Seeing Green at work
Reducing operating costs can be a fine balance between maintaining quality and efficiency, and minimizing excess spending. Happily, when it comes to saving energy and resources and reducing greenhouse gases, better bottom-line business practices also mean climate-friendly living.
Saving energy
- Turn off your computer or, if you can't turn it off, make sure the power management or energy saving features are turned on. Your monitor consumes energy as well – turn it off, too.
- Turn on peripherals – such as scanners, speakers and printers – only when you need them.
- Turn photocopiers and printers off completely overnight and on weekends. Select a printer with power management capabilities. Printers with automatic "power down" features can reduce electricity use by over 65 percent.
- Turn off coffee pots and similar appliances when they are not in use.
- Convert to one-inch diameter T8 lighting systems which, according to Manitoba Hydro, are approximately 25 to 30 per cent more efficient than conventional 1.5-inch T12's.
- Choose LED exit signs. The cost to operate 10 LED exit signs is $7 a year. The same number of standard incandescent exit signs would gobble $95-$170.
- When installing new lighting, consider high performance luminaries (HPL). Their highly reflective interiors and more effective reflecting surface geometry means fewer fixtures and lamps are required to deliver the same amount of light.
- Easy to install Occupancy Sensor Switches (OSS) save energy by automatically turning on lights when someone enters a room or space. After a period of inactivity, they turn lights off automatically in the area.
- Alternate lighting systems generate huge energy savings while offering different benefits suited to different lighting needs. Compact fluorescents, metal halides, and high and low pressure sodium lighting may be options for your operations.
- Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart program offers Lighting Program Incentives to businesses looking to make their lighting systems more efficient, effective and climate-friendly. For more information, contact the Power Smart Lighting Program at (204) 474-3403 or online at: www.hydro.mb.ca/saving_with_ps/psmart_lighting.shtml
Being climate-friendly
- Bring your own reusable coffee cup. While chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) have been eliminated from the production of Styrofoam cups, they are still non-biodegradable and produce toxic fumes when incinerated.
- Most in-city deliveries are within ten kilometers of your workplace. Minimize greenhouse gases and reduce traffic congestion with a bicycle courier. In Winnipeg, call Natural Cycle at 952-5762.
- Get on Board the Commuter Challenge – a program designed to encourage organizations of all types and sizes to adapt more climate-friendly commuting practices, such as carpooling, increased transit use and active transport. For more information, contact Resource Conservation Manitoba at (204) 925-3773 or online at: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca/gci/gci.html
- If you are thinking about building new facilities, consider Earth Energy – geothermal heat pumps are among the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly electric heating and cooling systems available.
Dealing with paper
Computers were supposed to bring a paperless office environment. If anything, the opposite has been true. Until that dream is realized, here are a few things to consider.
- Logging, pulping and processing, packaging, and transporting all contribute to climate change. Keep these hidden costs in mind when purchasing, using and disposing of paper.
- Photocopy or print on both sides of the page. Create a 'reusable' tray on your copier/printer where old one-sided documents can be reused for rough copies or internal communications.
- Recycle office paper. There are many workplace recycling services available. Find out what option fits your operation best.
- Use paper with as much recycled content as possible - start with no less than 20 per cent post-consumer input.
- Use recycled, unbleached filters or reusable coffee filters.
Additional resources
Climate
Change Connection Tips for Business
Manitoba
Hydro Earth Energy for Business
Manitoba
Hydro's Power Smart for Business
Manitoba
Hydro's Power Smart for Industry
Manitoba-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) presents
strategies that businesses can adopt, and specific tools that they can use, to
turn the principles of sustainable development into a competitive advantage.
www.bsdglobal.com/tools
These local industry associations may be able to help you find sustainable solutions to your business needs:
Manitoba Environmental Industry
Association
Manitoba Ozone Protection Industry
Association
Manitoba
Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council
