two birds in bird bath

We're (Ever)green.

OUR COMMITMENT

Evergreen Plants Trees

We donate funds to plant a tree for each new account opened and loan closed. To date, we have donated enough money to plant over 13,500 trees in state and national parks and forests.  In 2022, we donated to plant trees in Wisconsin’s state forests through the Forests for the Future Fund.

Thanks to your support, we also make annual donations to plant trees locally in the Fox Valley through Urban Forestry programs.

hand holding sprouting plant

Zero Waste Facility

We believe in zero waste principals, and strive to meet 90% diversion from the landfill. This also means striving to decrease our annual waste outputs year over year. No money envelopes or deposit slips here – that just means more waste! Members may also opt for electronic copies of their receipts to be sent to online banking.

Carbon Conscious

In addition to our hard working solar arrays, we purchase carbon offsets for the electricity we use that we do not produce ourselves. Not only is renewable energy important for reducing our carbon emissions, we also track metrics like employee commute.

Committed to Refining Our Processes

At Evergreen Credit Union, we purchase 100% post-consumer copy paper. However, as part of our commitment to the environment, we actively audit our internal processes. In 2020, we reduced our paper consumption by 47% by refining our accounting workflow and digitizing our loan and membership applications.

Supporting Natural Environments

Not only are our branch locations pesticide and herbicide free (please don’t mind our weeds), our building in Neenah has a native pollinator garden. The next time you stop in our Neenah drive thru, take a moment to appreciate local plants and fauna!

Solar Array

In alignment with our sustainability mission, we installed a solar array in 2015! Our Neenah solar array produces enough electricity to satisfy 85% of the credit union’s annual electricity demand. The array is made up of 198 SolarWorld panels that were installed by Eland Electric. The solar panels are 100% made in the United States. Installing this solar array was a major step in our mission to be the most environmentally responsible credit union in the nation.

See the performance of the array here:

Our Solar Data

ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES WE SUPPORT

Plug into Nature Program Sponsor

Evergreen Credit Union supports Heckrodt Wetland Reserve’s Plug into Nature Program. Plug into Nature supports education focused programs such as their Roving Naturalist series, and their Volt electric vehicle (and solar powered charger)!

Adopt-A-Trail Participant

We’ve adopted the 2.1 miles of trail from Clayton Ave to Cold Spring Road in Fox Crossing. Our staff volunteer to help beautify and maintain this great village resource. Learn more about Fox Crossing’s Adopt A Trail program by clicking here.

Wisconsin Bike Federation Member – Bike Advocate 

There is nothing better than a safe, enjoyable bike ride. We are a member of the Wisconsin Bike Federation in support of bicycles for transportation and recreation.

Fox-Wolf Watershed Cleanup Sponsor

We are a proud supporter of the Fox-Wolf Watershed Cleanup. Learn more and register to volunteer for this year’s event at fwwa.org.

PlugShare Participant

Our electric vehicle charging stations are listed on PlugShare, allowing electric and hybrid vehicle owners to locate and utilize them for free. Our charging stations are powered by 100% renewable energy!

Learn more about all the causes we support under Community Involvement.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATIONS

Energy Star Partner Logo

EPA Energy Star Certified Building

Our branches have achieved distinction as Energy Star Certified Buildings. Energy Star Certified Buildings use 35% less energy overall compared to non-certified counterparts and produce less pollutants that can harm the environment. We measure and track the buildings performance, spread the word about energy efficiency, and supports the Energy Star Challenge. We are proud to be part of the family of businesses who have joined with Energy Star. Find more information about Energy Star at energystar.gov.

Wisconsin Green Masters Program Logo

Green Masters Program

Through many ongoing sustainability efforts, Evergreen Credit Union has achieved professional status in the Green Masters Program every year since 2017. This program is the largest and most widely renowned sustainability recognition in Wisconsin. It helps companies benchmark and compare their environmental performance with their peers.

Green Business Bureau Logo

Green Business Bureau

We are a member of the Green Business Bureau and are committed to being transparent in our environmental initiatives. You can view our profile on the GBB website: Evergreen Credit Union.

EPA WasteWise

We held partner status with EPA WasteWise, which is designed to increase efficiency, save money, and reduce our carbon footprint. Evergreen Credit Union achieved zero waste status under EPA guidelines. This means we diverted more than 90% of our waste from landfills through recycling and composting efforts.

Evergreen received a regional WasteWise award our waste diversion efforts in 2018.

Battle of the Buildings Team Challenge Logo Environmental Certifications for Evergreen Credit Union

EPA 2015 and 2016 Battle of the Buildings Winner

We reduced our water consumption by more than any other participating financial institution during this nation-wide contest! Using the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager data management tool, competitors measured, tracked and reported their energy and water consumption over a 90 day period. The data then needed to be verified by an independent third party to be considered.

PayItGreen Seal of Approval

The PayItGreen Seal of Approval recognizes businesses and financial institutions that champion environmentally sustainable practices to remove paper from payments, bills and statements and motivate consumers and businesses to make electronic their first choice.