By Michele - April 1, 2015

Life is better when you’re green

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Earth Day is April 22, but some associates aren’t wasting any time giving their homes and lifestyles eco-friendly makeovers, and you can too. Communities are making it easier to recycle, and some are providing incentives like rebates for purchasing energy-efficient appliances or making energy-saving upgrades to your home.

In February, we asked how green your routine is at home. Store Manager Nancy Colon, #331, Orlando, Florida, wrote about her daughter who keeps the whole family in check when it comes to recycling and using reusable dishes instead of disposable ones. A few associates from the human resources department captured photos of each other reusing resources and shopping with reusable bags.

But one associate set the bar pretty high for all of us. Investment Manager Bob Kisiel has turned his home into a lean, mean, energy-saving machine. Check it out!

  1. This natural gas instantaneous water heater is tank-less, so you never heat more water than you use.
  2. Sixteen solar panels line Bob’s roof, generating energy and reducing his electricity bill.
  3. A metal roof sits one inch above the roof attached to his house. The gap between the two allows for airflow and keeps his actual roof cooler.
  4. Hurricane windows and plantation shutters line the perimeter of his home and help control the temperature inside.

Congratulations, Collier County stores!

0415-Publix-Waste_Reduction-Award-The Collier County Board of Commissioners presented all of their Publix stores with the Waste Reduction Award. Collier County stores received this award for promoting sustainability with associates, customers, suppliers and the retail industry, offering environmentally friendly products, providing associates and customers with information about sustainability at home, working with suppliers to identify sustainable product and packaging options, and participating in industry groups on sustainability-related efforts.


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Here are a few more stories from your co-workers about how they’re green at home too!


I am an avid recycler and have been for quite some time now. I haven’t bought a garbage bag in many years. My son and I generate only two (sometimes three) small shopping bags of actual waste per week.

Also, I buy peanut butter and I use the emptied jars for all sorts of things — freezing soups and storing iced tea, paper clips or tacks.

Front Service Clerk Mary Benge
#682, Jensen Beach, Florida


My story is fairly simple. My husband and I recycle every week, and we always have two yellow plastic bins overflowing. We’re proud to help prevent unnecessary waste from entering landfills. We have reduced so much, we hardly need the super-sized trash bins the city provided us. I think everyone should recycle to protect our future.

Job Planner Marguerite Waters
Printing Services


My daughter, Mackenzie, is passionate about being on the recycle program. She makes sure all paper and plastic goes into the right container. She also doesn’t like us to use paper bowls because she worries about trees and animals in the forest. It’s very nice to have a daughter who is environmentally conscious.

Store Manager Nancy Colon
#331, Orlando


Associates from the human resources department show how they’re green at home!

0415_Sustainability_PosterFrom top left to bottom right: Josh Knox, Maura Satchell, Rebekah Jones, John Manns, Monica Isgar, Pam Winchester