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PAE
Being kinder to the environment is an where a certain period of inactivity will
important responsibility that we all must be automatically switch off the lights. Not only are
held accountable for. A good place to start is you saving energy, but also cutting down costs
by adhering to the “Five Rs”: Reduce, Reuse, on the electricity bill.
Recycle, Repair, and Rethink. From turning off
the lights when leaving a room to turning down LET THERE BE LIGHT
the temperature when everyone goes home More often than not, artificial lighting is
for the day – you’ll be surprised how small unnecessarily used in offices on a daily
changes can make such a big difference. basis, when really natural light from outside
isn’t being fully utilised. Artificial lighting, on
RECYCLE PRINTER CARTRIDGES AND average, represents 40% of overall electricity
TONER BOTTLES usage. To combat this, make sure blinds and
After you refill the printer, make sure you put curtains are always open during daylight
the empty cartridges to one side to recycle. By hours and that all lights are switched off when
doing this you’re helping to keep millions of people go home for the day.
used printer supplies out of harmful landfills.
Many manufacturers offer pre-paid shipping CONSERVE POWER
labels as part of their recycling schemes – Surprisingly, one of the biggest uses of energy
so be sure to check with your supplier, or in offices are machines that are switched
alternatively, find out where your nearest off but still plugged into a live outlet. Putting
recycling bins are. computers into standby mode is not only a
huge drain on energy consumption but also
USE RECYCLED PAPER (AND RECYCLE largely unnecessary. Make sure to turn your
USED PAPER) computer off completely, especially before
Recycling paper saves trees, water, energy, weekends and holidays, and make sure
and chemicals. So, make sure you have screensavers are on a short time limit or are
recycling boxes around printers, desks, and disabled.
meeting rooms and try to print double-sided
whenever possible. You should also make BE TEMPERATURE SMART
sure the company who provides your paper Make sure to set the thermostat to heat the
is an environmentally friendly supplier, they office no warmer than 21 degrees in colder
will usually be certified by forest management months and a minimum of 16 degrees when
standards (the FSC or SFI). it’s unoccupied. This will not only help to
conserve energy but will keep the overall
INSTALL MOTION SENSORS temperature at a happy medium for everyone.
How many times a day do you walk around It’s also a great idea to install caulking and
your office and notice lights on in rooms that weather-strips to windows and doors in order
aren’t in use? This problem can be easily to minimise heat loss.
solved with motion-activated light sensors,
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