Special Download of "It's Raining!" a Children's Coloring Book teaching about the importance of water cleanliness and conservation

Click Here to Download the Book

Click Here to Download The Teacher's Aid

Download Instructions: Right click and save Target As. Print PDF Files to 11 X 17 paper, arrange accordingly, staple in the top, center, & bottom of the middle of the pages.

Green Fact:

It's much easier to go green than you think! Most of us are locked into habits, the key to going green is education, action, and sharing your knowledge. We have included many of the ways SurvTech Solutions has gone green (and we'll continue to improve and grow!) as well as, many easy ways that you can go green! We have also included links to many wonderful websites dedicated to the environment and eco issues! We hope you enjoy this page and the other pages and encourage you on your way to becoming Green!

Going Green!

Using electronic communication (paperless paystub, employee manual, etc.)

SurvTech Solutions is leading the pack in the surveying industry with the use of electronic communications. We have virtually eliminated almost all paper based communications both internally and externally within the company and our client base. In addition this also includes the creation of a video newsletter and audio podcast in place of the traditional paper newsletter, the use of email marketing instead of paper based letters and postcards, and also within our internal employee communiqués.  From our paperless pay stubs to a specially created employee website with all traditional print materials in video and electronic format, SurvTech Solutions has decreased the use of paper forms and communications by a whopping 90% since the inception of the company!

Using water filtering systems instead of bottle water

 One of the worst forms of litter and trash are plastic water bottles. Even though many manufacturers have begun to improve the design and content of bottles, we here at SurvTech Solutions believe the best remedy is the complete elimination of plastic disposable water bottles. To this end SurvTech Solutions has implemented the use of water filtering systems, complete with re-usable water bottles for office and field staff. This allows for filtered hot and cold water for drinking and cooking at our home office and the complete elimination of Styrofoam cups in the office. By utilizing re-usable plastic bottles and glass mugs, SurvTech Solutions employees can enjoy clean, refreshing water and know that they are doing their part to help by no longer contributing to the problem.

Re-using packing materials (bubble wrap, foam peanuts, air packs and boxes)

Many items used in packing and mailing materials are detrimental to the environment because of the nature of their construction. Plastic based and Styrofoam based products are virtually indestructible and take a long time to degrade (if ever), because of that fact SurvTech Solutions recognizes that this material is not only capable of re-use, but is practically designed for it! From bubble wrap and foam peanuts, to boxes and paper packing material, SurvTech Solutions reuses materials whenever possible and stores materials until they are needed.

Using Digital Storage

Traditionally land and hydrographic surveyors used large amounts of space for the containment of paper drawings, field notes, and other assorted papers. Unfortunately, the majority of the industry still does, this could be attributed to the lack of knowledge of available of technology. However, SurvTech Solutions is committed to technology and are overjoyed to utilize all the tools available to us. This is turn has helped us in our ever widening foray into going green. By using current technologies, the paper trail has already been greatly diminished, with field notes reduced to pages in a field book and the technical information and notes being held on portable digital devices. These are then scanned and downloaded onto computers and then accessed by our CAD department. Drawings are rendered in AutoCAD and the only paper copies are those requested by the client and/or those required to be on file with various agencies. The finished product is stored digitally by SurvTech Solutions on multiple servers with a nightly backup. This process is also true for other internal information, proposals, emails and communications. 

Using rechargeable batteries & CFLs

The surveying equipment employed by SurvTech Solutions all run on battery power. Having firsthand worked on lead recycling plants, we realize how much waste comes from them and the effort used in recycling disposable batteries. Being cognizant of this fact, SurvTech Solutions now uses only rechargeable batteries, from our surveying equipment to other electronic equipment, whenever and wherever possible. We use environmentally friendly and eco friendly rechargeable batteries. This not only saves the company money in terms of replacement, but also helps the environment by reducing waste. CFL's are a great way for anyone to save money and save the environment. With a significant reduction in energy use and replacement cost CFL's are not only better than traditional bulbs cost and efficiency wise, but are also brighter and offer a cleaner light. It's a win-win situation for us at SurvTech Solutions!

Participating in Reduced Fee Work for Environmental Projects & Partnering with Environmental Charities

Here at SurvTech Solutions we offer two paid days off work for employees to do volunteer work for charity. Many employees will use these days to donate their time to helping environmental causes. Another great thing is that SurvTech Solutions has partnered with several environmental firms and charities. SurvTech Solutions offers a 10% cost reduction for our services to help in this endeavor. Contact us to see if your environmental charity or firm could also benefit from a partnership with SurvTech Solutions. Another great partnership is with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Monica Belina has provided us with a wonderful resource for children titled "It's Raining!" a great informational coloring book and Teacher's aid for helping young children learn about water use, conservation, and green issues. You can download the coloring book HERE & the teacher's aid HERE

We print double sided on everything in house

Unfortunately, sometimes paper still needs to be printed on for things like outgoing faxes, requested signatures and the like. Many other places still print out everything and just throw them away after use. At SurvTech Solutions we were aware of this and decided that the paper could still be of use. By printing on the other side of the used page! When we have to print something out we now use the other side of a previously used page. If there is still useable paper, we will cut out the useable piece for notepad paper. Every little bit helps!

We made all our proposals and contracts paperless

With proposals and contracts many times the majority of the pages were printed just for the sake of posterity and because of needing the complete context of the document. Many times proposals and contracts contain redundant pages and are merely a formality of procedure. While this information is important and of the utmost legal significance, SurvTech Solutions was concerned with this problem. Our solution? Digital contracts and proposals! Using the same procedures as our other digital information, proposals and contracts are now created and approved digitally. While some printing is still required for signatures, the bulk of what was once the printed page is now available digitally, paper is saved and we've found that our clients really like having the ease of accessing a digital copy.

Fleet Maintenance and Other Fuel Savers

Things like proper, timely vehicle maintenance and elimination of idling vehicles have not only been a huge help to the environment, but also to the bottom line here at SurvTech Solutions. With the use of specialized software, SurvTech Solutions keeps the fleet running in optimum condition. Because of the nature of the surveying industry, driving is a necessity, but that doesn't mean you have to completely sacrifice the environment because of it. Regular oil changes by certified mechanics who will dispose of the oil properly, keeping tires properly inflated helps with wear and also with fuel economy, using the right kind of fuels and also keeping the vehicle fleet in great working condition are just a few examples. Another great way is by allowing our crews to stay close to jobs when they're out of town. By using local hotels, driving time and fuel use is reduced, in addition to that, our crews are able to accept assignments electronically in the field, so if they finish a project early they have the ability to visit another job site close by, the same day, with all the information they require without having to waste time and fuel by driving all the way back to the office.  Another big factor is the elimination of idling. You wouldn't think that idling would be that big a deal, but did you know that idling a vehicle for two minutes uses as much fuel as driving one mile? What's more is that the emissions are much worse from an idling vehicle than a driving one! These and other vehicle based solutions have saved SurvTech Solutions money and they give the employees a sense of pride in knowing that they are doing what they can to help the environment.

Things you can do!

1. Save energy to save money
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water. Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.
2. Save water to save money
Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too. Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment. Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high. Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
3. Less gas = more money and better health!
Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity. Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.
4. Eat smart
If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs. Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
5. Skip the bottled water
Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste. Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
6. Think before you buy
Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items. When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.
7. Borrow instead of buying
Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books. Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.
8. Buy smart
Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging. Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).
9. Keep electronics out of the trash
Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem. Recycle your cell phone.
10. Make your own cleaning supplies
The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap. Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.