Title: Going Green In the Workplace
1 Going Green In the Workplace
- Bluegrass PRIDE
- Amy Sohner
- Executive Director
2Bluegrass PRIDE
- Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment
3(No Transcript)
4Mission
- To provide resources that empower governments and
individuals to improve their quality of life by
improving the quality of their environment. - Focus
- Water Quality
- Waste Reduction
- Energy
- Air quality
5Why Be Green?
- 2.25 million tons of obsolete/unwanted TVs, cell
phones and computer products - 18 (414,000 tons) was collected for recycling
- 82 (1.84 million tons) was disposed of,
primarily in landfills. - (www.epa.gov)
6Why Be Green?
- The average office worker in the US uses 10,000
sheets of copy paper each year - 1 source of water pollution in KY is YOU!
- 18 of total U.S. energy use is from commercial
businesses - 32 heating
- 23 lighting
7How Can You Help?
- Use the Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools
website s inventories - www.greenschools.ky.gov
8Home Though it is easier to build a new school
to meet all these goals, existing schools can
make real progress toward these goals simply by
encouraging students to explore how their school
operates and take action with school improvement
projects. To start your school on its way to
being a Green and Healthy School, click
here. UPCOMING GREEN AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS EVENTS
IN KENTUCKYGreen Schools 101 A Community Forum
(date TBA) NOTE If experiencing problems with
this website please view on another computer with
Internet Explorer (IE) 6. We are currently
working to prepare the website for viewing with
IE 7 and other popular browsers.
9Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools
- 9 Inventories
- Solid Waste
- Energy
- Transportation
- Green Space
- Indoor Air Quality
- Hazardous Chemicals
- Leadership
- Water
- Health and Safety
10Solid Waste
- Recycling
- Trash
- Composting
- Reuse, Reduce and Rebuy
11Recycling
- Does your office recycle?
- If yes, what does it recycle?
- Does your office provide recycling bins and
garbage containers in all areas? - Where do recyclables go after
- they leave your office?
12Recycling
- How much income does your office receive from
recycling? - or
- How much does your office pay as a recycling fee?
13Improvement Ideas
- Begin or expand recycling efforts
- Find what materials are recyclable in your county
- Find commercial recyclers in your area
- Aluminum cans
- Cardboard
- White Paper
14Resources
- Kentucky Division for Waste Management
- www.waste.ky.gov
- List of recycling centers in each county
- Information on market value for each material
- Bluegrass PRIDE
- www.kentucky PRIDE.com
- Information on how to start or expand a recycling
program - Information on conducting a waste audit
15Resources
- In Fayette County, any non-profit organization
can become a WasteBuster - Assistance in setting up a recycling program
- Recycling bins
- Training and materials
-
For more information call Bluegrass PRIDE at
859-266-1572
16Trash Disposal
- How full are trash dumpster when emptied?
- How much trash is discarded in a year?
- What percentage of the waste stream are
recyclable materials?
17Trash Disposal
- Where does the trash go after it leaves the
office? - Who picks up the trash?
- How much is the offices annual cost for trash
pickup?
18Improvement Ideas
- Conduct a waste audit
- After reducing amount of trash, shop around for a
smaller dumpster
19Resources
- Kentucky Division of Waste Management
- List of County Solid Waste Coordinators
- www.waste.ky.gov/branches/rla/
- CountySolidWasteCoordinators.htm
- Bluegrass PRIDE
- Information on conducting waste audit
- www.kentuckyPRIDE.com
20Composting
- Does your office or building compost?
- Yard waste
- Food waste
- How much does your office spend annually on mulch
and fertilizer? - Does your community sponsor any programs relating
to composting?
21Improvement Ideas
- Look into participating in a composting program
- Through landscaping companies
- Install an indoor compost bin
- In Fayette County, participate in the Lenny
program
22Resources
- Organic Consumer Association
- www.organicconsumers.org/organic/
- compost.cfm
- University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension
Services - ces.ca.uky.edu/ces/
- LFUCG
- www.lfucg.com/pubworks/solid_waste/lenny.asp
- Information on Fayette Countys Lenny program
23Reduce, Reuse and Rebuy
- Does your office purchase or use items made with
recycled materials (e.g., paper products, coffee
cups)? - Does your office purchase supplies in
- quantities large enough to reduce packaging waste
- reduced/recycled packaging
24Reduce, Reuse and Rebuy
- Does your office have a policy for the reduction
of paper usage (e.g., electronic record storage,
use of email, printing on both sides of the
paper, reusing scrap paper)?
25Improvement Ideas
- Identify at least ten items, which the office
could purchase from recycled materials.
