Geil Green - The ongoing evolution from wastefulness to sustainability

Geil Enterprises is committed to the continued transformation to total sustainability. From product content to product packaging, Geil Enterprises continues to implement practices and processes, minimizing our carbon footprint. This commitment is in alignment with our mission, which is to provide a safe and healthy environment for our employees and clients.

Here is a partial list of our GREEN practices and processes:

• Recycle Printer Ink Cartridges
• Recycle Plastic Containers
• Recycle Glass
• Recycle Batteries
• Utilize certified GREEN cleaning products
• Use Micro Fiber versus terry cotton cloths
• Use Vacuums with HEPPA filters
• Mini Business Cards (1/3 the size of a regular business card)
• Reuse paper (print on both sides)
• Removed all waste baskets from offices and cubicles and replaced them with recycling containers
• All non recyclable waste goes into a central waste can in the break-room
• Only use ceramic or glass cups, plates, glasses eliminating paper & plastic goods
• Shut down 50% of our lights to conserve energy
• Switching to HYBRID vehicles (completed by 2011–over 90 vehicles)
• All stationery must be made of recycled content
• No longer purchasing pre-printed logo stationery
• Eliminated dozens of Propane driven Scrubbers from our inventory (resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars worth of revenue/sales)
• We use Office Depot Green paper with 30% recycled post consumer content and Boise Aspen 100 made with 100% post-consumer content. Both are FSC Recycled certified.

In our ongoing efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, we have retrofitted our corporate office to utilize 28 Watt T8 lamps and occupancy sensor light switches in all offices, work areas and restrooms. This simple light bulb change will save an estimated 1000 watts of electricity usage. Combined with the occupancy sensor switches, it will reduce our overall energy usage for years to come. The cost of this retrofit was, in part, funded by Energy Efficiency Rebates provided by PG&E.

Our Walk-Run-Ride Program

The purpose of our Run-Walk-Ride program is to encourage our employees to exercise, maintain a healthier lifestyle, and reduce our carbon footprint. Along with other communities, the City of Fresno is committed to providing mass transit, improved bike lanes, and encouraging car pooling.

In August 2009, GEI went a step further in our commitment to encourage employees to walk and exercise by providing facilities (shower) for those choosing to walk, run, or ride their bike to work or during the lunch hour. GEI is located in the Herndon/Palm commercial area which has ample sidewalks, bike lanes, and easy access to Woodward Park.

The Green Tie

Sam Geil, the President of Geil Enterprises Inc. has made the commitment to wear only green ties at work recognizing the important of going green.

The Green Tie idea was born out of a meeting with John Shegerian the CEO of Electronic Recyclers International. On a delightful Spring afternoon in Fresno, CA, John and I met for lunch and he was sporting a beautiful green tie. It struck me how symbolic it was and remembered that the governor of California (Arnold Schwarzenegger) often wears a green tie. These are two businessmen I admire and know they wouldn't mind me taking a page out of their book. To add some spice to the green tie statement, I felt it would be fun to invite all our employees to hold me to my word by empowering them to cut my tie off if it was not Green. So far, one tie has met its untimely demise.