WYND is excited to empower individuals and businesses to take steps to cultivate a healthy and thriving environment–both indoors and outside. To further this mission, WYND is proud to partner CarbonForest, a forward-thinking company that makes it easy for consumers and companies to offset their carbon footprint. 

With the doom and gloom media coverage of the worsening effects of climate change, many of us are left feeling hopeless. It’s easy to follow the narrative that climate change cannot be stopped by individual action alone. However, the small changes we individually make can create a big impact. 

The reality is, most people DO care about climate change–they just don’t know what to do about it. People are looking to their employers and companies they trust to show them how. Unfortunately, in some cases, the opposite is happening. A recent report found that 20 of the largest "climate positive" U.S. companies obstructed efforts to pass the Build Back Better Act—a major infrastructure package and budget reconciliation that includes important climate provisions.

If your initial response was "what the heck!"—WYND and CarbonForest are right there with you in sharing your frustration. Luckily, we can turn that frustration into positive action. As individuals, we might not immediately be able to stop giant corporations from lobbying against the planet's best interests–but we can influence our communities by encouraging the companies we work for to do more in the fight against climate change. Here are some ways how: 

The Green Company Checklist: Does your company...

…have a sustainability effort? If so, ask them what they are doing to reduce their corporate carbon emissions and that of their employees. Depending on your industry, going completely green can be challenging because of required activities such as flying or even a lack of sustainable options within the supply chain. However, focusing on making your company’s office space and operations more sustainable can create substantial impact. If you need help getting started, reach out to our certified green building experts at sustainability@hellowynd.com.

…raise awareness about climate change among employees and stakeholders? Educating your employees about climate change in a professional setting is an important part of fighting it. If your company has never mentioned climate change in an email or meeting, that might mean that sustainability isn't a priority. If that's the case, consider how you can encourage company leadership to become more proactive and engage employees in the sustainability dialogue. Start with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which outlines a range of diverse goals to help lead to a more sustainable future, and gives your company the opportunity to identify which areas they’re best suited to help with. Companies across the globe, including WYND, have already aligned their missions with these goals so don’t be shy about sharing it with your leadership team. Learn more at wynd.ai/sustainability. 

…support a paperless office? Consider converting your paper-based processes to one of the many cloud-based platforms that are now widely available. 

…use environmentally friendly products? Whether it's snacks, dish detergent, or WYND’s compostable air filters, there's a wealth of green options out there. Encourage your company to make greener choices which are convenient, healthy, and accessible.

…encourage sustainable transportation? This involves initiatives such as providing bus passes for employees, setting up a carpooling program, or even just letting people work remotely on occasion. For those concerned about getting exposed to germs, portable air purifiers can keep them as safe and comfortable as they would be in their own vehicles.

…have a recycling program? If your company still doesn't have a recycling program in 2022, now is the time. Recycling isa foundational component of an environmentally friendly office. Remember “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” are in that order for a reason and you should reuse products whenever possible. For instance, at WYND, we refurbish damaged WYND devices and donate them to local charities.

…have office plants? Green workspace is not only beautiful, but scientifically proven to reduce stress and increase employee productivity. Office plants are a simple (and literal) way to make a workplace greener. 

…actively reduce energy usage? Installing motion sensor lights and switching off electronic equipment during off-hours are easy ways to reduce energy usage. Some companies even do an entire energy audit of their practices to see where they can improve. Did you know your building’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system accounts for about 40% of total building energy usage? Air purifiers, like the WYND Max, can help by taking pressure off the central HVAC system, locally purifying the air with HEPA filtration and using the same amount of energy as a medium-intensity light bulb. Reach out to your local utility provider who will work with you to help you reduce your electrical footprint and potentially give you options for cleaner energy. Ask your company if this has ever been done or if there are plans for it in the future. 

…have an ESG Program? ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Employees often start an ESG program to encourage their company to get more involved in important climate, community, or political issues. Talk to your colleagues to see if anyone else is interested in starting an ESG program with you and reach out to your HR team. A popular first step is supporting employee health and wellness. Healthy building standards can help protect both employees and the environment through certifications like LEED, WELL, BREEAM, Living Building Challenge, Fitwel, and Reset. 

…use renewable energies? Or do they have a plan in place to make the switch? It's always worth asking about to see how long your company plans on using fossil-fuel-based energy. A great place to start is simply investing in energy reduction upgrades to your office like replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs and installing smart building features. For instance, by leveraging AI monitoring and purification, buildings equipped with WYND sensors can see a 10 to 15% reduction in energy consumption. By reducing energy usage, you reduce your carbon footprint AND save money–offering your company a positive return on investment. In other words, a smart building decision is also a smart business decision!

By recognizing the consequences of inaction, we can encourage our companies and communities to do their part to reduce their carbon emissions and support sustainability initiatives. This Earth Month, WYND and CarbonForest encourage you to renew your commitment to protecting our one planet and keeping its air, land, and water as clean and safe as possible. Happy Earth Month!

If you want guidance in encouraging your company to go green, we can help. As a proud and active member of the International WELL Building Institute, we make it easy for companies of all sizes to minimize their carbon footprint and take bold action in the fight against climate change. To learn more, email us at sustainability@hellowynd.com.