Go Green at Work

Bridging The Gap's Sustainable Business Program can help your company:

  • Focus sustainability efforts on the triple bottom line: social, environmental and economic
  • Bring a systems approach and remove barriers to the planning and implementation of sustainability programs, policies and practices
  • Understand the impact on the environment and increase awareness on green issues
  • Involve management and employees in sustainability efforts
  • Learn how other companies are taking action
  • Learn how to best publicize and report their efforts

For more information click here.

Keep reading for tips on how to make your office "green":

Choose a topic to jump to the appropriate section:

BTG Business Programs
Policy
Communications
Purchasing
Food Service
Maintenance
Land Management
Transportation
Waste Reduction
Energy Saving

BTG Business Programs

Check out these Bridging The Gap programs to get started:

Policy

  • Make changes in your mission statement and company policy to include environmental effects of actions in your planning.
  • Perform a waste audit and prioritize resulting recommendations. The Solid Waste Policy group provides resources to guide you through this process.
  • Create an employee “green team” to make environmental improvements. Find out how at About.com.
  • Create in-house recycling systems by increasing the type of material recycled. Use the information in this brochure to get started.
  • Develop a formal environmental impact assessment program. Bridging The Gap offers Sustainability Consulting Services that can help with this.
  • Offer a system for employee contributions to environmental organizations through payroll deductions.
  • Sponsor environmental education sessions or seminars for employees like the training offered by the Environmental Excellence Business Network.

Communications

  • Use e- mail, bulletin boards and voice mail for messages rather than distributing individual memos or handouts.
  • Use returnable envelopes for billing and other costumer responses.
  • Keep mailing lists current by adding “Address Correction Requested” to return addresses and ensure that only one piece of mail is going to each household.
  • Reduce fax cover sheets to a half page or use stick-on notes or ink stamps on the first page of documents.
  • Print and copy on both sides of paper.
  • Promoting E-Billing. Find out more at GreenBiz.com.

Purchasing

  • Join the Missouri Buy Recycled Business Alliance through the Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority (EIERA).
  • Computer purchasing and recycling: When buying a new computer, get one that is Energy Star compliant and has a high grade on the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. Generally, laptops are “greener” than desktops because they use less energy and material and have been designed with power sensitivity in mind.
  • To recycle computers, check with the manufacturer to see if they have a recycling program. If not, find a local computer recycler. In the Kansas City area, try at Recyclespot.org or Surplus Exchange.
  • Choose recycled paper: Paper production has resulted in the rapid global expansion of tree plantations which take the place of many precious habitats. The paper industry emits a significant amount of the world’s greenhouse gases, uses vast amounts of water and energy and produces significant amounts of pollutants and landfill waste. Recycled paper is the greenest option, requiring less energy and fewer chemicals and using materials that would otherwise go into landfills. Just one ton of recycled paper saves six mature trees!
  • Buying other office supplies with recycled content is also a good way to ensure that the reduce, reuse, recycle loop is able to go full circle!
  • Order supplies in bulk, when appropriate, to reduce packaging waste.
  • Substitute recycled cardboard or recycled plastic pallets for wood. Return, reuse and repair wooden pallets.
  • Reuse shipping materials such as foam peanuts. Take them to a shipping service that will reuse them or use shredded newspaper and other renewable, recyclable packaging materials instead.
  • Use recycled or rebuilt toner cartridges in printers and copiers, preferably with soy ink.
  • Require vendors to offer products with minimal packaging.
  • Ask current suppliers for recycled content products; make it clear that this is your preference.

Food Service

  • Use reusable plates, tableware, glasses, napkins and cups instead of disposables when possible.
  • Purchase reusable coffee filters and pourable sugar and cream dispensers rather than individual serving packets.
  • Use larger sizes or pump containers for condiments rather than individual serving packets.
  • Use cloth towels rather than paper. When paper products are necessary, use unbleached paper towels, napkins and coffee filters containing recycled content.
  • Compost vegetable food waste. Contact Missouri Organic to see if this is an option that will work for your organization.
  • Donate edible surplus or past pull-date food items to food banks or shelters such as Harvesters.

