Evergreen Credit Union Attains Green Professional Status
Neenah, Wis. November 2020 – The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council has named Evergreen Credit Union a Green Professional within its Green Masters Program. Recognizing sustainable actions by businesses from across the state of Wisconsin, the Green Masters program works to identify businesses that have taken at least one action within each of the nine pillars of sustainability. Participants in the program receive recognition for their sustainability accomplishments and develop ideas for future sustainability actions.
Evergreen Credit Union focuses on four pillars of sustainability: carbon neutrality, energy self-sufficiency, water conservation, and zero waste. The credit union has continued to reduce energy consumption year over year since 2015. Most recently, an LED retrofit project in Neenah was finished with no landfilled waste. A jump to electronic documents and electronic signatures has slashed paper usage and consumption, shrinking the credit union’s carbon footprint.
The Green Masters Program is an objective, points-based recognition, assessment and certification program that enables Wisconsin businesses of all sizes and from any sector to join a group of like-minded companies working towards sustainability. The program has established three levels of participation: Green Apprentice, Green Professional, and Green Master. Evergreen Credit Union joined the program as a Green Professional in 2016. Each year at the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference, the current top 20 percent of companies that applied during the calendar year are identified and recognized as the Green Masters level companies.
“The Green Masters Program is a tool for businesses to assess and grow their sustainability programs, to benchmark against their industry and to receive a third part certification recognizing their achievements in sustainability,” says WSBC’s managing director, Jessy Servi Ortiz.
Evergreen Credit Union was incorporated on March 29, 1958 as Wisconsin Tissue Employees Credit Union and has now grown to serve over 3400 members. In 2015, the credit union took the first big step in sustainability and installed an on-site solar array that now generates 80% of the credit union’s annual electricity demand. It has served as a beacon for sustainability efforts. Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Winnebago, Waupaca, Waushara, Outagamie, or Calumet Counties in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council’s (WSBC) mission is to advance sustainable principles and practices forward through the power of business. We support businesses and sustainability professionals through an array of programming, education, resources and tools and are a catalyst for businesses looking to integrate sustainability into the fabric of their organization and be a force for good. We are a network of businesses integrating sustainability into business operations at a time when the business case for sustainability (defined in terms of people, planet and profit) has never been stronger. Find us on the web at www.wisconsinsustainability.com
Contact: WI Sustainable Business Council
Jessy Servi Ortiz
Managing Director
jessy@wisconsinsustainability.com
414.861.1177
Contact: Evergreen Credit Union
Roni Kasperek
Sustainability & Marketing Manager
RoniK@evergreencu.com
920.729.2999