1. Establish Green Team
A team approach spreads the responsibility across your business
and gives employees from different departments a chance to contribute
ideas. A group effort also guards against the chance that the
company’s efforts will cease with the departure of a single
employee. The position of team leader can rotate or remain with
one individual. Use your corporate culture as a guide to determine
what will work best for your company.
2. Recycle, Buy Recycled, and Practice Waste Reduction
Go paperless or use paper with 30-100% post-consumer recycled
content. One ton of 100% recycled paper saves the equivalent of
4,100 kWh of energy, 7,000 gallons of water, 60 pounds of air
emissions, and three cubic yards of landfill space.
3.Use Water Efficient Landscaping Practices
Change landscaping from lawns to native plants that don’t
require additional irrigation. Watch the weather—if rain
is in the forecast don’t water and turn off sprinklers when
it starts. Don’t overwater.
4. Repair Leaks
A leaky toilet or dripping faucet can waste thousands of gallons
of water a year. One dripping faucet can waste up to 20 gallons
of water per day. If the drip is hot water, you’re paying
for wasted energy too. A small, silent toilet leak can cost $50
per year in water and sewer costs.
5.Use Low-Flow Toilets and Faucet Aerators
All new toilets are required to use 1.6 gallons or less per flush,
while older models used up to 7 gallons. Aerators can cut faucet
water use in half.
6. Maintain HVAC System and Use BMPs
Auto-setback thermostats adjust the settings (up or down) for
evenings and weekends. Adjusting temperature settings by three
or four degrees can produce savings of 10% or more.
7. Set Water Heater to Appropriate Temperature
Reducing the setting from 140 to 120 degrees could save over 18%
of the energy used at the higher setting. Even a 10-degree reduction
will save more than 6% in water-heating energy.
8. Use Energy Efficient Lamps and Bulbs
T-8 lamps use 20% less energy than T-12. T-5 lamps are 10-15%
more efficient than T-8. Compact fluorescent bulbs in exit signs
use 20-30 watts and are 50% more efficient than incandescents.
LED bulbs use 1-10 watts.
9. Install Occupancy Sensors for Lighting
New technology offers better lighting, heating and office systems
that are more energy efficient. Savings of 25% or more are typical.
That equates to $4,000 in savings per year for a 10,000 ft2 office.
In a small office where lights are left on unnecessarily for just
two hours a day, the annual energy wasted is $10.
10. Use Energy
Star Rated Electronics and Appliances and Turn Them Off When Not
In Use
U.S. EPA Energy Star partners have cut operational costs for energy,
water and paper products by 40% or more. If every computer and
monitor in the country were turned off at night, the U.S. could
close eight large power stations and avoid emitting 7 million
tons of CO2 a year. Energy Star printers can cut a printer’s
electricity use by more than 65%.
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