Examples business cards, copy paper, or napkins - Develop and implement a plan to reduce paper
usage by 10 - Print on both side of paper
- Use email to send messages and discourage
printing of all emails
26Improvement Ideas
- Purchase items in bulk when possible
- Plan and carry out a waste free lunch day
- Provide reusable coffee mugs or water bottles
- Adopt a coffee mug
27Improvement Ideas
- Use rechargeable batteries
- Recycle your electronics
- Computers
- Cell Phones
- Printer cartridges
28Resources
- Grassroots Recycling Network
- www.grrn.org/zerowaste/
- Earth 911
- earth911.org/
- Bluegrass PRIDE
- www.kentucky PRIDE.com
- Information on waste reduction and recycling cell
phones
29Energy
30Energy
- What percentage of your office/building is air
conditioned? - List the names of your energy providers for
heating, cooling, hot water, electricity, or
other? - How many appliances are found in your office?
- Computers, copiers, printers, refrigerators, TVs,
microwaves, vending machines
31Energy
- What was the cost of energy-related utilities for
your office in the previous year? - What percentage of this years budget is
dedicated to energy-related utilities?
32Energy
- What sources of energy/fuel are used at your
office (e.g., cooling is provided by electricity
generated by burning coal, mowing needs gasoline
produced from fossil fuels)? - How many energy sources used by your office are
renewable? - Is the landscaping on the grounds used in a way
to enhance energy efficiency?
33Energy
- Are the furnace and ventilation filters cleaned
or replaced regularly per manufacturers
recommendations? - What are your offices guidelines for thermostat
temperature settings? - What percentage of appliances or machines are
located at least - 5 feet from a thermostat?
34Energy
- What percentage of machines and lights is turned
off at night or when not in use? - What other energy saving measures are been used?
- Lamps in vending machines turned off when school
is not is use - Appliances cleaned and checked regularly
- Outside air conditioning unit in shade
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
35Improvement Ideas
- Make recommendations that will reduce energy use
implement at least one of your recommendations. - Turn lights off in spaces not been used
- Turn computer monitors off at night
- Program copier to turn off at night
- Install programmable thermostat
- Purchase Energy Star appliances
- Use CFL light bulbs where possible
36Resources
- Energy Calculators
- ces.ca.uky.edu/energy/calculators.htm
- Energy Star Program
- www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c
- challenge.bus_challenge
37Transportation
38Transportation
- What mode of transportation do staff in use
mostly to get to work? - How far does each staff member live from work?
- What percentage of staff walk or bike to work?
- Off the staff who come to work in a car, what
percentage - participates in a carpool?
39Transportation
- What programs does your office sponsor or
participate in to encourage carpooling, use of
public transportation, or other such as
ride-share, pedestrian or bike safety classes? - Does your office use
- fuel-efficient vehicles (e.g., bio-diesel fuel,
fuel-efficient cars, small capacity buses,
passenger vans)?
40Improvement Ideas
- Encourage staff members to carpool two or more to
drive to work (2 or more per car). - Combine staff work trips
- Use fuel-efficient vehicles when possible
41Resources
- Kentucky Department of Education Transportation
- www.education.ky.gov/KDE/AdministrativeResources
/Transportation - Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
- www.bicyclinginfo.org
- Information on walking and biking routes
42Green Spaces
43General Questions
- Who is responsible for maintaining the grounds
around your office? - Do you have any features to attract wildlife?
- Are any plants or animals on your grounds
considered undesirable? - What types of green spaces do you have?
- Do you have a courtyard and who uses it?
44Lawns
- What kinds of plants are growing in your lawn?
- Are these plants native?
- What fertilizers/pesticides are applied to the
lawn? - How often are the lawns mowed?
- What happens to the grass clippings?
- When are lawns watered?
45Resources
- Pesticide free, healthy lawn www.richsoil.con/lawn
/index.jsp - Pesticide free lawns http//faq.gardenweb.com/faq/
lists/organic/2004020829016580.html - Sustainable urban landscaping www.sustland.umn.edu
- Native species in Kentucky www.knps.org
46Gardens
- What type of gardens does your office have?
- What type of vegetation grows in your gardens?
- What fertilizer and pesticides are applied to
your garden? - What animal life is found living in your garden?
47Resources
- Rain Garden Alliance
- www.bluegrassraingardenalliance.org
- Bluegrass PRIDE www.kentuckypride.com
48Air Quality
49General Questions
- Does your office have an indoor air quality plan?
- Checking air conditioning and refrigeration units
for ozone depleting refrigerants - Inventory of all combustion appliances that are
potentially sources of carbon monoxide - Records of lead paint inspections
- Blueprints detailing locations of asbestos
50General Questions
- What does your regular cleaning schedule entail?
- How are employees workspace kept clean and dry?
- What sanitation policies are followed?
