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STCU recognized for clean-air steps

Effort also saves money and energy

[August 5, 2011]

Everyone wants cleaner air. And every member-owned cooperative likes to save money.
 
Now, STCU is being recognized for taking steps that accomplish both.
 
Once every two years, the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency honors organizations that have taken significant strides to reduce air pollution. Silver awards go to businesses that do well; gold awards go to businesses that do great.
 
This year, STCU is one of 23 organizations throughout the community receiving gold awards. In fact, we’re the only financial institution receiving the award. And we’re the largest private organization on the list (of the 23 “gold” organizations, only Spokane Transit Authority is larger).
 
“STCU and our board of directors are committed to doing our part for sustainability,” said Jack Cady, STCU facilities manager. “That includes clean air, as well as building practices that make responsible uses of resources with as little waste as possible.”

To qualify for a gold award, an organization must:

• Updating lighting and heating systems and other equipment, because producing and delivering electricity produces air pollution, even in a region blessed with an abundance of hydropower.
• Reduce pollutants caused by their manufacturing processes, such as finding substitute materials that produce fewer pollutants or volatile organic compounds.
• Look for clean-burning models for backup generators, such as those that burn a bio-diesel blend.
• Participate in a pollution-prevention audit.
• Find ways to reduce the impact of automobiles, society’s biggest pollution-producer, such as participating in the Commute Trip Reduction program, posting no-idle zones and considering electric vehicles for their fleets.

Since 2000, STCU has taken a number of steps to reduce energy consumption at our Liberty Lake Headquarters and at our branch locations, many of which also reduce air pollution. Those steps were documented in a recent energy audit, which concluded that STCU has found ways to conserve 254,812 kWh of electricity every year - about as much as the typical American household uses in 26 years.
 
In addition, our South Valley Branch is being designed to meet LEED Gold standards for sustainability. It will have the first solar panels of any STCU facility and will have one of the region’s first electric car charging stations. You’ll read more about that before the branch opens in November!