Going Green at Work How you can take simple actions to help your company and the environment Provided by HelpSaveEarth.org © 2009

Why should you help? Reduce Energy, Water and Landfill costs Increases Company Profits Allows company to invest in new business Provides more jobs and job stability Who Wins? You Company Environment

Recycle Most trash can be recycled now, so it doesn’t have to end up in the landfill Provide recycling containers for the following items: Paper, Magazines, Junk Mail Glass Plastic bottles and bags Styrofoam Cardboard Aluminum cans Ink toner cartridges Cell phones Batteries And more…

Most trash can be recycled now, so it doesn’t have to end up in the landfill

Provide recycling containers for the following items:

Paper, Magazines, Junk Mail

Glass

Plastic bottles and bags

Styrofoam

Cardboard

Aluminum cans

Ink toner cartridges

Cell phones

Batteries

And more…

Paper Set default on printers Double-sided (less paper) Black and white (color more expensive) “ Think before you print” Ask yourself if you really need the document in hard copy format (training material, brochures, procedures, reports, etc) Place this note at the bottom of your emails for others to consider GreenPrint software , forces print previews so wasted printing does not occur! Don’t print this training material!

Set default on printers

Double-sided (less paper)

Black and white (color more expensive)

“ Think before you print”

Ask yourself if you really need the document in hard copy format (training material, brochures, procedures, reports, etc)

Place this note at the bottom of your emails for others to consider

GreenPrint software , forces print previews so wasted printing does not occur!

Don’t print this training material!

Paper Get rid of fax machine Online services convert fax to email attachment Saves electricity Buy recycled paper Should have at least 30% recycled content Recycle paper when done Leave paper recycling bin next to printer and copier

Get rid of fax machine

Online services convert fax to email attachment

Saves electricity

Buy recycled paper

Should have at least 30% recycled content

Recycle paper when done

Leave paper recycling bin next to printer and copier

Cafeteria and Eating Sit down and eat Don’t take food back to your work area in carry-out containers (reduce packaging waste) Provide filtered water for employees Cuts down on bottled water purchases Bring your own lunch? Use reusable bags or lunch boxes Avoid throwing away paper or plastic bags each day Purchase Energy Star ® appliances (fridge, stove, etc)

Sit down and eat

Don’t take food back to your work area in carry-out containers (reduce packaging waste)

Provide filtered water for employees

Cuts down on bottled water purchases

Bring your own lunch? Use reusable bags or lunch boxes

Avoid throwing away paper or plastic bags each day

Purchase Energy Star ® appliances (fridge, stove, etc)

Cafeteria and Eating Bring your own reusable items from home Mugs, glasses and containers for drinks, to replace disposable cups Cloth napkin to reduce paper towels and napkins Silverware and dishes to replace Styrofoam plates and cups and plastic silverware (simply clean and dry after each use) Or replace all these items with biodegradable options

Bring your own reusable items from home

Mugs, glasses and containers for drinks, to replace disposable cups

Cloth napkin to reduce paper towels and napkins

Silverware and dishes to replace Styrofoam plates and cups and plastic silverware (simply clean and dry after each use)

Or replace all these items with biodegradable options

Cafeteria and Eating Buy from local growers Reduced transportation, supports community Buy organic Healthier for you, chemical-free Start a compost pile Stop sending food waste to the landfill

Buy from local growers

Reduced transportation, supports community

Buy organic

Healthier for you, chemical-free

Start a compost pile

Stop sending food waste to the landfill

Bathroom Electric hand dryers or cloth towel rack Replaces paper towels Otherwise, have paper recycle bin near exit Low flow/waterless toilets Motion detector on faucets Prevents water from being left on Report water leaks right away!

Electric hand dryers or cloth towel rack

Replaces paper towels

Otherwise, have paper recycle bin near exit

Low flow/waterless toilets

Motion detector on faucets

Prevents water from being left on

Report water leaks right away!

Computers Enable screen savers on monitors Increases security, and saves electricity Shut down equipment when not in use Machinery, computers, printers, fax machines, copiers Measure actual electricity usage of equipment (focus on those that heat and cool!) Choose laptops over desktops Use less electricity, less packaging and raw materials

Enable screen savers on monitors

Increases security, and saves electricity

Shut down equipment when not in use

Machinery, computers, printers, fax machines, copiers

Measure actual electricity usage of equipment (focus on those that heat and cool!)

