“Our beds are empty two-thirds of the time.
Our living rooms are empty seven-eighths of the time.
Our office buildings are empty one-half of the time.
It’s time we gave this some thought.”
— R. Buckminster Fuller
Coming to work, going to meetings and field visits
- Flexible work hours to accommodate offpeak commuting
- Commute by bicycle to city meetings, wherever possible
- Minimize reliance on automobile-based transportation; bike-friendly
- Access to shower for bike commuters and post-field visits
- Telecommuting encouraged
In and around the office
- Austin Energy Greenchoice® member since 2002
- Office is centrally located, five minutes from downtown, and based in rehabbed 1950s residential home
- Emphasis placed on paperless communications and publications wherever possible
- Research materials often sourced online or borrowed from university libraries
- Stated goal of zero waste in office; most office waste is recycled through City of Austin’s Single Stream recycling program, or recycled for further in-office use, or for vermiculture
- Rigorous reduction efforts for unsolicited bulk mail including printed industry newsletters, magazines, and catalogs
- Purchase preference given to office supplies with high recycled content and/or nonpetroleum origin
- Office dress code is “Austin casual,” based on seasonal temperatures
- Aggressive thermostat set-back, and zoned heating and cooling
- Onsite rainwater catch system using Gambusia speciosa fish for mosquito control
- Native, xeric and edible plant landscape irrigated with graywater and rainwater
Lunch and cleanup
- Access to full kitchen (stove, oven, refrigerator, sink) to make healthy meals
- Company dining room features real porcelain plates, real steel forks and spoons, cloth napkins
- Onsite composting, vermiculture
Health
- Health allowance included as a percentage in every paycheck
Vacations
- During typical slowdown of projects in summer, long vacations are possible and encouraged