Posts Tagged ‘Environment’

‘tis the season for energy efficiency

Courtesy of  Toronto Hydro

When decorating for the holidays, keep energy conservation in mind. Though festive lighting and decorations are a part of the holiday tradition, they can increase electricity consumption and be a safety hazard. LED lights are a great way to light up the season; they use less electricity, look festive and will help save your business money.

Reasons to decorate with LEDs:

  1. They use up to 90 per cent less electricity*, produce virtually no heat and generate more light per watt than traditional incandescent lights.
  2. They have a lifespan of 20-30 years, so maintenance costs are minimal.
  3. They’re virtually unbreakable because the chips that convert electricity to light are encapsulated in solid plastic, rather than glass bulbs.

Not only will conserving electricity over the holidays help cut costs, doing your part may attract more customers this season too. A study commissioned in 2010 by Toronto Hydro with Leger Marketing found that seven-in-ten GTA residents would choose one business—such as a restaurant—over another, if they knew that business was making efforts to conserve energy and water.

More tips for your business:

  • Control your outdoor festive lights by using a certified outdoor timer.
  • Always turn your indoor festive lights off when you’re leaving your business or closing up for the day. Indoor festive lights should never be left on if people aren’t there to enjoy them.
  • If possible, try to turn your festive lighting on after 7:00 p.m. to avoid the ‘electricity rush hour.’

For more energy-saving ideas, visit torontohydro.com. Wishing you a safe, happy and energy-efficient holiday!

(*Source: Natural Resources Canada)

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on December 10th, 2010

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Ways to Save Green – Cost Saving Tips

By: Gillian Earle, Toronto Hydro

There are five easy and effective ways to make your business more eco-friendly and better manage electricity costs:

1. Upgrade your lighting with conservation in mind. You can find small business incentive programs available at many utility companies throughout Canada. For example, small businesses in the Toronto area are invited to participate in Toronto Hydro’s Power Savings Blitz program by having conservation retrofits up to $1,000 completed for free. Through the program, older T12 fluorescent technology lights are replaced with newer T8 fluorescent lights, which will help save up to 25 per cent in operating costs. Traditional EXIT signs (which, by law, must be illuminated whenever the building is occupied, often for 24 hours-a-day) are also replaced with newer, efficient light-emitting diode (LED) signs. It’s an energy waster of up to 30 watts replaced with as little as 2 watts, and LED bulbs can last 10 years without needing replacement. If you do change your lighting, please ensure your contractor is disposing of ballasts and fixtures in an environmentally friendly manner.

2. During the holiday season, consider decorating your business with LED light strings. You’ll reduce energy costs by up to 85%!

3. The truth is, all electronics consume more energy if you leave them running rather than turning them on and off. Be sure to switch equipment, computers, monitors, photocopiers and appliances off when they are not in use. Upgrading older electronics to ENERGY STAR® products will also result in cost savings.

4. The most simple way to see results is to teach staff energy saving tips such as temperature control or using natural lighting when available, and they can apply this knowledge at work and at home.

A variety of conservation programs are available for small businesses through local utilities. Most offer incentives for participation and all offer the benefits of conserving electricity and seeing the savings add up month after month on your electricity bill.

Here’s an example of how one small business owner recognized the importance of conservation:

Being the owner or operator of a small business requires a lot of decision-making, especially when it comes to keeping profits up and operating costs down. Recognizing the importance of conservation is one of the easiest ways to begin reducing your operating costs. Simple actions such as turning lights and electronics off when not in use will make a difference on your electricity bills at year end. Besides these basic measures, there are many conservation programs offered by local utilities throughout Canada, designed and targeted specifically to address the unique issues faced by small businesses.

Call your local utility company to enquire about business incentive programs available for small businesses. For example, Toronto Hydro is currently promoting their Power Savings Blitz, to help make area small businesses more efficient. This program was created for Toronto Hydro’s retail business or small office customers—such as dry cleaners, grocery stores, restaurants, flower shops and other small retailers—with an annual electricity demand of less than 50 kW. The program offers up to $1,000 in free energy-efficient upgrades, with a goal of helping participants save money on their electricity bills.

Typical upgrades include: overhead lighting such as T-8 fluorescent tubes and compact florescent bulbs, which could save up to 25 per cent in operating costs; LED exit lights—these newer signs use as little as 2 watts, and the LED bulbs can last 10 years without needing replacement; water heater insulation blankets and hot water pipe insulation; and faucet aerators.