Choose laptops over desktops

Use less electricity, less packaging and raw materials

Office Supplies Buy recycled products Binders, desks, chairs, pens, file cabinets, etc Buy rewriteable CDs and DVDs (reuse) Create organized central area for supplies Clean out desks regularly to put back into storage, take only what you need to reduce purchases Ask around before you buy new

Buy recycled products

Binders, desks, chairs, pens, file cabinets, etc

Buy rewriteable CDs and DVDs (reuse)

Create organized central area for supplies

Clean out desks regularly to put back into storage, take only what you need to reduce purchases

Ask around before you buy new

Office Area Install CFL and LED bulbs Unplug cell phone chargers when finished Many devices still drain electricity when plugged in Keep thermostats 2-3 degrees higher in summer, lower in winter Look for unoccupied spaces and close off vents Install motion detector light switches Great for conference rooms, hallways, offices Use task-specific lighting as needed Use lamps instead of overhead lights for entire area

Install CFL and LED bulbs

Unplug cell phone chargers when finished

Many devices still drain electricity when plugged in

Keep thermostats 2-3 degrees higher in summer, lower in winter

Look for unoccupied spaces and close off vents

Install motion detector light switches

Great for conference rooms, hallways, offices

Use task-specific lighting as needed

Use lamps instead of overhead lights for entire area

Manufacturing Reduce packaging of your products Reuse existing packaging if possible Keep good maintenance on your equipment Lasts longer, performs better, runs more efficiently Buy parts from local suppliers Less transportation, faster response, money back into community

Reduce packaging of your products

Reuse existing packaging if possible

Keep good maintenance on your equipment

Lasts longer, performs better, runs more efficiently

Buy parts from local suppliers

Less transportation, faster response, money back into community

Business Travel Reduce travel (car and plane) Use online conferencing and teleconferences Pack lightly Saves extra baggage charges, reduces fuel consumption Minimize housekeeping at hotels Reduces cleaning of towels and sheets, saves water and electricity

Reduce travel (car and plane)

Use online conferencing and teleconferences

Pack lightly

Saves extra baggage charges, reduces fuel consumption

Minimize housekeeping at hotels

Reduces cleaning of towels and sheets, saves water and electricity

Employees Create a green task force Walk around and look for opportunities Provide recommendations, resources and education to employees Provide employee suggestion box Helps build employee engagement, generates great ideas

Create a green task force

Walk around and look for opportunities

Provide recommendations, resources and education to employees

Provide employee suggestion box

Helps build employee engagement, generates great ideas

Community Support environmental organizations, initiatives and projects Be a corporate leader in the community Use local suppliers for services Staffing, training, consulting, maintenance, catering, outsourcing, etc

Support environmental organizations, initiatives and projects

Be a corporate leader in the community

Use local suppliers for services

Staffing, training, consulting, maintenance, catering, outsourcing, etc

Larger Projects Invest in renewable sources of energy Wind, solar, geothermal (based on your region) Reduces costs, risks, and seasonal fluctuations Install a green roof Cuts heating and cooling bill, looks great Make your office buildings LEED © certified LEED = Requirements for “healthy” efficient buildings

Invest in renewable sources of energy

Wind, solar, geothermal (based on your region)

Reduces costs, risks, and seasonal fluctuations

Install a green roof

Cuts heating and cooling bill, looks great

Make your office buildings LEED © certified

LEED = Requirements for “healthy” efficient buildings

Getting to work Take public transportation Bus, train, shuttle, subway, etc Carpool with co-worker Start a program to help co-workers find others that are interested in carpooling Buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle More options today with electric, hybrid, or other renewable fuel sources Start with company-owned cars

Take public transportation

Bus, train, shuttle, subway, etc

Carpool with co-worker

Start a program to help co-workers find others that are interested in carpooling

Buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle

More options today with electric, hybrid, or other renewable fuel sources

Start with company-owned cars

Getting to work Bicycle/Walk Use alternative methods of transportation Work from home Start with one day per week or month May not be possible for certain jobs

Bicycle/Walk

Use alternative methods of transportation

Work from home

Start with one day per week or month

May not be possible for certain jobs

Start Simple! Try one new thing today! Take it at your own pace, don’t have to drastically change your lifestyle Every little effort helps, it all adds up to a big impact Take these tips home with you Can greatly reduce your bills

Try one new thing today!

Take it at your own pace, don’t have to drastically change your lifestyle

Every little effort helps, it all adds up to a big impact

Take these tips home with you

Can greatly reduce your bills

Final Thoughts What other green ideas can you think of? What actions should your company pursue? What actions are YOU going to try to implement?

What other green ideas can you think of?

What actions should your company pursue?

What actions are YOU going to try to implement?

End Thanks for your time! Help Save Earth http://www.HelpSaveEarth.org

Thanks for your time!

Help Save Earth

http://www.HelpSaveEarth.org