Stephan Villanueva

In an average year, most of us spend 260 out of 365 days at work. Sad but true, this does lend an opportunity to step up environmental initiatives at the office.

Less Energy
Places of work are notorious energy wasters with lights, computers and printers left on 24/7. Chances are, the energy powering your office is coming from a coal-fired generator — not exactly clean. Improved efficiencies can reduce the energy footprint of your office and add to the bottom line. B.C. Hydro found lighting represents one of the most direct means of achieving energy reductions. If your boardroom, kitchen or washrooms aren’t equipped with sensor lights, make a habit of turning the lights off when you’re finished in the room. Same goes for your computer — turn it off when you’re done. The two-minute boot-up time in the morning can be used to make your coffee or check voice mail. If it’s time for an upgrade, consider asking for a laptop since they use about 50 per cent less energy. Simply attach a keyboard to retain the ergonomics of a desktop computer. LCD monitors are also up to 75 per cent more efficient than old CRT monitors if you’re stuck with a desktop. In the lunch-room, 35 per cent less water would be used with the purchase of a dishwasher rather than washing dishes by hand. Putting through a full load on an energy-saving setting is simply more efficient than the old fashioned way.

Less Waste
The average office worker uses one sheet of office paper every 12 minutes or 315 kilograms of office paper per year. Use a double-sided printer, reuse scrap paper, use paperless faxing through a site like www.myfax.com, which enables clients to send and receive faxes by e-mail, keep records electronically and on discs rather than filling up filing folders with paper. When you need to use paper, source out brands that have a high post-consumer, recycled content. Getting the office loo converted to reusable towels instead of paper towels will also have an impact on paper waste. Every office should have a recycling program, but if yours doesn’t, see if you can rally a green group to take paper and other recyclables to one of 50 or so depots. Batteries, ink cartridges, electronics and furniture can also be reused or at least disposed of properly. Clean Calgary runs a unique program geared towards local companies to facilitate the exchange of materials for reuse and recycling. The program, the Calgary Materials Exchange, diverts industrial, commercial and construction waste away from landfill sites.

Sustainable Purchasing
The best way to lower your impact is to change purchasing habits. Climate Change Central, located in the Connaught district, has greened its office earning the EcoLogo certification. The organization has installed carpet tiles instead of conventional carpet, meaning only the tiles suffering wear and tear will need replacing. Natural light has been maximized through the use of glass walls with privacy film. This allows light to flow throughout the entire office. Efficient lighting, occupant sensors and individual task lighting at work stations have added to the energy savings making the office 75 per cent more efficient than most. Other features of the office include the use of certified wood from renewable sources, low toxicity paint, recyclable non-toxic office chairs, using salvaged wood and other items, and installing low-flow urinals, toilets and showers. Everyday purchasing habits can have a dramatic impact as well. Buy in bulk to save on shipping and packaging, reuse shipping boxes, choose biodegradable hand soaps and cleaners, and opt for reusable, recycled and recyclable materials. See if you can adopt a cradle-to-cradle, company-wide protocol to apply sustainability principles to all purchases.

Cleaner Air
If you feel nauseous at the thought of going to work, it’s either time to look for a new job or your office might be in a sick building. Sick buildings can be caused by a lack of air circulation, poor lighting and off-gassing from chemicals in carpets, cleaning products, upholstery, plastics, paint and computers. While most offices likely aren’t in “sick buildings,” indoor air quality is still a serious issue — indoor air is often more polluted than the air outside. Without performing an extreme makeover, there are some simple ways to improve the air quality in your office. Plants like aloe vera, gerbera daisies, dracaena, ficus (weeping fig), English ivy, peace lilies and spider plants are well known for their abilities to remove toxins from the air. Beyond plants, other low-budget ways to keep the air in your office breathable include using natural cleaning products, installing an electronic air purifier or hooking up a salt lamp next to your computer monitor.

Recruit Others
Becoming a steward of the environment at work is easier done in co-operation with others. Starting an environmental committee to support active commuting, telecommuting, recycling and composting and other green overhauls will make the task less daunting. Many companies will be happy to cultivate greener ways since it can spawn dollar savings, marketing opportunities and a more fulfilled workforce.

 GREEN OFFICE LIT

Trade in your daily web-surf break for a green read:
• Cool Business Guide: Lower Costs, Higher Productivity and Climate Change Solutions by Duncan Noble.
    • The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken.
    • How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Purify Your Home or Office by B.C. Wolverton.
    • Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.