Maintenance

  • Install reusable furnace and air conditioner filters and clean them monthly.
  • Replace chemical or chlorinated cleansers with citric and water-based products.
  • Reuse or recycle solvents and other chemicals used or produced in manufacturing by participating in a waste exchange such as By-Product Synergy.
  • Use cloth roll towels in restrooms.
  • Use sponges and cleaning rags rather than paper towels.
  • Use vinegar and water as a glass cleaner.
  • Use water-based (latex) paints with low VOCs when possible.
  • When planning construction or remodeling, choose materials and furnishings that are environmentally preferable (energy and water conserving, with recycled content, etc.).

Land Management

  • Use plants that require little water for outdoor landscaping.
  • Collect rainwater and use gray water for watering landscape.
  • Direct rainwater from downspouts onto plants.
  • Plant a tree! Among the many benefits trees provide, studies have shown that people are willing to pay more for parking and goods in a tree-lined business district. In addition, trees can save businesses money in air conditioning costs when planted strategically. To learn more about the benefits trees provide and how to plant a tree, visit www.heartlandtreealliance.org.

Transportation

  • Create an employee commute-benefits program. Find out how at RideShare.511.org.
  • Put parking lot and walkway lighting on a solar timer.
  • Install motion sensors to turn lights on and off where appropriate.
  • Avoid flying or driving unnecessarily for business meetings. Try teleconferencing, webinars or e-mailing instead. If travel is necessary, buy carbon offsets; Carbon Catalog and EcoBusiness Links compare many carbon offset providers to simplify evaluation of available options.
  • Check the tire air pressure of company vehicles monthly to improve gas mileage.
  • Refuel company vehicles in the evening, when the emissions released won’t be turned into harmful ozone, which causes smog at ground level.
  • Use re-refined motor oil that meets the same standards as virgin oil in company vehicles.
  • Encourage employees to use alternative transportation, telecommute, or carpool.
  • Sponsor a “Ride the Bus” day when all employees are encouraged to use public transportation.

Waste Reduction

  • Donate old furniture and equipment to charities or used equipment dealers.
  • Rent equipment that is used only occasionally rather than purchasing it.
  • Repair equipment and reuse items (file folders, etc.), when possible, rather than buying new equipment and materials.
  • Use durable items like cloth towels, sponges and reusable coffee filters rather than disposables whenever possible.
  • Use rechargeable rather than disposable batteries.
  • Reuse worn out tires for landscaping, swings, etc. or return them to a tire center for reclamation.
  • Set up an area for employees to exchange unwanted items.

Energy Saving

  • Ask your utility if they offer free or inexpensive energy audits and/or rebates for energy-efficiency upgrades. A good place to start is Energy Crossroads, a consolidated listing, by state, of many of the utility energy-efficiency programs available for small businesses.
  • Save energy by turning off computer monitors and other electronics at night.
  • Consult an expert to determine whether your business can save energy and money by converting from magnetic ballasts in fluorescent lights to new, energy-saving electronic ballasts.
  • Use energy efficient fluorescent lights rather than incandescent bulbs when possible.
  • Install air-lock entrances to existing and new facilities to save energy.
  • Purchase copiers and other equipment with a high Energy Star rating and an energy saving mode.
  • Put thermostats on timers to reduce air conditioning and heating during hours when your building is not occupied. Reduce the overall temperature in the winter and increase it in the summer by two degrees.
  • Turn off lights in areas that aren’t in use; install motion sensors to turn on lights in rooms that are used infrequently. Assign responsibility for turning off lights and equipment.
  • Retrofit exit signs with fluorescent lights or replace with LED.
  • Insulate hot water holding tanks and hot and cold water pipes.