Shabnam and Frank Weber

Shabnam and Frank Weber

The proof is really in the electricity conservation pudding, although it’s not recommended for eating!

Shabnam and Frank Weber participated in the Power Savings Blitz through their business, Tea Emporium Inc.
“Toronto Hydro changed two dozen regular bulbs to compact, fluorescent bulbs. From a lighting perspective, it looks the same—nice and warm. And we’ve also noticed some savings on our bills!”

Using less electricity is good for your businesses bottom-line, and it’s the right thing to do for the environment. Some forms of electricity generation create greenhouse gas and other pollution. Generating less impacts climate change and improves air quality. It’s easy to do your part—just say “YES” to conservation.

For more information on the programs your business can take advantage of, check with your local utility company.

Have you found ways to save “green”  for your business this year or set any goals to? If so, we’d love to hear about them!

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on September 29th, 2010

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7 ways to make your enterprise more green.

It’s always fascinated me that there are a thousand and one books out there to help you lose weight when the truth is we all know there are only two proven ways to do it: eat less and exercise more. Still, sometimes, it seems to help when we have someone giving us some guidance.

It turns out that, whether you’re operating a home-based enterprise or a small office, the ways to make your business greener are pretty straightforward too and GreenBiz has put together this informative, downloadable PDF checklist [ http://www.greenbiz.com/business/research/report/2007/07/18/greening-your-business-primer-smaller-companies ] to get you going. Among the steps you can take right away:

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1. Measure and track your waste: “Your audit may be as simple as counting or weighing trash bags your company disposes of… or checking energy utility bills. Or it may involve bringing in professionals to assess your company and make recommendations on how to reduce energy, redesign products and other efforts to reduce waste and save money.”

2. Rally the troops: Assemble a team of employee volunteers to promote environmentalism in the workplace and “consider creating incentives, rewards and recognition for employees who take leadership in your company’s environmental efforts.”

3. Reduce office waste: “Start with reducing paper use: establish a company-wide policy of photocopying on both sides of the paper, using the blank side of printed material for creating draft documents and emailing reports instead of making printed copies.”

4. Create a reuse and recycling culture: Set up a recycling system for paper, plastics, aluminum and glass, plus consider composting food waste and finding area recycling programs to dispose of old electronics equipment.

5. Green your fleet: If your business leases or buys vehicles, choose those with high fuel economy or ones that use alternative fuel sources like electric or hybrid. Whatever cars or trucks you choose, make sure to have them tuned and serviced regularly.

6. Make your meetings matter: Teleconference when you can and stay in green hotels when you have to travel. And let your clients and employees know that you’re committed to sustainability.

7. Reduce commutes: “Give your employees the option of telecommuting, putting in a reduced workweek or working variable hours… Arrange for computer hookups, extra phone lines or other low-cost technologies to allow employees to plug in to the main office from home.”

For more great tips, check out Ecology Ottawa or GreenYour.com

Have you begun instituting eco-friendly policies in your office or in the products or services you offer?

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on August 4th, 2010

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Cultivating a new business? Consider planting seeds of green

By Donna Marrin

going green pic 1.jpgYou’re launching a new business and you want to outfit your home office with budget-friendly tools and supplies that provide quality and reliability. Before you grab a shopping cart, you might want to consider why switching to environmentally friendly products may be an eco-smart and eco-nomical choice.

Chris Winter, executive director of the Conservation Council of Ontario  reports that the top three home office problems are energy waste, paper consumption and hazardous waste (batteries, ink and toner cartridges) disposal. So what choices do you have if you want to be kind to the environment while still watching your operating costs?

Energy savers

1. May the power bar be with you.

Winter says it’s a myth that you shouldn’t turn off your computer at the end of the day. “Yes, it peaks on startup, but the base operating load of the computer for the next 24 hours far exceeds the startup.” To boot (excuse the pun), items still connected to your computer will continue to drain energy, even when not in use: speakers, printers, scanners, PDAs, etc. Is the power bar your friend? You bet. When all your equipment runs through a power bar, one flick of the switch saves useless energy burn. (Find a powerbar at STAPLES)

energy star logo.jpgWhen you’re shopping for lighting, choose bulbs and fixtures with an Energy Star rating. They use up to two-thirds less energy than the regulars. And—not to sound like the boss of you or anything—don’t forget to turn the lights off when you leave a room.

