Lafayette Savings Bank has recently formed a Green Team with the sole purpose of helping the organization become more friendly to the environment. This committee meets regularly to help the bank consider environmental issues when making business decisions and to make changes to existing business models when needed. The Green Team also plans and hosts events to raise environmental awareness or to have a direct effect on the environment.

Here's a quick list of what the Green Team has done:


• Held the first annual Community Shred Day for any one to bring sensitive material to be shredded and recycled.
• Raised awareness among LSB employees to reduce/reuse/recycle.
• Pushed for the implementation of eStatements - allowing customers to opt-out of a monthly paper statement.
• Planted trees at the Main Street branch.
• Initiated the switch to electronic versions of internal administrative documents

The Clear-Blue-Green Business Certification Program Committee has recognized LSB as a Clear-Blue-Green Business!

To honor LSB and the Green Team's efforts in promoting green ideals throughout Tippecanoe County, we were recognized at Ivy Tech Community College-Lafayette Campus’ Earth Day Celebration on April 22nd, 2010. The Clear-Blue-Green Business Certification Program is a voluntary program that encourages businesses to implement proactive actions that are good for their bottom line and the environment. The Clear-Blue-Green Business Certification Program, a partnership between the Go Greener Commission, Greater Lafayette Commerce, and the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation, seeks to recognize businesses that are committed and engaged in environmentally responsible operations and practices. Business members representing up to 99 employees must meet at least one requirement in 4 of the 6 categories listed below and a minimum of 45 points. Business members representing 100 or more employees must meet at least one requirement in each category with a minimum of 55 points. Water Conservation Energy Conservation Waste Reduction and Prevention Purchasing Transportation Employee Education and Outreach

LSB Environmental Policy

Introduction
Lafayette Savings Bank is committed to the needs of our customers, employees, shareholders, and communities.  We believe that our long-term health and success is directly linked to the health and quality of the natural environment.  We endeavor to continuously improve our environmental performance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent pollution by adopting and promoting:

            Renewable Resources
            Resource Efficient Products
            Environmentally Responsible Services and Practices
            Community Outreach, Awareness, and Education

By following its Environmental Policy, the Bank improves the predictability, transparency and accountability of its actions.  Through our actions, we aim to influence and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.  Periodic reviews will be conducted by the Lafayette Savings Bank Green Team to ensure that the environmental objectives and targets are consistent with our actions and our policies, as well as compliant with all applicable environmental regulations.   Finally, we communicate our environmental policy and actions with our community, and we welcome their participation. 

Through this environmental policy, the Bank puts into practice its commitment to sustainable development. It is up to Lafayette Savings Bank employees to translate this commitment into successful outcomes.

Adverse impacts are to be avoided, or if avoidance is not possible, the impacts should be appropriately reduced or mitigated. Projects with positive impacts and opportunities should be identified and promoted whenever feasible. Likewise, environmental factors will be considered for proposed internal projects.  

Policy Aims
Lafayette Savings Bank plans to operate with as little environmental impact as possible.  To that end, we will:

• Comply with all relevant regulatory requirements.
• Strive to improve environmental performance continually.
• Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
• Reduce adverse environmental impacts of activities, products and services.
• Increase staff awareness and promote good environmental performance.
• Publish environmental policy and other environmental information.

Energy Consumption
Lafayette Savings Bank operates 6 locations in the Greater Lafayette area.  We carefully monitor gas and electricity usage for each location.  We are periodically reviewing procedures used in each location to identify areas where process modification will conserve energy usage. 

Purchasing
Lafayette Savings Bank will strive to reduce the environmental impact of our operations beginning with the types of products we purchase. We believe that proactive environmentally conscience purchasing efforts will significantly reduce our environmental burdens and enhance our stewardship of the resources within our community. Some of the ways we will incorporate proactive purchasing efforts are as follows:

Renewable resources: we will look for products that do not deplete the quality of nature and resources.

Resource efficient: we will look for certified products that use less energy while providing the same or better quality of service. For example, Energy Star and Green Seal are certifications for environmentally friendly products.

Recycled content: we will look for products with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content, which will assure a growing market for all the material we collect for recycling.

Pollution prevention: we will look for products that keep pollutants and toxins out of the air and landfills, e.g. low-mercury lamps, and sealed recyclable batteries.

Packaging: we will work with our business partners to minimize their use of packaging for products we purchase, and to promote environmentally friendly materials and processes in their operations.

Reduction
Lafayette Savings Bank will strive to reduce the environmental impact of our operations by reviewing all operational and core business activities to identify methods of reducing consumption of energy and of disposable products. Some of the ways we will reduce energy and product use are as follows:

Reduce employee waste: we will look for bank-provided disposable products used by employees that can be eliminated or replaced by sustainable products. 

Reduce business process waste: we will continually review business processes identifying areas where more efficient use of materials can be realized or replaced by sustainable products.

Reduce paper consumption: we will use electronic distribution, avoid unnecessary document printing, and utilize two-sided printing on printers and faxes where possible.

Reduce energy waste:

• We will turn off all lights and equipment when not in use. 
• Where feasible, we modify equipment settings to reduce the amount of time an unused device is actively consuming energy. 
• We will replace all light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs. 
• HVAC systems will be systematically maintained to ensure operational efficiency and proper energy use.
• All chargers of any type will be unplugged when not in use
• We will use teleconferences or web conferences rather than traveling for face-to-face meetings where possible.
• Company cars will not be left idling at our facilities during courier routes or other deliveries.

Reuse
Lafayette Savings Bank recognizes the importance of reusing or purchasing refurbished items such as computing and other electronic equipment.  Where feasible, we will reuse existing items or purchase refurbished items for use in all of our locations. 

Recycling
Lafayette Savings Bank will reduce the amount of materials entering our landfills, both harmful and otherwise, by recycling as much employee, electronic, and operational waste as possible.  Some of the ways we will recycle are as follows:

Recycle employee waste:  recycling containers are provided in all departments at all physical locations for employees to deposit their recyclable materials.  All employees are expected to participate in this recycling service.

Recycle electronic waste:  All unneeded electronic equipment will be recycled with a firm that redistributes the equipment or recycles the equipment in an EPA approved manner.  All toner cartridges will be returned to the vendor for recycling.

Recycle operational waste:  Any paper documents, both business and otherwise, will be deposited into the designated secure recycling containers located in each department.  These documents are shredded for confidentiality purposes and then recycled.

Community Outreach
Lafayette Savings Bank will attempt to improve our community and educate its members by:

• Providing information regarding the bank’s efforts and progress to reduce our overall carbon footprint on the environment. 
• Provide community forums directed to educate the general public on current consumer environmental practices and procedures.
• Perform community outreach each year, such as our community shred days, to assist members of the community in achieving environmental objectives.

^ Back to Top ^