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GOING GREEN AT THE OFFICE
As part of Summit’s commitment to shifting the context in which
problems can reveal innovative solutions, we have launched an effort
to reduce our own environmental footprint. While our office is small,
we believe small changes replicated widely can bring about profound
results.
Our effort recognizes the existing limits of infrastructure and
processes that many organizations, both large and small face. For
example, like many institutions, our offices are not in a LEED-certified[1]
building. Even with these limitations we are committed to reducing
our carbon and environmental footprint by offsetting the emissions
we produce. Greening one’s organization is a continual process
as technology and markets emerge. The following are some of the
practices we have adopted, which may prove useful to consider in
greening an office environment.
Office Supplies
- Purchasing recycled paper for all office needs
- Reusing single-sided printed document for drafts and other
scrap paper
- Maximizing the space used on a single sheet of paper (via margin
and font size adjustments)
- Encouraging reading on the computer
- Encouraging double-sided printing
- Printing in the lowest quality possible for drafts and in color
only when necessary to preserve ink and toner
- Requesting that proposals, reports and other documentation
be submitted electronically whenever possible
- Utilizing electronic file storage
Recycling
- Recycling internal materials and documents
- Recycling toner cartridges, paper, cardboard and aluminum,
plastic and glass containers
- Participating in a building-wide recycling program
In the Kitchen
- Using washable plates, cups, glasses, flatware and cloth napkins
- saves water and avoids waste
- Purchasing free-trade, shade-grown organic coffee
- Whenever possible, purchasing locally grown produce
Energy Reduction
- Ensuring light fixtures use low-energy fluorescent bulbs and
are disposed of properly
- Setting computer screensavers to black and decreasing the resting
onset time
- Powering off computers at the end of the day
- Powering off appliances and lights when not in use
Carbon Offsets
We researched several “carbon calculators” and providers
of carbon emissions offsets. After calculating our average annual
energy and water use, we estimated the amount of carbon emissions
we produce using the Green
Office tool (www.thegreenoffice.com),
and have since selected a carbon offset provider. As individual organizational
needs and the carbon offset market are highly dynamic, we recommend
doing extensive research prior to choosing an offset provider. Below
are the two steps we followed in our own research:
- Understand how offsetting works
The growing industry of offset providers promises to balance
out your carbon impact by ensuring that somewhere else on the
planet, an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide is going to be
reduced as a result of your offset.
Generally speaking, the carbon dioxide isn't literally removed
from the atmosphere; rather emissions of new carbon dioxide
are prevented. In either case, the environmental benefit is
the same. Different offset providers have different ways of
reducing carbon. Furthermore, the projects they sponsor for
carbon reduction can pop up anywhere on the planet, from methane
reprocessing in Minnesota to wind farms in India.
- Research the options among different offset providers
Read the provider’s information carefully and look for
quality controls. As competition grows among offset providers,
many now offer third party verification, providing assurances
that your purchase has the intended impact.
You should focus primarily on quality, but you can also consider
price. Prices per ton of CO2 reduction can range dramatically,
from $5 to $40. Think about what you’re getting for your
money, the verification provided, the source of the offsets
– and it’s perfectly acceptable to demand a decent
bumper sticker, too!
[1] The Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating
System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a
suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
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Green Links
The links in this section are provided
for informational purposes only. The Summit Foundation does not necessarily
endorse nor assumes responsibility for the content or source of any
document or web site to which a link is provided.
Carbon Emmision Calculators:
www.thegreenoffice.com
Useful Publications
EGA’s Sustainable
Practices for
Foundations (PDF 232KB)
WRI’s
Office Guide to Climate Change (PDF 1.3MB)
Other Useful Links
www.ega.org
www.wri.org
www.cleanair-coolplanet.org
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