51Resources
- Kentucky Division for Air Quality (502)573-3382
or (800)928-0047 - National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH), - Building Air Quality Action Plan
www.cdc.gov/niosh/baqtoc.html
52Asthma/Allergies
- What percentage of your staff has asthma or
allergies? - Does your organization provide staff training
specifically dealing with asthma/allergies? - How are asthma triggers (e.g., mold, dust, pests,
air intakes) addressed at your office?
53Resources
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation www.aafa.org
- Info from the US EPA on the various kinds of
triggers and how they can be addressed
www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html
54Dust and Mold
- Are air filters and ductwork in the HVAC system
regularly inspected and replaced/cleaned per
manufacturers instructions? - How often are ceilings, walls, floors, and carpet
checked for water leakage, stains or
discoloration, and mold growth or odor? - How often are floors/
- carpets cleaned?
55Dust and Mold
- Is your office adequately ventilated in the
following ways - With air supply diffusers, unobstructed intakes
and returns, exhaust vents and continuous fans
during work hours to allow exchange with outdoor
air? - To maintain humidity levels between 33-55?
- To maintain temperature levels between 60-78
degrees Fahrenheit?
56Resources
- EPA Publication Should you have the air ducts
in your home cleaned?. www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airdu
ct.html - A series of articles on schools and flooring
www.edfacilities.org/rl/floor_care.cfm
57Gases and Particulates
- Are your offices tobacco-free?
- Have regularly occupied spaces at or below ground
level been tested for radon? - What pest control practices are in place?
- Does your office purchase low-emitting products
designed to give off low levels of fumes or
vapors?
58Resources
- County level help with Integrated Pest management
www.ces.ca.uky.edu/ces - Standards for products used in schools
www.greenguard.org/DesktopDefault.asps?tabindex4
tabid95
59Hazardous Chemicals
- Mercury
- Pest Management
- Chemical Safety
60Mercury
- Where is mercury found in your office?
- Thermometers
- Thermostats
- CFLs
- Does your non-profit have a
- policy limiting the purchase of
mercury-containing devices and encouraging
mercury-free alternatives? - Does your community have a mercury collection
program to encourage proper disposal and handling
of mercury-containing items (including burned
out fluorescent bulbs)?
61Pest Management
- How often and how much does your non-profit use
pesticides (including herbicides, fungicides,
insecticides, rodenticides, germicides,
sanitizers and disinfectants)? - Outside?
- Inside?
- Who administers pesticides?
- Is there notification before and after
application?
62Improvement Projects
- Ants
- Clean all food, and keep in sealed containers
- Caulk all entry points
- Repel ants with cayenne or black pepper
- Soapy water will kill individuals ants and remove
their trail - Control
- Sticky traps
- Boric acid
63Chemicals
- Are all chemicals properly stored and labeled?
- Are alternatives in use when possible?
64Chemical Alternatives
- Glass Cleaner ½ vinegar, ½ water
- Furniture Polish 2 parts olive oil, 1 part
lemon juice - All purpose cleaner 1 cup baking soda in one
gallon hot water
65Leadership
66Leadership
- Who is in charge of purchasing?
- Who is in charge of maintenance staff?
- Is your non-profit a leader in the community?
- How can you lead environmentally by example?
- Are environmental considerations part of your
orientation?
67Water
- Water Quality
- Water Management
- Water Conservation
68Water Quality
- Where does the water from your office and
parking lots drain? - What is the quality of the water in nearby
streams? - In what watershed is your office located?
- Surf your watershed by Zip code, address
etc.www.epa.gov/surf
69Water Management
- Are there areas of bare soil on or near your
non-profits property? - Are there any plans for managing the runoff from
your property (i.e. rain barrel, rain garden)? - Are there policies in place to avoid dumping
anything on the ground or pavement (i.e. mop
water)?
70Water Conservation
- How much water was used (and money spent on
water) by your non-profit last year? - How many gallons/employee
- Are water faucets automatic or do they have low
flow heads? - Any leaking pipes or faucets?
- How are outside areas
- watered?
71Improvement Projects
- Set a water use reduction goal (either for total
water usage or by employee) - Install low flow toilets or add a brick or bottle
of water to tank - Decrease watering of lawn, or switch to native
plants that require less maintenance - Ways to save water around the house that may also
be useful at your office www.h2ouse.org
72 73Environmental Education
- WasteBuster Program
- Available to all businesses and schools in
Fayette County - Classroom activities
- Teacher trainings
- Help setting up recycling program
74Environmental Education
- PRIDEs Resource Library
- Free check out materials
- Reading with Rosie Program
75Volunteer!
76Volunteer!
- Sign up for updates at www.kentuckyPRIDE.com
- Schedule your own office activity
- Storm drain stenciling
- Litter cleanup
77- It is getting easier to be
- green
78- Questions?
- Bluegrass PRIDE
- www.KentuckyPRIDE.com
- 866-222-1648
- Amy_at_KentuckyPRIDE.com