specified as LEED certified projects
Hosted “Lunch & Learn” seminars for outside vendors to teach employees about new products in sustainability