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Whether your 'office' is very small cupboard or be a sizable
operation in its own right almost all businesses have some
sort of administrative centre. What ever its role, when upping
your environmental performance your business, the office is
just one place to start. Key elements to reducing the cost
of your office to the environment, and to your profits, are
listed below and remember - good environmental practice is
good business practice!
Key elements for success
Get full staff commitment
This means everyone from MD downwards. All staff involved
must be committed to make significant and lasting changes.
Draft a action plan at senior management level and cascade
down to other members of staff. Ask for suggestions and report
back to senior management team. You might find recruiting
a 'champion' useful. [Click
here] for more information and help.
Be systematic
Aim for continual improvement. Assess where you are now, then
plan what needs to be change and how you are going to do it.
See the chart below.
Evaluate all process
Consider all the processes within the office and how the environmental
impact of these can be reduced. Its not rocket science! Much
of good environmental management is down to good housekeeping
and common sense. But sometimes in the work environment simple
ideas are over looked until someone takes responsibility.
Always go for the easy wins first - those actions that are
simple and cheap to implement. Have a look at the tips below
for ideas.
1. Waste
See -Reducing Office Waste-
See -Less Paper office
If you use a coffee machine a plastic cups, have the cups
recycled [click
here for help]. Better still, use ceramic mugs which can
be reused.
Recycle ink cartridges for charities [click
here for a list]
Dispose of fluorescent tubes responsibly[click
here for help]
2. Energy
Make it someone's responsibility to make sure all lights and
equipment are turned off at the end of the day. A written
lock up procedure is all it needs.
Label light switches so that only the ones needed are turned
on. Use suitable lighting for the application - for help contact
[The
Light Bulb]
Check for room comfort - sometimes heating is turned up too
high!
Use thermostats and timers to avoid human forgetfulness
Sava plugs
fitted to electrical equipment such as fridges, freezers etc
can soon pay for themselves.
Buy 'green' energy and cut emissions straight away
3. Water
Washers for dripping taps cost pence to replace - wasted hot
water costs pounds
Use water misers [click
here for help]
4. Purchasing
Use purchasing power to cut environmental impacts
Try some of our stationery
companies for sustainable supplies
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