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Not affected by CTR law, company voluntarily develops commute program
Environmental Home Center has grown to become a national distributor of green building supplies and household products. The company is dedicated to selling well-made products that protect health and use energy and other resources sparingly. A 2004 Commuter Challenge Diamond Award recognizes that the outstanding efforts of this organization to encourage commute options are unusual for its size.

Its commitment to responsible resource and energy use is in part what drove Environmental Home Center to voluntarily conform to the Washington State Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) statutes even though the worksite’s size exempts it from the law. The principles of CTR mirror so closely the company’s own mission and goals, it is a natural extension of its business.

Environmental Home Center developed and implemented a comprehensive CTR program from the beginning. A 50/50 matching opportunity available through King County Metro for the purchase of Commuter Bonus and Commuter Bonus Plus Vouchers was available to the company, allowing the program to get up and running quickly and effectively while reducing some of the initial start-up costs.

Employees at Environmental Home Center are eligible for a wide range of alternative commute options including: subsidies for bus, rail, carpool and vanpool, bicycling and walking; covered bicycle parking; Guaranteed Ride Home service in case of emergency; and, depending on the employee’s position, flextime and telework may also be options.

The success of Environmental Home Center’s program is evidenced by the fact that more than half of the 23 employees regularly use an alternative to driving alone. This is a significant number considering the business’ retail nature. The company’s CTR program "improves employee morale," says Employee Transportation Coordinator Dana White. "We are able to support the principles our company was built upon."

In August of 2004, disaster struck Environmental Home Center when a fire destroyed its SODO offices, showroom and main warehouse. Just five months later, the company was able to once again open its showroom doors to customers. The company and its employees persevered through it all and even managed to keep the CTR program going strong.

"Our business is in line with environmental awareness and our employees are always looking for different ways to support this," says White. "As people become more aware of alternatives to driving alone, more of our staff practices different commuting methods."

Commute Program
Transit, ferry, Sounder train and carpool subsidy
Non-motorized mode incentives
Guaranteed Ride Home
Covered bicycle parking
Telework and flextime

*Some definitions: An "ETC" is the staff-level employee transportation coordinator responsible for the daily administration of the transportation program. "SOV" stands for single-occupant vehicle, and "CTR" for commute trip reduction.

 

 

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