Everyone could play a part in protecting our environment and today is a good time to start. We at terra
vertis are advocating the three R's of emvironmentla protection: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.
terra
vertis is helping to assist Jordanian businesses in identifying, designing and implementing sustainable energy and resource management solutions.
Paper & Printing Products
- Buy recycled/environmentally preferable purchasing (paper, printers, toner, eco-ink, computers etc).
- Use both sides of paper and/or print two pages on one sheet.
- When making copies, set your machine to use both sides of paper and cut your consumption in half.
- Use the “draft mode” for printing - it saves even more ink.
- Reduce margins in document settings so that your printer uses less paper.
- Distribute memos via email: Instead of printing out memos for distribution, email them. Avoid printing documents to revise them and before staff meetings. Use electronic documents as much as possible.
- Store manuals, policies and other documents online: Don’t print out huge employee handbooks. Create PDF copies and distribute accordingly.
Computers
- Like other appliances, computers can be major energy hogs. Adjust screen savers, energy plans and quality to streamline your company’s computer efficiency.
- Buy for quality: When shopping for computers, buy units that will last and avoid becoming obsolete too quickly. This way, you’ll avoid contributing to e-waste.
- Buy for energy savings: When shopping, be sure to ask if your computers, monitors and printers are energy efficient. Set your computers to go to sleep when not in use. Creating short energy breaks can cut energy use by up to 17%.
- Banish screen savers: Make sure that employees know screen savers won’t save energy. They eat up lighting and processing energy. Instead, set screen savers to “none” or “blank screen.”
- Buy smaller monitors: You can reduce your monitor’s consumption by up to 13% by using a 2 inch smaller monitor. Ensure proper recycling of all computers / electronics.
Electricity
- Change your thermostat: aim to set your heating / cooling at around 20-22°C in winter, and 21-24ºC in summer. Encourage employees to bring personal fans and sweaters to ensure that they stay comfortable.
- Use compact fluorescent bulbs that are more efficient and last much longer than traditional bulbs.
- Choose to buy power generated from renewable sources by talking to your electricity retailer.
- Ensure non-working time and weekend thermostat setting to save energy and cut unneeded costs.
- Turn off lights when not in use: Ask employees to turn off lights when they leave. Invest in automatic switches in places like the bathroom and supply areas so that they turn on and off whenever someone enters or leaves the room.
- Take advantage of natural lighting: Install windows and skylights so that you can use natural daytime light instead of electrical lighting.
- Unplug vending machines: When your office goes on vacation or leaves for the weekend, unplug all vending machines.
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Smarter water use
- The average shower uses 20 liters of water a minute, so try and make yours shorter. Install a water stream reducer on your shower to use less water.
- Lower water temperature when washing clothes and dishes.
- Outside, grow plants that belong in our climate zone rather than ones intended for much wetter places. Your local plant nursery can advise you.
Smarter waste management
- Divide your rubbish into glass, paper and PET plastics that can be recycled, organic material that you can compost and use to feed the garden and true waste that can only go to landfill.
- Contact your local council about recycling services in your area.
Smarter energy use
- Every electrical appliance contributes to greenhouse gas emissions – switch off any you’re not using at the moment.
- Turn appliance off at the switch, not just to ‘standby’, to cut your greenhouse gas emissions by around 5%.
- If you are living in a temperature-controlled home, aim to set your heating / cooling at around 20-22°C in winter, and 21-24ºC in summer.
- Use the Energy Star rating labels on new domestic appliances to buy more efficient products - with cheaper lifetime running costs!
- Install energy efficient light bulbs, particularly in parts of your house where the lights are on most often.
- Choose to buy power generated from renewable sources by talking to your electricity retailer.
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