State Bank of Bement - Bement, IL

Briefly describe 3 projects your organization has undertaken during the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition to improve your building’s energy efficiency.

Two virtualization servers replaced three separate servers. A large 12 pocket, 8 foot 100 pound proof machine was replaced by two 3 pound one pocket single scanners.

State Bank of Bement’s computer room now prints approximately 2,000 sheets of paper per month on recycled paper only. Every desk and teller station now has recycling cans and, since the start of the competition, the building has recycled 60 pounds of waste on average per month.

During Green Friday, a monthly open house, a slideshow presentation highlights the National Building Competition, and tips about how to “Go Green”. Take home recipe cards for an all purpose cleaner and developing compost piles are available. Green punch and cookies are also served, and CFL light bulbs have been given away.

How has the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition made a difference in your organization’s efforts to save energy?

Across the organization and extending to their customer base, State Bank of Bement feels that the team has become more conscious of saving energy. The Bank feels it is leading the way for the surrounding community, and the National Building Competition has allowed the team to get a small community involved in a global problem. The Competition updates, webinars and website have also helped State Bank of Bement learn what others are doing to save energy so the team can discuss these ideas with customers or learn from an idea and act on it.

Briefly describe ways you have engaged your community in your efforts during the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition (e.g. events, posters, signs, contests, open houses, web forums, etc).

The State Bank of Bement developed a Community Check Card Program which encouraged the use of a debit card rather than writing checks. The current customer base holds 55 percent of the population, and during the Competition local spending increased 110 percent. The monthly Green Friday open house invites customers and non-customers alike to visit the bank lobby and learn about how you can “Go Green” at home or with banking.

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