Environmental policy

The mission of our Joie de Vivre Green Dreams program is to preserve the environment by incorporating sustainability into our core business operations.  Our green policies and practices are designed to educate our employees and guests, reduce waste and toxins, conserve natural resources and partner with local and environmentally-friendly businesses.

Joie de Vivre uses green business standards as the basis of certification for all its properties from well respected certifying agencies. We work with agencies such as San Francisco Green Business and U.S. Green Building Council, which have some of the highest program standards in the country.

To see how our properties meet these standards, view our property scorecard.

Specifically we use the following policies and practices:
1. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
2. Purchase environmentally friendly products
3. Conserve energy, water and natural resources
4. Generate clean energy through on-site solar production

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

  • We strive to increase waste diversion by recycling all paper, bottles and cans, and composting all food and landscape waste
  • We reduce the waste generated by donating reusable items (furniture, stationery) to charitable organizations

Toxics Reduction
We minimize the use of toxic materials to protect employee and guest health, and the health of the environment.  Specifically, we:

  • Dispose of or recycle toxic products safely
  • Choose less toxic or non-toxic janitorial products
  • Recycle waste: lamps, batteries, electronics and other universal waste
  • Purchase low or no mercury lamps whenever possible

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
When possible, we purchase/use:

  • Remanufactured toner cartridges
  • Paper products with 35%-100% recycled content
  • Energy Star rated appliances, electronics and office equipment
  • Water efficient toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators

Conserve
We conserve fossil fuels by:

  • Promoting the use of public transport for our employees and guests
  • Offering telecommuting options
  • Encouraging carpooling among employees
  • Participating in Spare the Air campaigns

Employee Education
We educate employees on resource conservation and pollution prevention through:

  • Training programs to educate employees on proper recycling, reuse and composting practices, resource conservation ideas, importance of low toxic purchasing, etc.
  • Informing employees of environmental issues in company newsletters and staff meetings
  • Offering environmental incentives and benefits to employees