Reducing Your Environmental Impact

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A meaningful environmental policy

Who has an Environmental Policy? Who remembers what it says you’ll do?

I’ve written and seen so many office policies that include sweeping statements about saving the environment by printing less. But come budget time the printing expenditure grows beyond indexation.

Let’s move away from forgettable and unrealistic policies.

I’ve put together a few ideas here to help you update or establish a memorable, achievable and measurable environmental policy.

Brightly coloured coral. Photo by Q.U.I on Unsplash

Commitment

For a start you want a clear commitment that is simple and memorable for everyone in your organisation:

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and encouraging other to do the same

Any reduction is going to be progress. The greater the reduction, the greater the progress.

You can’t save the environment by yourself. But you do work with others: clients, partners and suppliers. So where you can, choose clients, partners and suppliers who share similar values to you.

Empowerment

Empower someone by giving them the responsibility, time and space to review your current environmental impact. Everyone in the office needs a side project. Who’s the green champion in your office? Maybe you are if you’re reading this.

Start with the simple stuff:

  • Are there any regulatory requirements we need to meet?
  • What was our energy consumption/costs last year?
  • What was our printing consumption/costs last year?
  • How much did we spend on travel last year?
  • How environmentally-friendly is our equipment?
  • How else do you impact the environment?

Now we have some benchmarks to measure against in future.

Protesters and signs at climate change rally. Photo by Li-An Lim on Unsplash

Action

You don’t have to save a rain-forest. What are the simple steps you can take towards reducing your environmental impact?

When you create an action make sure you assign it to the best person to implement it (promotions to the Comms Manager, equipment purchases to the Finance Manager, etc.) and a reasonable deadline to complete the task by.

Let’s make this a living document that in always current. Once you complete each action, is there a new action that should happen next? Or a new deadline for when it happens again?

Here are some ideas:

  • Undertake an energy assessment/audit
  • Identify and promote ways staff and volunteers can reduce energy consumption
  • Identify and promote ways staff and volunteers can reduce printing
  • Identify and promote ways staff and volunteers can reduce travel
  • Investigate and offer environmental training to staff and volunteers
  • Promote your environmental policy internally and externally
  • Review the environmental-friendliness of your products and suppliers
  • Replace energy inefficient equipment
Wind farm on green hills. Photo by Appolinary Kalashnikova on Unsplash

Energy Assessment

An energy assessment identifies ways your office can reduce its impact on the environment and also save money by making changes to operations and technology. An energy assessment that is conducted by an expert should include the following:

  • assess your energy bills and current contract (you can save hundreds of dollars with a quick phone call to a competitor)
  • review insulation, shading and draught-proofing options
  • review lighting products, layout and automation options
  • review of your water needs and options to recycle rainwater
  • feasibility of installing solar and the potential payback period
  • identification of other potential ways you can save energy and money
  • recommendation of a range of products and suppliers with the best balance of price, quality and service

An energy assessment report will allow you to prioritise, plan and budget for improvements. This report can also be used as evidence to help build your case for support in fundraising campaigns and grant applications.

A squirrel glider. Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

Easy ways to reduce your impact on the environment

Here are a few ideas that can help you reduce the environmental impact of your activities:

  • turn lights and equipment off when not in use
  • review the timers/triggers set on air conditioners, lighting and water heaters
  • use energy efficient LED light globes
  • use economical toilet flush systems
  • recycle rainwater
  • use recycled printer paper and stationery
  • use locally-made stationery and materials
  • draught proof windows and doors
  • insulate roof spaces
  • shade north and west facing windows in summer
Download environmental policy and action plan template

Thanks for taking to time to read this article. I hope you find it useful.

If you have any questions or comments about anything you’ve read here, or if you’d like my help to reduce your environmental impact, contact me – I’d love to hear from you.

Further information and resources