2. Laptop computers trump desktop computers.

laptop.jpgNot only do laptop computers provide you with use-anywhere mobility, they also consume one-eighth the power of a desktop computer. According to Winter, multiple laptop users under one roof performing a variety of tasks will still not use as much power as one desktop computer!

3. Flatscreen monitors rock.

lcd monitor.jpgFlatscreen or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors use less than half the energy of traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors, plus they’re lighter and easier to adjust. With sharper quality and no flickering, text is easier to read and there’s less strain on your eyes.

Recycle!

4. Grandma—who reused EVERYTHING—was actually ahead of her time.

gramma.jpgMany everyday items that we toss away without thought can be reused. The back of used paper—daily desk calendars, sticky notes, etc.—makes great notepaper for jotting ideas or diagrams. Use the two-sided setting on your printer and copier to reduce paper consumption, and again, instead of throwing away already-printed-on-one-side paper, use the backside as notepaper. When you do purchase paper, choose brands made from recycled materials and approved by the Forest Stewardship Council of Canada. Save elastic bands from newspaper deliveries. Buy rechargeable batteries and refillable ink and toner cartridges. Did you know that it takes up to 1,000 years for one cartridge to decompose in a landfill? Instead of trashing them, drop your electronic waste, finished rechargeable batteries and old ink and toner cartridges at a STAPLES store for recycling.

6. Start commuting more often on the information highway

going green pic 2.jpgOnline banking is secure, saves you time and reduces paper trails. Have payments deposited directly into your account instead of accepting cheques. Sign up for monthly online statements. At the same time, sign up for online billing. Many companies now offer this service, as well as allow you to make automatic payments through monthly bank account debits. Not only will you save trees by cutting back on the paper trails, you’ll also save money on envelopes and postage. And—bonus!—electronic files take up much less space than file folders and shoeboxes!

7. Thrift shopping saves more than money

$1 bin.jpgBuying used is very fashionable these days. Scour flea markets and yard sales for used office furniture and other items in good condition. It really is true: “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure”… And the extra treasure in my wallet is nice too!

8. Give non-toxic cleaning products a whirl

cleaning product.jpgWhy choose non-toxic cleaning products when you can get cheaper stuff at a dollar store? Because while you’re sanitizing your office and home, you and everyone else under your roof are inhaling a cocktail of chemicals such as chlorine bleach, ammonia, petrochemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The result? Indoor air pollution as well as environmental pollution through drainage. Non-toxic products might cost a little bit more, but clean breathing air and groundwater is priceless. (Check out STAPLES’ line of eco easy products)

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com

Posted by Lynnette in Getting Started, Lifestyle on June 17th, 2010

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STAPLES BizTIPs 4business: Make your biz greener

By Small Business Expert Roger Pierce, BizLaunch

Everybody wins when your new small business helps to protect the environment. Unlike larger corporations which struggle with internal bureaucracy to implement “green” measures, your nimble small business can decide today to be environmentally conscious.

Here’s how you can turn your business green:

  • Practice the 3Rs. Embrace ways to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible. Go out today and buy some new blue bins for your business and make sure everyone on your team is using them. Appoint a “Green Officer” to champion your internal recycling efforts.
  • Go paperless. Businesses use a lot of paper, and much of it ends up in landfill. Today’s electronic world should help you to eliminate a lot of paper in your office, so get your employees, suppliers and customers to use electronic invoicing, online project management software and website banking.
  • Buy recycled products. Switch to recycled ink cartridges, recycled file folders and post-it notes to lessen the impact of your business on the environment. Remember to drop your old electronic devices such as cell phones at designated recycling bins.
  • Rent the video. Watch the Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth to learn more about the dangerous condition of our planet. Get your entire small business team to watch it at work.

You can learn more about this and other how-to topics in a free STAPLES BizLaunch Webinar. To find one near you, please visit http://www.staples.ca/bizlaunch today.


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ROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve success. Co-founder of Canada’s largest small business training company, BizLaunch.ca, he’s launched eleven small businesses of his own and personally experienced what he calls “the good, the bad and the ugly” sides of entrepreneurship.

BizLaunch advises thousands of Canadian startups through its popular how-to seminars and webinars delivered with partners such as STAPLES.

