“It’s impressive the changes small initiatives can make,” said Lisa Fields, Facilities Manager at Chelsea Groton. “By adopting a new mindset, changing a bulb, or creating water bottle stations, it adds up before you know it. And seeing the impact these small changes have made in our community is highly rewarding.”
Over the last few years, the Bank has implemented innovative practices in order to reduce waste and improve overall paper management.
From 2017 to 2023, the Bank’s paper usage dropped by a staggering 75%, and held steady through 2024! This significant reduction was achieved through a combination of educating team members to adopt a “think before you print” mindset, encouraging two-sided printing, and – whenever possible – maintaining electronic records only.
When it comes to shredding, Chelsea Groton partnered with Infoshred LLC to handle the collection of paper and shred bins from all bank locations. Infoshred recycles all the materials, which are then transformed into new products. In 2024, the Bank recycled 35,740 lbs of recyclable paper, conserving 304 trees, 679 gallons of oil, 125,090 gallons of water, 73,267 kilowatt hours of energy, and 89 cubic yards of landfill space. It’s important to note that much of what is shredded is received from customers or mailed to us and shredded after use, as opposed to being from the Bank’s internal operations. Additionally, the Bank hosts six community shred days annually, providing members of the community with free shredding and recycling services for their documents.
We’ve also made significant strides in energy efficiency by converting most of our locations to 100% LED lighting. The buildings that have been completed include Groton, Center Groton, North Stonington, Norwichtown, Sprague, Salem, Westside, Mystic Auto, Niantic, and Waterford. New London is 2/3 complete, with the remaining work in tenant spaces, and Mystic, Pawcatuck, and the Bank’s new Downtown Norwich location will be completed this year. According to energy.gov, converting to LEDs can use up to 90% less energy than incandescent lights.
Changes have also been made to janitorial practices in the Bank’s headquarters. Trash has been centralized to primarily break rooms and bathrooms, eliminating up to 100 plastic pails and the need for plastic can liners. Additionally, water coolers and 5-gallon jugs have been replaced by water fountains and cup fillers. According to the tally on the fountains, over 10,000 bottles have been saved since the fountains were installed in Fall 2023. The headquarters building also boasts two EV charging stations in the parking lot, with two ports each, allowing four vehicles to charge at one time.
Chelsea Groton’s commitment to sustainability is ongoing, and we’re excited to work together to find new ways to reduce the Bank’s environmental impact.
