Environment

Harnessing employees’ passion for the environment

Do you know how the world’s population growth will impact the environment? Ever wonder about the significance of your “footprint?” What exactly does carbon offset mean, anyway?

TD employees can learn the answers to these questions and many more by enrolling in TD’s Environment Training Program. A first of its kind e-learning course, this voluntary, web-based program is designed to help increase employees’ knowledge of the environment, the impact TD has on the environment and what we’re doing to offset that impact.

With a limited amount of resources on the planet, people are showing a greater interest in learning more about the subject. These courses are a fun and simple way to start the education process and for employees to learn how they can help TD reduce its operational footprint, contributing to a sustainable future.

The course consists of four modules, each with a different focus. Topics include:

• the impacts of human activity and population growth on the environment;
• what a closed loop paper cycle is and how it works;
• what an environmental analysis comprises;
• how TD is managing its own operational footprint by reducing carbon emissions;
• how TD partners with the community to create carbon offset projects.

TD has set the goal of being an environmental leader and these courses provide an opportunity for employees to learn the impact of their actions on the environment. This course is another shining example of how TD is an extraordinary place to work.

Making our branches as green as our shield

In 2010, TD led the charge as the first bank in Canada to achieve carbon neutrality, and we didn’t stop there. Last May, TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank^® opened its first net-zero energy store in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a first for any financial institution.

A net-zero energy building produces as much renewable power as it consumes in a year. The new TD Bank store will require about 97,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year to operate, but its 400 solar panels will produce a minimum of 100,000 kWh annually on site, allowing us to come out on top.

“At TD Bank, we want to be a responsible community partner and that includes a commitment to being an environmental leader,” said Kevin Gillen, Florida Regional President, TD Bank. “We’re thrilled to open the first net-zero energy commercial bank location in the United States. To us, being environmentally responsible is fundamental to being The Better Bank.”

Branches in Canada are also taking the lead with the recent green retrofit of the Masonville branch in London, ON. As of October, the location became net-zero energy efficient by updating the interior and installing solar panels on its premises to curb its energy intake.

But what helps makes the branch unique is what surrounds it: the TD Green Energy Park, a public green space. Come spring, the park will feature a solar-panel covered amphitheatre that can serve as an outdoor classroom and performance space, an interactive and educational pathway, and an electric car charging system.

Net-zero energy branches are just one way TD is greening its facilities. Other locations are receiving LED and low-energy lighting as well as occupancy censors that ensure lights turn off when rooms are not in use. We’ll also see 10 branches in Canada receive solar panels, reinforcing our commitment to reducing TD’s environmental footprint in every facet of our business.

TD goes for the green!

While the benefits of going green are rewards in themselves, TD is proud to be recognized within the industry as a leader in sustainability. Even more encouraging is that our employees notice the difference we’re making.

Through a survey conducted by Aon Hewitt, a global HR consulting and outsourcing firm, employees weighed in on The Green 30 award, highlighting some of the key programs, practices, values, leadership behaviours and actions the bank embodies. The result? A win for TD.

Under the Banking and Investing category, we scored top marks with the number of green services offered to our customers, including paperless record keeping, which saves approximately 10,000 trees each year.

The establishment of our Chief Environment Officer in 2008 and the building of a team devoted to improving environmental practices helped TD make the list. A dedicated intranet site was also commended for providing employees with tips on how to be eco-friendly at work, at home, and in the community.

And in 2010, we helped plant 77,000 hybrid poplar trees in southwestern Ontario. The plant species, which was developed by the University of Guelph, has above-average carbon-capture capabilities, allowing us to truly be as green as our logo.

Incorporating environmental practices as part of our business strategy is one thing, but empowering our employees to make a difference on their own is off the charts. We want to be The Better Bank, while being the Greener Bank too.

The Green Bank gets even greener

Many TD employees wanted to do more than be employed by an environmental leader – they wanted to get personally involved. So this year, TD employees introduced TD Green Nation (www.tdgreennation.com).

The site provides a forum for employees to pledge one-time, daily or weekly acts of green. Points are awarded for each act, and participants can track their own progress while seeing how their colleagues are doing. These acts can be accomplished at work, at home or in the community.

“The beauty of TD Green Nation is that it lets people share ideas for making an environmental impact and see the collective impact of their acts of green,” says Karen Clarke-Whistler, TD’s Chief Environment Officer.

The site provides simple tips on how we can all lead a greener life, including, turning off computer monitors at night, switching to biodegradable, plant-based beauty products, weather-stripping drafty windows and doors, and committing to taking public transit. Employees can also see the estimated carbon emissions savings resulting from each act of green and track how their business and the organization as a whole is doing.

“Signing up and participating in TD Green Nation is completely voluntary,” continues Karen. “In its first six months, almost 2,500 employees registered, accomplishing more than 11,000 acts of green ranging from turning off the lights and eating more locally grown food, to participating in a tree-planting event and purchasing a hybrid vehicle. This speaks volumes about how passionate employees feel about helping the environment.”

Green trading floor

Working on a business opportunity involving renewable solar energy sparked an interest in environmental sustainability for Terry Nichol, Managing Director at TD Securities. Building a new trading floor offered the perfect opportunity to put this passion into practice. Terry and his team ensured it was built to green standards, with TD’s Green Building policy helping to lead the way.

Today, when you step off the elevator onto the green trading floor, it may look like any other TD space, but a closer look reveals green features, such as filtered water taps, sensor-controlled lighting, interactive whiteboards to facilitate paperless meetings and even locally-sourced food in the vending machines. In fact, the space makes use of regional materials and local supply chains to reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation and construction.

“Going green was a smart business decision,” says Terry. “We’ve reduced operating costs by minimizing waste, paper usage and power consumption, but more importantly it forced us to look closely at how we do business and make some thoughtful changes.”

Other features of the green trading floor include reflective window blinds and ceiling tiles that allow for better temperature control by reflecting heat and glare. The green building initiatives are not only good for the environment, but also reduce energy costs, proving that environmental initiatives and the bottom-line can go hand in hand.

“Employees embraced the changes and it motivated many of us to adopt a greener lifestyle outside of work as well,” says Terry. “What I find most exciting is that as time goes on these acts of green are becoming just part of our normal way of doing business.”

Transforming Fleet Lane Forest

TD employees in Leeds, UK often take part in Team Challenges to give back to the local community. Employees work directly with charities and not-for-profit organizations to lend their skills and expertise. One such challenge saw the team working with local countryside rangers to clear and restore an overgrown section of Fleet Lane Forest in south Leeds.

Fleet Lane Forest is part of the Forest of Leeds, a community partnership designed to enhance the woodlands, countryside and urban green spaces of Leeds. The aim is to integrate trees and woodland with the urban fringe and rural environments.

The TD team rolled up their sleeves and got to work, cutting branches to widen a section of path that runs along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal. Their goal was to encourage further recreational use of the area and create new habitats for small animals and insects.

“The area is beautiful and the work was well worth doing,” says Marla Martin, Assistant Accountant, TD Direct Investing. “The rangers we worked with are really passionate and know their stuff. It was inspirational.”

For employees who usually spend their time in the office or behind a desk, Team Challenges offer an opportunity to get out in the community and give back in a tangible way. It’s all part of TD’s commitment to making a difference. And in the end, it’s a win-win for employees and their communities.

“It was a brilliant experience with everyone working together and putting in maximum effort to transform the pathway and surrounding woodland area,” says Imran Akram, Office Services Manager, TD Direct Investing. “Seeing the results of our hard labour gave everyone a real sense of achievement and satisfaction.”