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 per cent.
• Where computers, printers and photocopiers have an energy saver mode, make sure it is operating. Machines are often shipped with this feature disabled.
• 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.
• 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.
• Some employers subsidize employees parking. Encourage yours to look at subsidizing bus passes instead.
• Try a conference call for your next meeting instead of traveling.
• Encourage your employer to launch an awareness program to improve energy efficiency in the workplace and report your climate change actions through your company’s annual report, newsletters, etc.

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.

Predictions and analysis on this page were excerpted from:

Climate Change Connection Manitoba

Additional Resources

Manitoba Hydro can help you reduce gas and electrical bills at work. Call them toll-free at 1-888-MBHYDRO (1-888-624-9376)
Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart for Business
Manitoba Hydro Earth Energy for Business
Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart for Industry
Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart for your Farm

Energy Development Initiative
This site provides information on Manitoba’s agri-energy sector and Green Building policy.
Get on board the Commuter Challenge – a program designed to encourage organizations of all types and sizes to adopt 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.resourceconesrvation.mb.ca/gci/gci.html

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. In Canada, registration for certification is handled by
Canada Green Building Council
Canada Green Building Council – Manitoba Chapter

The Manitoba-based International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has developed and hosts the website, Business and Sustainable Development: A Global Guide. It 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

The Province's Environment Industries Sector Summary profiles environmental industries which include companies that produce goods and services related to measuring, preventing, limiting or correcting environmental damage as well as those that develop or market resource-efficient technologies that reduce material inputs, energy consumption, emissions and waste.
Environmental Industries Sector Summary – Environmental Industries
Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation

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
Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance

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