By Jon Stanfield, CEO of Horizon Bank

Reducing our environmental footprint has been something that Horizon has been chipping away at for over 15 years. 

One of the simplest but most significant sustainability initiatives implemented was our move to renewable energy. In 2005 we changed our source of electricity to GreenPower for all of our branches and head office, and then in 2015, we installed a 20 kilowatt solar system at our Wollongong head office. 

Our efforts earnt Horizon Bank a tick of approval from the National GreenPower Accreditation Program, whose mission is to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of electricity.

Other quick and easy green initiatives that we’ve implemented include:

Use of sensor lights to ensure that only occupied office offices and meeting rooms have lights on.

Incorporating plants in the workplace. Plants help to purify the air by soaking up the carbon dioxide we breathe out and replacing it with oxygen.

Using recycled paper for our letterheads and for printing.

Encouraging our customers to receive electronic rather than paper-based statements.

Setting printers to default to double-sided printing.

Creating recycling systems for refuse.

Horizon Bank has made substantial progress but we recognise that there is still so much more we need to do – both through our own actions, and by encouraging our suppliers and customers to consider their environmental footprint.