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Public Review Draft <br />Page 22 San Leandro 2021 Climate Action Plan <br /> <br />Case Study: Resilience Green Business Program <br />San Leandro is a member of Alameda County’s Green Business Program, a county-wide program which <br />verifies that businesses meet higher standards of environmental performance. More than 400 Alameda County <br />businesses and public agencies have been certified as green businesses. One such business is Scandic, a <br />custom metal stamping and spring coiling manufacturer that prides itself on sustainability. <br />As a testament to San Leandro’s manufacturing history, Scandic is approaching 50 years within San Leandro’s <br />manufacturing community. Drawn to San Leandro for its proximity to the talented workforce and key customers, <br />Scandic’s president Hale Foote has made sustainability a cornerstone of his business. “It is good business <br />practice, and it is good for the environment. It means operating my business in a way that consumes the least <br />resources necessary, making products that have a neutral or beneficial effect on the environment (such as <br />parts for EV cars, LED lighting, solar panel mounting, and more).” <br />One of the most visible changes Foote has made to the business is to install a solar roof, which resulted in <br />immediate savings. But the combination of other initiatives, like recycling and motor controls, also added up to <br />significant financial savings as well. Some of these include: <br /> Installing a 93 kW photovoltaic system which supplies almost all the of the businesses’ electrical needs; <br /> Installing a closed-loop filtration system for the waterjet; <br /> Conducting wastewater treatment with an evaporator, the small residue of which is sent to an authorized <br />treatment center; <br /> Recycling all scrap metal, sorted by alloy (8,000 pounds per month) <br /> Using lubricants and cleaning agents that are approved for on-site neutralization and disposal; <br /> Installing skylights throughout the facility to lower lighting costs; <br /> Retrofitting most motors with variable frequency drives for lower power consumption; and <br /> Providing flexible work hours to allow employees to avoid rush hour traffic, saving fuel, time, and money. <br /> <br />In addition to environmental sustainability, Scandic promotes well-being and sustainable jobs for their <br />employees. They have internal and external apprenticeship programs to increase skills and offer a 100% tuition <br />reimbursement program for employees looking to take college-level classes. <br />For other businesses looking to become greener, Foote recommends: “Look at the economic benefits to <br />operating in an environmentally conscious way. It is less expensive to run your business with a view towards <br />sustainability, when you factor in all short- and long-term costs.” <br /> <br />Scandic’s solar panel array. <br /> <br />66