Going Green

After conducting an environmental audit of the company, Instant Offices is championing green causes by implementing more eco-friendly initiatives. From recycling paper to energy efficient light bulbs, companies are becoming aware of the benefits of "going green", but there is often more that companies can do to help. The following tips are a result of the environmental audit of Instant Offices undertaken by an independent agency:


Light Bulb

Air Conditioning and Lighting

Avoid the use of air conditioning which is extremely energy intensive and minimise the use of desk fans - instead open windows.

Neon strip lighting saves a quarter of the energy that normal incandescent bulbs would use. The Compact Flash bulbs that are often talked about for the home, are small versions of these neon strips. Make as much use of natural light and ensure lights are switched off when not in use, regardless of the time period, especially in meeting rooms, (disabled) toilets, server room(s) and areas where people spend little time e.g. corridors.

Printer

Computers and Printing

Switch off monitors when having breaks, particularly during meetings and lunch breaks. Switch off computers overnight - powering up machines hurting the hardware is an urban myth. Laptops consume less power as they are designed for battery use; if buying new products, look for the Energy Star standard.

The objective for many companies should not be to minimise the quantity of pages printed, but to never print at all. Buy vegetable inks for non-laser printers and buy paper from renewable forests or recycled paper.

Recycling

Consumption and Recycling

In general, try not to buy anything new - every single item has a carbon footprint, and it's better to use a product to the end of its lifecycle rather than replace it half way through with a more efficient model. If you must buy something, try to buy second hand: the carbon footprint has already been made. Reuse before recycling - as even recycling has a carbon footprint too.

Investigate what recycling initiatives can be undertaken and what more can be done through external companies. Try reusing scrap paper for note taking and take local bins away from desks to force people to the centre of the office to recycle.

Dishwasher

Cleaning

Dishwashers can be more efficient than hand washing items in the sink, but only if the dishwasher is full; therefore, try avoiding using the dishwasher at below full capacity. Also, try to use eco-friendly disinfectants such as Ecover.

Use paper towels as they are much better than air dryers, which are hugely inefficient, and are also claimed to be less hygienic. Make sure the paper towels are made from renewable forests or better still, recycled paper.

Water Bottle

Food and Water

Fair-trade tea, coffee and sugar, though travel a long way, are often organic because they come from independent farmers who can not afford pesticides and fertilisers. Seasonal fruit and confectionery can be bought by green companies such as Abel and Cole.

Bottled water is a major culprit in creating a negative impact on the environment. In the UK, we are so fortunate to have clean drinkable water piped direct to our homes and offices. Remove all throw-away containers and force people to use glasses or mugs for their drinks.


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