Lighting

FACT: Artificial lighting accounts for 44 percent of the electric use in office buildings.

We have installed Energy Star-rated Fixtures and light bulbs which use at least two-thirds less energy than regular lighting, and installing timers or motion sensors that automatically shut off lights when they’re not needed.

Computer Efficiency

FACT: Computers in the business sector unnecessarily waste $1 billion worth of electricity a year.

We are turning off our computers and the power strip when we leave for the day. Otherwise, we’re still burning energy even if we’re not burning the midnight oil. During the day we have set computers to go to sleep automatically during short breaks can cut energy use by 70 percent.

Print Smarter

FACT: The average U.S. office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year.

We have defaulted our printers to draft mode. We have started buying chlorine-free paper with a higher percentage of post-consumer recycled content (Green Friendly paper). We are working toward Recycling our toner and ink cartridges as well.

Go Paperless when Possible

FACT: Americans discard 4 million tons of office paper every year.

We are moving more of our forms and paper products to the internet to be viewable online. Sugar Tree Technologies has provided access so that our employee manuals and similar online materials can be viewed on screen rather than distribute as printed copies. They’re easier to update that way too. We also give our customers the ability to receive their notices electronically via e-mail vs. postage and paper.