Sustainability Profile: Conscious Home

1. Brand promise, vision or statement of values:
Conscious Homes' vision is to make Calgary’s future brighter and more sustainable, one green home at a time.
2. How are your products or services sustainable?
The services of Conscious Homes are very mindful of sustainability. We strive to educate our clients on earth-aware practices, and only recommend other products and services we know to be environmentally and socially responsible. In my own activities related to the business, I work from home and try to achieve most communication through phone or email. When driving is necessary, I attempt to multi-errand and do as much in one outing as I can.
3. How does your company give preference to suppliers who create positive social and environmental benefits?
I only recommend and include products that are made responsibly (of sustainable material, local or fair-trade, with regard for best-practice manufacturing) and can be reused or recycled after their usage.
4. How does your business minimize the environmental impact of its operations?
• Waste reduction: reusing paper (militantly), only printing when necessary, home office- compost, recycle, buy little packaged material, only purchase new when absolutely necessary.
• Recycling: everything
• Energy efficiency: CFL bulbs, unplug unused appliances, turn lights off, and keep heat down.
• Water efficiency: tap aerators, no water bottles, use some grey water for plants when we can
• Paper products and administrative supplies: try to buy recycled content/FSC certified paper/tree-free whenever possible, reusing paper, reusing envelopes, getting used paper from offices or printers and printing on the other side
• Building supplies: n/a
• Hazardous materials and cleaning products: only biodegradeable, non-toxic cleaning supplies
• Transportation and staff commuting: tele-commute when possible, drive a small gas-efficient car, complete other tasks at the same time if driving is necessary
5. What strategic community partnerships does your company have in place?
I am very involved with Clean Calgary as a volunteer, and intend to have a corporate membership shortly. I am also negotiating a partnership with Conematic Heating Systems, and several small home-organizing firms.
6. What policy or guidelines exist to support charitable contributions?
I am still working on the business plan, so I am still working out policy on charitable contributions. I would like to make it policy to give a certain percentage (possibly the 1% for the Planet organization, and to have low-income accessibility.
7. How many people do you employ locally?
At this point, I am not employing anyone, but I do hope to in the next year.
8. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee health and safety?
Not yet applicable.
9. In what ways does your business demonstrate its commitment to employee development and job satisfaction?
Not yet applicable.
10. How does your business support employees to lead balanced lives and be active participants in their communities?
Not yet applicable.