NCUA Observes Earth Day

April 22, 2011, Alexandria, Va. — On Earth Day 2011, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board Chairman Debbie Matz highlighted some of the recent successes of the agency’s “greeNCUA” initiative and encouraged credit unions to use NCUA Express to reduce their paper use and energy costs.
“Everyone knows that NCUA works to ensure that credit unions remain in the black. NCUA, however, also works to go green each day of the year,” said Chairman Matz. “When I became Chairman, I set the goal of making NCUA a model corporate citizen. As such, NCUA recognizes its responsibility to implement environmentally sound practices whenever possible.”
Under the leadership of Chairman Matz, the greeNCUA initiative has produced tangible results aimed at protecting the planet. Recent greeNCUA accomplishments include:
 During 2010, NCUA recycled 43.5 tons of paper.
 In March, NCUA encouraged employees to bring in personal outdated or nonworking electronics, cables, CDs, and DVDs for proper recycling or destruction.
 As part of the agency’s 2011 Earth Day observances, NCUA also reminded staff to reduce the production of all printed materials and began to ramp up its double-sided printing efforts by changing the default function on the agency’s copiers and printers.
The agency’s internal greeNCUA initiatives website captures environmental efforts underway throughout the organization. NCUA has implemented recycling programs throughout the agency and consistently looks for ways to implement new recycling and energy saving ideas.
“NCUA has done its part to go green, but I hope that all credit unions will do the same,” added Chairman Matz. “Earth Day is a great opportunity for everyone to make lasting changes that conserve our limited resources for future generations. One easy way for credit unions to cut paper use and to learn about NCUA’s work even earlier is to sign up for NCUA Express. In the near future, NCUA will expand this service to do even more to protect the environment.”
National Credit Union Administration
1775 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3428
www.ncua.gov
Media Contact: NCUA Office of Public & Congressional Affairs
Phone: (703) 518-6330
Email: pacamail@ncua.gov
NCUA Express allows credit unions to directly receive agency communications via e-mail. The free service sends press releases, Letters to Credit Unions, Regulatory Alerts, and various other communications within hours of publication by e-mail. The messages contain a brief description of the publication along with a link to download the entire document.
Any volunteer, executive or staff member at a federally insured credit union can now subscribe to NCUA Express at http://webapps.ncua.gov/Express/login.aspx. NCUA will expand and simplify NCUA Express in the coming months. By using NCUA Express, credit unions can decrease paper use and reduce the energy costs associated with paper mailings.
Begun in the United States in 1970, Earth Day seeks to increase individual environmental awareness and promote conservation. On Earth Day, individuals also commit to protecting the environment. The environmental celebration has grown considerably since its beginnings and is now observed in countries around the world.
NCUA is the independent federal agency that regulates, charters and supervises federal credit unions. With the backing of the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, NCUA operates and manages the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, insuring the funds of more than 90 million account holders in all federal credit unions and the overwhelming majority of state-chartered credit unions.