We’re giving back to the community and environment
It is important to our business that we do our part in reducing our environmental impact. And although the process is long and ongoing we believe it is our responsibility to make a positive impact for our customers, workforce, and community.
Four main ways Umbrella Property Services cares for the environment:
1. We Are Carbon Neutral
Umbrella Property Services is a carbon neutral company. Since 2015, we have measured and offset our greenhouse gas emissions. We chose to offset with Offsetters, Canada’s leading carbon management solutions provider. Their projects are verified and validated by third parties to ensure that the emission reductions are real, additional and permanent—so we know that our contribution is making a difference.
One of the projects we are supporting is the Quadra Island Forestland Conservation Project. Quadra Island, just off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, is a popular vacation destination and substantial logging occurs on the island. The project ensures that 418 hectares of forestland along the coastline—previously designated to be logged or converted to vacation homes—is now protected parkland. Because the area joins two existing parks, includes rare second growth Hemlocks, and contains 10 Aboriginal heritage sites and a historical Aboriginal portage route, the BC government has been trying to protect the area for almost 20 years. It was only with the promise of funding from carbon offsets, along with contributions from a diverse group of donors and a land trade, that it was possible for the government to purchase the site. We’re continuing to work to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and will be offsetting our unavoidable emissions going forward. We’re proud to do business while taking action on climate change.
2. We Use 100% Renewable Natural Gas
As a Green Leader with Fortis BC, we proudly use 100% renewable natural gas to heat our office.
What is renewable natural gas? When bacteria breaks down organic waste from sources such as landfill sites, agriculture waste and wastewater from treatment facilities, biogas is created. Working with local BC suppliers, Fortis BC is capturing and purifying this biogas to provide renewable natural gas, a locally produced, carbon neutral energy source.
We’re proud and excited to see this innovation happen in BC.
3. We Use Energy-Efficient LED Lights
Our sister company, Light Knights, is proud to be environmentally friendly and use LEDs — which are 80% more energy than incandescent bulbs. (Have incandescent bulbs? We will recycle them for you and upgrade your Christmas lights to LED).
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. A LED light bulb is a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the source of light. LEDs do not emit light in all directions, and their directional characteristics affect the design of lamps. The efficiency of conversion from electric power to light is generally higher than for incandescent lamps. Since the light output of many types of light-emitting diodes is small compared to incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps, in most applications multiple diodes are assembled.
LED light bulbs are more energy efficient than incandescent lights and this helps bring the annual operating costs of Christmas Lights down. The initial cost for LEDs are more than for incandescent but this higher initial cost is recouped through the annual costs, less breakage, and longer warranty periods.
Incandescent Christmas Lights have been around for a long time and we understand for many people change is difficult however we are encouraging people to adapt to LEDs. The biggest issues we have with incandescent bulbs are breakage, flickering, bulbs burning out in one season, and energy use. In our effort to improve the environmental impact our business has on the community we no longer supply or install incandescent lights. Let us show you the amazing colours, brightness, and durability our LED Christmas Lights have.
4. We Have a Recycling Program for Zero Waste
Did you know the holiday lighting we use is 100% recyclable? It’s true, and we care about our environment just as much as you do. The last thing we all want is more reusable materials in our landfills. So, if it’s time for new lights for your home, we will take away the old ones to be properly broken down and recycled. The copper gets salvaged and reused, plastic is melted and reused and the glass is as well.
Our recycling program for Zero Waste includes sorting the recycling cardboard, soft plastic, hard plastic, paper, metal, organics, and, of course, Christmas lights.
