SAN DIMAS, Calif. — Western Corporate Federal Credit Union has launched a new series of complimentary monthly Webcasts that focus on credit union topics that go "beyond the balance sheet."
The inaugural March 11 Webcast focused on Earth Day and how credit unions can position themselves to be environmentally friendly and be sensitive to issues. Director of Public Relations for WesCorp Walter Laskos moderated the discussion with Vice President of Facilities and Administration for WesCorp Francis Kuhn and Director, Product Development Rick Stanton participating. Credit Union Times Editor-in-Chief Sarah Snell Cooke also called in for the Webcast to comment on how to get media coverage for CUs' Earth Day events.
Kuhn delivered a presentation on ways that credit unions can participate in environmentally friendly practices. He suggested small efforts such as providing employees with thermos type mugs and guests with china mugs to cut down on use of styrofoam cups, implementing informal recycling programs, voluntary ride share programs, and bus and transit passes. He went on to suggest larger efforts such as a smart building control system with thermostat and lighting control, window tinting, room occupancy sensors, reduction of light wattage, landscaping, and solar panels.
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According to Kuhn, the solar panel system at WesCorp cost $115,000 but was offset by a rebate from the California Energy Commission of $65,130 and that it paid for itself in under 42 months.
Kuhn also stated that WesCorp is averaging $138,000 in energy savings on an annual basis over the past five years.
While Kuhn covered ways for credit unions to implement environmentally conscious practices to the facility, Stanton discussed how credit unions can go green inside the business.
Stanton described the current processes of having members travel to branches to deposit checks and having carrier pick up the checks at every branch. "There's a lot of moving around and fuel being used in all of those processes," he said.
Stanton went on to discuss the use of sorters and encoders, two large machines that take up a lot of space and energy. He then showed one small machine that does both the work of the large sorters and encoders without taking up space, using as much energy, and costing as much. Stanton stated that while sorters and encoders costs can go into hundreds of thousands of dollars the small machine he showed cost goes only into hundreds of dollars.
Cooke entered the discussion to comment on how credit unions can take advantage of media coverage.
Cooke provided tips on how to send information to the media and, going with the Earth Day theme, suggested credit unions stress to the media why what they're doing is good for the environment.
To view the Webcast visit http://www.wescorp.org/content/wescorporg/html/webcast.html#btb.
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