Posted by Lynnette in STAPLES BizTIPs on April 23rd, 2010

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Global warming’s not so hot

By Donna Marrin

Ah, that glorious summer weather we enjoyed on Good Friday… I took full advantage with a hike in breathtaking Awenda Provincial Park near Midland, Ontario. As I stood barefoot in the sand on the Georgian Bay shore, I marveled at the fact that it was only the second day of April (There should still be snow on the ground! Ice on the lake!), and here I was in a t-shirt, jeans rolled up, dipping my toes into the cold but bearable water. “If this is global warming, then global warming ain’t half bad,” I announced to my spouse. Later, I punished myself for such a thought by staying inside to do some research in order to educate myself about the real impact of increasing temperatures on our environment. This is what I learned:

  1. The ten hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990.
  2. With polar ice caps melting faster than they are able to develop, sea levels are increasing. Which means that most of our busy seaboard cities are destined to follow in the footsteps of Atlantis. So long, New York. Hello extreme population inland.
  3. Our majestic polar bears are headed for extinction. Polar bears use ice floes to travel great distances in order to be able to hunt their main food sources. With Arctic ice melting at an alarming rate, many of these creatures aren’t able to access the food supply they need to keep them fueled through their hibernation period.
  4. In the summer of 2007, the Northwest Passage was ice-free for the first time in history.
  5. Global warming puts marine life as we know it in peril. Increasing water temperatures create ‘reef bleaching’—a process that causes algae to die. No more algae means no more coral. No more coral means extinction for many marine species.
  6. Increasing weather extremes—a byproduct of climate change—bring on natural disasters such as tornadoes, heat waves, droughts and floods, and we pay dearly with loss of life and property.
  7. Over Alberta’s mountain ranges, the glaciers and snowpacks that serve as ‘water towers’ for the Prairies are receding. Prairie water levels in ponds, lakes and dugouts are shrinking, which will eventually lead to less water for irrigating crops and maintaining livestock and drinking water in rural regions.
  8. Water levels in our Great Lakes are receding more each year and this process will accelerate as we evolve into a hotter, drier climate.
  9. Heat waves generate more smog in our breathing air, which results in more temperature-related illnesses and deaths. Infectious diseases such as malaria‚ dengue and yellow fever could work their way northward as insects carrying these diseases migrate with the warming climate.
  10. Expect more frequent and larger avalanches in our western mountain parks as temperatures increase.
  11. Warmer spring and fall temperatures will extend the melting season of glaciers by at least a month in the southern Rocky Mountains. Glaciers less than 100m thick could disappear over the next 20 years.
  12. Migratory birds are extremely vulnerable to climate change effects, since they depend on a variety of habitats and sites. A large numbers of birds could be at risk of extinction.
  13. In the past few decades, 125 Arctic lakes have vanished, due to the thawing of permafrost. When this deep, normally permanently frozen ground thaws, lake water seeps away into the soil, draining the lake. As these lakes disappear, so do the ecosystems they support.
  14. Imagine no more maple syrup? Maple syrup production requires specific conditions for tapping sugar maples for their sap: freezing nights and warm days. Traditionally, maple syrup season lasts for about a month. Research from the University of Vermont shows that compared to the 1970s, the average modern extraction season starts a week earlier, but ends 10 days earlier and so is three days shorter. And could continue to shorten over time.

I hate to rain on the sunshine parade, but there you have it. I do believe that any steps we take to help protect our environment, no matter how small, are steps in the right direction.

What’s your opinion?

Donna Marrin is a freelance Senior Writer/Editor specializing in corporate communications and advertising. She also founded and runs the Markham Village Writers. You can visit their website at www.markhamvillagewriters.com.

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on April 22nd, 2010

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Green Business Profile: EcoSweep Green Cleaning

By Randy Tyrrell, Toronto Greenhouse

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Sean and Rula Norman

Sean and Rula Norman

Sean and Rula Norman founded EcoSweep after the birth of their first child. Concerned about toxins in the home and environmental impacts from chemicals used in household cleaning products, “We were really surprised to find that there were no real choices for hiring an all-natural maid service,” said Rula.

