Frank Ellis, chair and CEO, signed the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce's Climate Protection Partnership in 2008, committing SCE to inventory and reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. At the time, only 145 out of 70,000 area businesses had signed onto the plan. After completing a carbon footprint in July 2008, the following measures are being implemented with the help of the SCE Green Committee:

	Replace light bulbs with more efficient lighting
	Increase paper and cardboard recycling at all major facilities
	Reduce paper usage by changing purchasing policies
	Encourage Swope associates to carpool using the Mid–American Regional Council's Carpool Connection website.
	Begin a “Lights Out” campaign to remind all associates to turn out lights in offices, break rooms and copy rooms when they are not being used.
	Remotely turn off computers at night
	Reduce facility heating and cooling when buildings are unoccupied
	Assist Swope associates reduce their own footprint through “Getting Carbon Conscious – Green tips for work and home,” a sustainability training program for all employees.

Click here to view Green Committee Accomplishments to Date!

SCE associates and the local community are encouraged to utilize the following resources to reduce their utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions while improving the quality of the environment for Kansas City and beyond.

SCE Environmental Information
SCE saves 122 trees a year by recycling through Shred-It. Enabling your sleep settings on your SCE computer saves $13 dollars a year on electricity. The average American office worker uses around 12,000 sheets of paper a year, but the average Swope associate only uses 9,643 sheets. SHS is a mercury free facility.

A different tip will be featured in the drop down monthly and also say:

Enabling your sleep settings on your home computer saves 39 dollars a year on electricity

Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Locations:

Nearly everything we throw away can be recycled. Did you know that computers, tires, and even small appliances can be recycled and kept from the landfill? If disposed of improperly, fluorescent light bulbs, aerosol cans, batteries, oil, and paint can contaminate soil and water with toxic chemicals. At the end of their usable life, these products must be taken to a household hazardous waste drop-off. Visit the link below to find out all that can be recycled in your area.

Kansas City Metro Environmental Organizations:
Do you want to know other ways to improve the environment of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area? Visit the links below to find out how you can plant trees, pick up litter, volunteer at recycling centers, remove invasive species, and get the word out on various environment-related issues.

	Bridging the Gap – www.bridgingthegap.org
	Kansas City Wildlands – www.kcwildlands.org
	Heartland Tree Alliance – www.heartlandtreealliance.org
	Sierra Club – www.missouri.sierraclub.org/thb
	Audubon – www.burroughs.org

Home Weatherization Programs:
Low-income families are the hardest hit by high heating and cooling costs, and many are unable to add insulation to their home or weatherize their doors and windows. If you are struggling to pay your utility bills or know someone who is, visit the links below to see if you qualify for free city or state weatherization assistance.

	City of Kansas City, Missouri – www.kcmo.org/neigh.nsf/web/weather_app
	State of Missouri – www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/weatherization/wx.htm

Kansas City Power and Light
Our local electricity provider, KCP&L, has several online tools available for home owners to evaluate energy usage and conserve electricity. Check out their great website!

Home energy efficiency tools – www.kcpl.com/efficiency/hee.html