Fairfax Environmental Pioneer LMI Partners to Educate Employees on Sustainable Living

Fairfax County Department of Transportation partners with Logistics Management Institute to educate employees on multi-modal commuting

A group of 30 volunteer team members worked together to produce the annual Earth Week at Logistics Management Institute corporate headquarters at Tysons Corner on Tuesday, May 2. The purpose of this week of events is to educate employees on sustainable lifestyles at work, learn about transit options and how to contribute to greater environmental responsibility.

Multiple tabletop exhibits that were environmentally-focused were exhibited, including recycling initiatives, healthy lifestyle tips, and transportation ideas from the Transportation Demand Management team from Fairfax County Department of Transportation. The TDM team worked to educate employees on commuting best practices and informing them of the safest and most efficient commuting routes to the Tysons location.

LMI partners with the U.S. government and various environmental groups to help employees engage in lifestyle choices that support the cause for sustainability through its Energy and Environment division. The Sustainability Committee is the powerhouse behind the Earth Week events at LMI, including this one. Environmental Consultant Kelli Canada, who serves on this committee, is dedicated to a more sustainable workplace for LMI and its employees.

“The LMI sustainability committee is really dedicated to implementing different initiatives to make LMI a more sustainable company,” said Canada. “The goal of this [Earth] week is to celebrate the Earth and educate employees on things they can do to be more sustainable both at work and at home, to educate them on what LMI is doing to be a more sustainable company and provide an opportunity for people to learn. If you can learn something here, that’s a great satisfaction we get out of these events,” said Canada.

Creating an eco-friendly culture goes beyond what is just occurring at the office. The information for the employees also incorporated choices made in their homes and how they commute. John Miller, an Energy Analyst at LMI was stationed at the event with his Cyclocross bike to show others how to operate and navigate biking to work.

“At our table, we’re promoting biking to work. This is something I do a couple of times a month. If I’m not able to ride my bike, I take the Metro. We have maps available so people who bike can do it in a safe manner and make their commute more efficient by knowing where to go,” Miller stated. He said the new Capital Bikeshare stations near the Silver Line at Spring Hill Road and also near the Tyson Hilton are nearly always in use now.

The physical workspace at LMI has also been designed to support these lifestyle choices. Miller said, “When I bike, I’m able to park my bike down in the garage so it’s not subject to the elements and there’s a gym and locker room on the first floor so I can change for work and go about my day.”

LMI is a regional leader in both educating and supporting the environmentally focused lives of the employees. The building itself is a Energy Star and LEED certified building that incorporates reducing energy, water, waste, having a smaller footprint, taking up less space and having a collaborative workspace within its design. In addition to the infrastructure, the placement of the building is within a particular distance from the Metro station to encourage commuting via rail.

LMI Vice President of Corporate Communication Luke Knittig commented on the accessibility of the Metro and collaborations with other partners.

“It’s about understanding how to tie into resources and taking care of our part (at LMI),” said Knittig. “A lot can start with us recognizing that 1,000 or more employees arrive here to work everyday. It can be as simple as adjusting a traffic light or being more forward leaning on encouraging alternative means to get to work by working with Fairfax County Department of Transportation. It’s a partnership,” commented Knittig.

Earth Week will continue through the end of this week with more speakers and events lined up to promote environmental responsibility with more initiatives and activities. http://www.lmi.org/en/About-LMI/Corporate-Responsibility/Environmental-Responsibility