After trying numerous cleaning companies, they decided to establish their own enterprise that would serve like-minded clients interested in environmental sustainability. The Normans saw an opportunity to merge sustainability principles and cleaning to provide clients with a cost-neutral alternative to traditional cleaning that is safe, healthy and environmentally friendly. “This business has enabled us to take our passion for sustainability and healthy living and share it with others in a very simple way,“ says Rula. “The cleaning program you choose has such a big impact on both your indoor and outdoor environment, as well as your quality of living.“

Established in 2003, EcoSweep is the original and only all-natural and environmentally friendly green cleaning solution in the Greater Toronto Area. EcoSweep is also the only Canadian janitorial company that is LEED AP managed. Their commercial green cleaning program and purchasing protocol uses only green certified cleaning products, paper products, tools and equipment.

EcoSweep is unique in the janitorial industry in that they provide the full scope of services required to attain LEED certification, including project management facilitated by an onsite Project Manager. Their sustainability consulting includes custodial effectiveness assessments and audits as well as green cleaning training for custodial staff.

Rula and Sean go far beyond the janitorial service. Rula explains, “We have found that a lot of businesses approach us about switching to a green cleaning program and once they see the benefits, they often ask us to work with them on bigger sustainability goals.” The EcoSweep team assists clients in improving indoor air quality and help reduce their corporate footprint by providing staff workshops and training for occupants on how they can do their part to help improve indoor air quality, reduce energy and water use and improve recycling programs .

Clients now include office complexes, retail, institutional, sports complexes, condominium/residential buildings, real estate, amusement parks and homeowners.

 

RandyRandy Tyrrell is the Founder and Managing Director of Toronto Greenhouse, a business forum for “green companies” and friends of the environment. Toronto Greenhouse hosts a monthly networking event with topical speakers and offers environmentally sustainable business consulting services. Visit here for more information.

Posted by Lynnette in Small Business Spotlight on April 21st, 2010

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Tech Tuesdays: Spring Cleaning – Electronic Waste

By Rachel Swiednicki

You’ve cleaned out your office and home and you’re not sure what to do with your unwanted electronics. STAPLES Canada is now an official Ontario Electronic Stewardship drop-off depot.

STAPLES Canada recently expanded their requirements for recyclable electronic waste collection at stores, as the retailer enters phase II of their Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES). Effective as of April 1, STAPLES stores in Ontario will enter the second phase of their recycling program by accepting items such as televisions, desktop and laptop computers, telephones and answering machines, projectors, digital cameras and speakers.

Steve Matyas and Leigh Pearson

Steve Matyas and Leigh Pearson

“We are trying to create the easiest eco-solution for customers. They now have a place where they can drop off even more unwanted electronic items. We want customers to think of us during spring cleaning and know that there’s an easily accessible location available to handle their recycling needs,” says Leigh Pearson, facilities and environmental services manager for STAPLES Canada.

STAPLES Canada has undertaken a number of major sustainable initiatives: reducing energy consumption by reducing light bulb wattage at all locations, expansion of recycling programs, and more. STAPLES Canada continues to seek ways to improve sustainability. “Phase two of our recycling plan includes accepting everything from speakers to desktop printers. We also are a depot for waste recycling in several other provinces, as well,” continued Pearson.

For more information, please visit staples.ca/environment.

Rachel

Rachel Swiednicki is a professional communicator, with ten years of experience in the communications industry. Eight of those years were spent as a journalist before moving into a career in public relations/corporate communications.

Posted by Lynnette in Technology on April 20th, 2010

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Making a difference for the environment when shopping

By Randy Cooray

So what do you look for in a company when you plan to give your credit card a workout? Are you only concerned about the price? Do you only look at the item’s quality? Perhaps you’re all about the label and nothing is better than Versace, Nike or Dell. While many consumers have a wide range of reasons to purchase an item, a company’s reputation is also a quality reason; which can be good or bad depending on the issue.

What can be determined is that more of us are looking at the environment, and how efforts to keep our surroundings greener are growing so rapidly. From a smoke-free environment at the local pub, to private compost heaps at homes, people and companies are making the effort to preserve our earth.

So what are we ripping apart when we take our new calculator home? How many chemicals are in that packaging of printer paper? It’s quite possible that it’s more of a threat than we are led to believe. Some companies – like STAPLES are taking actions to reduce the amount of packaging and PVC in its packaging and products.

One company however is changing that process.

