Brookfield Johnson Controls: Motivating employees to take action for conservation

Written by Wendy Ho, Guest blogger for WWF’s Living Planet @ Work
Corporate green teams are often tasked with analyzing a company’s internal footprint and finding ways to reduce both impacts and cost, whether it be through recycling, paper reduction or energy efficiency.
Recently, we’ve started to see a shift in green team priorities. More and more, we are seeing them expand their scope of work by creating opportunities for employees to make a lasting impact and to become more actively involved. How? Through workplace giving activities and initiatives that help to give back to environmental conservation.
Brookfield Johnson Controls Canada is a prime example. In their recent activation of WWF’s Polar Bear Week, employees were educated on Arctic conservation issues, and had the opportunity to support WWF’s critical work in this area.

“Sustainability is one of our five core values,” says Sarah Jane Wolch, Living Planet @ Work champion at Brookfield Johnson Controls.  She notes that “putting conservation at the forefront of people’s minds” through activities like Polar Bear Week, was the secret to their success. In just five days, they raised $721, which quadrupled to $2,884 when matched dollar-for-dollar by the company and by Coca-Cola* through an employee bake sale, raffle and documentary screening of “Chasing Ice.”
Riding on the success of Polar Bear Week, the green team is busy preparing for their next environmental campaign− Earth Hour Week (March 24-28) which calls for fundraising during the days leading up to Earth Hour (March 29, 8:30-9:30 p.m.).  All funds raised during company Earth Hour activities will support a critical renewable energy mapping project led by WWF and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy.
Two graduate students, along with a team of experts, are gathering and analyzing a wealth of data over the next few months. They’re working to develop a comprehensive map on an interactive platform that shows just how much accessible, reliable sources of renewable energy Canada can tap.

This monumental endeavour is part of WWF’s vision to help put Canada on the path to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050. By supporting this project, Brookfield Johnson Controls Canada is perfectly aligned with its focus on energy conservation; by driving initiatives undertaken within the organization and services offered to clients.  Learn more about the WWF’s renewable energy mapping project here.
During Earth Hour Week, Brookfield Johnson Controls’ green team has planned a week of fundraising activities including an Earth Hour themed bake sale, and raffle (back by popular demand).
Brookfield Johnson Controls is participating in Living Planet @ Work’s Spring Things− a workplace campaign that aims to engage employees in fundraising for environmental conservation. Join Brookfield Johnson Controls and get involved by visiting wwf.ca/springthings.
Wendy Ho is a volunteer at WWF-Canada and guest blogger for WWF’s Living Planet @ Work. She is passionate about sustainability and communications. In the past, she played the role of green champion helping to engage her colleagues in footprint reduction initiatives and generate awareness around WWF’s national mobilization campaigns.