Employees Plug in at Lynda.com
lynda.com is a rapidly growing online learning company that offers thousands of video courses to help viewers learn software, technology, creative, and business skills. With growth comes the challenge of recruiting, and the largest motivation for installing workplace electric vehicle (EV) charging stations came from the Human Resources department. Recently a top candidate for a managerial position included workplace charging as a key factor when making the decision to take the job. “We now have a charging station, a new producer, and other employees have decided to purchase EVs too. You can't put a price on that," said Cindy Mayer, HR Business Partner.
Committed to sustainability, the company has taken steps to reduce the overall energy and water usage of its facilities. However, the lynda.com team knows that employee commuting to its offices in Carpinteria is a large part of the company footprint, so they support their employees’ efforts to make greener transportation choices. Jacqueline Burge, Senior Director of Facilities at lynda.com, puts it this way: “lynda.com is committed to improving its sustainability and setting an example in the community. Our greatest opportunity to reduce our environmental impact is in the daily activities of our employees.” In addition to the charging station, lynda.com provides incentives for employees to carpool, use public transportation, and ride bicycles to work.
The company chose the Juice Bar, an EV charging station distributed by Green Garage Associates, because of its customizable design and security system. They also liked how it offered both 240 volt Level 2 charging and 120 volt Level 1 charging, so they could charge their four small neighborhood electric vehicles alongside employee cars. Since opening the charging station six months ago, three additional employees have purchased electric vehicles, and many others are considering them.
As one of the first Carpinteria companies to put in a charging station, lynda.com thinks the process should be streamlined for future businesses. The company faced challenges with the permitting process that resulted in delays. The charging station was subject to approval by the Architectural Review Board (ARB) because it was treated as a sign under local zoning laws. The ARB raised concerns over the color of the stations and the lack of nighttime lighting, but in the end they unanimously approved the charging station. This obstacle added two months to the project timeline.