As we come closer to recognizing Earth Day, Staples is once again proud to highlight a very successful campaign of environmentally favourable initiatives. With their partnership of such recycling programs like Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and e-Cycle Solutions, Staples has resurrected millions of metric tonnes that was headed for the junkyard. Here are some numbers regarding Staples’ drive for a cleaner society:

  • Over 2,100 metric tonnes of electronics recycled from Ontario, Quebec and Alberta alone
  • Over 4,400 metric tonnes of corrugated cardboard was saved
  • Over 7,700 pounds of batteries recycled in 2009 – a near 40% increase from 2008
  • Over 2,000 products with environmentally friendlier ingredients on their shelves

With all that and much more, their biggest pat-on-the-back could be their ink and toner recycling program. The company collected 1.3 million last year surpassing their goal of collecting one million cartridges – and this year they have a goal of collecting two million cartridges.

“We want to educate our customers on how they can do their part to help the earth,” says Pete Gibel, Chair of STAPLES Canada Environmental Committee. “We also want to re-assure our eco-conscious customers that we are committed to operating our company and retail locations in a sustainable manner so that they can feel good about shopping in our stores.”

For more information on STAPLES Soul, and ways you can make a difference please visit http://www.staples.ca/community.

Marisa's Wedding Shower 07-12-09 432

Randy Cooray has been on both sides of the media spectrum working in the Public Relations field after five years in Journalism. From one-on-one interviews with professional athletes, to collaborating on breaking news stories. Randy is now a part of the corporate communications industry.

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on April 19th, 2010

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Green changes that mean savings for you and the environment

by Leigh Pearson

We are asked to do the right thing for the environment on a regular basis. But what is the right thing?
If you are like me, you have questioned how you can really make a difference. The volume of  information, factual and otherwise, about environmentally friendly products and services is overwhelming. However, here are a few things you can do that really will help you save the planet… and your money.

1. Lighting

Change your lightbulbs to compact fluorescent. Typical incandescent is 60 watts and a comparable fluorescent is 13  watts. That is a significant kilowatt reduction when you look at how many hours you operate your lights and the fact that on average, the cost per KW is 10 cents.

If you have fluorescent, is it T12 technology? If so, it is very inefficient and will not be supported in the years to come. Not only will you see a payback by retrofitting to T8 or T5 with electronic ballasts but in many cases, retrofits are eligible for rebates through your local utility. Ontario currently offers the Power Savings Blitz small business program with significant incentives for lighting retrofits. If you are already using T8 or T5, what is the wattage you are using? Perhaps you could reduce from a 32 watt to a 25 watt bulb or reduce the number of tubes and add a reflector. Again, look at the reduction X the number of bulbs X the run time X the cost of the electricity. It does not take long to add up.

Turn off your lights when not in use (interior and exterior). While you may need to keep some lights on overnight for security reasons, most can be turned off, so check your timers, automation systems, or flick the switch to ensure you are not using energy unnecessarily.

2. Temperature

Raise your set points by a degree; ensure you are using night set backs so you are not heating or cooling unnecessarily. Raising your cooling set point in the summer by 1 degree F and lowering your heating set point in the winter by 1 degree F could mean a 2% to 3% savings on your total energy bill. If you have south or west-facing windows, consider shades or solar screens to reduce air conditioning needs in the summer months.

3. Equipment

Screensavers use more energy than setting your computer to sleep mode.

Turn off your equipment when not in use. To make it easier, use a power bar so you can simply flick one switch to turn off all your equipment each night. And when buying new machinery, look for the Energy Star designation.

Set your printer/copier to double-sided printing and you will save  paper.

Food service businesses can save by cleaning the coils on refrigerators and freezers twice a year and installing a humidity sensor on the heating units in the door seals to reduce condensation.

A little bit of change can make a big difference.  For more Green changes that mean savings for you and the environment click here.

Have you made any “green” goals for your business this year? If so, we’d love to hear about them!

Leigh Pearson is the manager of facilities and environmental services for STAPLES/Bureau en Gros and has been with the company for over 12 years. Ms. Pearson is responsible for overseeing more than 300 stores and home office maintenance. As manager of facilities and environmental affairs she implemented the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Recycling Program in select Ontario stores, as part of the Ontario Electronic Stewardship’s launch. This pilot program allows customers to recycle electronic waste, diverting it from landfills.  In addition, Ms. Pearson put into practice eco-conscious cleaning supplies in STAPLES stores and home office and piloted the Lights Out program, reducing more than 911,000 kilowatts of power.

Posted by Lynnette in Lifestyle on January 12th, 2010

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