Measures to Reduce UJIA’s Carbon Footprint
FIT-OUT
UJIA aimed to use less furniture, furniture made from sustainable or reused sources, and optimise the space to reduce the need for heat control appliances. All these measures aim at reducing consumption and purchasing of new or wastefully made products and reducing day-to-day energy requirements.
UJIA aimed to use less furniture, furniture made from sustainable or reused sources, and optimise the space to reduce the need for heat control appliances. All these measures aim at reducing consumption and purchasing of new or wastefully made products and reducing day-to-day energy requirements.
• The fit-out of new office is based on furnishings that can be moved at the end of the lease, rather than extensive construction
• Furniture purchased from suppliers certified for environmental responsibility; desk screens from recycled fabric.
• Re-use of carpet tiles
• Re-used pedestal units obtained from a downsizing bank and deployed at UJIA’s new office
• Fresh air ventilation to enclosed spaces; front of house system equipped with heat recovery pump to reduce need for air conditioning/heating
• Furniture purchased from suppliers certified for environmental responsibility; desk screens from recycled fabric.
• Re-use of carpet tiles
• Re-used pedestal units obtained from a downsizing bank and deployed at UJIA’s new office
• Fresh air ventilation to enclosed spaces; front of house system equipped with heat recovery pump to reduce need for air conditioning/heating
ENERGY
Obviously the amount of energy used, and carbon emissions emitted in the process, needed to be reduced. The following include some measures to address this as well as maximising the opportunity to upgrade to equipment that not only reduce carbon footprint, but offer improved sustainability in other areas such as compatibility with sustainability sourced paper.
Obviously the amount of energy used, and carbon emissions emitted in the process, needed to be reduced. The following include some measures to address this as well as maximising the opportunity to upgrade to equipment that not only reduce carbon footprint, but offer improved sustainability in other areas such as compatibility with sustainability sourced paper.
A key consideration here is whole-life costs. The initial outlay for energy efficient equipment may be higher, but the reduced running costs mean overall savings are made. For example, UJIA’s expensive hand dryers are highly effective – but have eliminated the need for paper towels in the toilets altogether and use 80% less electricity then conventional dryers.
• Ultra low energy lighting in meeting rooms and foyer
• Low energy lighting throughout inside of building
• Ultra low-energy electric hand driers replacing paper towels in main toilets
• Separate lighting switches for different zones of open-plan areas to account for variation in natural lighting
• Accessible and switchable accessory sockets for all work stations
• Reduce number of printers and fax machines by 40% leading to savings in power and paper use
• New low-energy appliances to replace some of older existing appliances, newer appliances re-used
• Reduce floor space by 40%
• Bulk-delivered bottled water replaced by filtering tap water
• Urns replaced with on-demand beverage hot water taps
• Ultra low energy photocopier to replace existing unit, compatible with recycled paper
• Ultra low energy lighting in meeting rooms and foyer
• Low energy lighting throughout inside of building
• Ultra low-energy electric hand driers replacing paper towels in main toilets
• Separate lighting switches for different zones of open-plan areas to account for variation in natural lighting
• Accessible and switchable accessory sockets for all work stations
• Reduce number of printers and fax machines by 40% leading to savings in power and paper use
• New low-energy appliances to replace some of older existing appliances, newer appliances re-used
• Reduce floor space by 40%
• Bulk-delivered bottled water replaced by filtering tap water
• Urns replaced with on-demand beverage hot water taps
• Ultra low energy photocopier to replace existing unit, compatible with recycled paper
Electricity costs down 65% compared with Balfour House (Information based on use pattern July-November 2009, including high-use period in summer when air conditioning operates)
WASTE
Much of the waste offices create is due to inefficient structures and systems. Some of the measures below highlight how small simple changes to office operation can reduce waste. In particular centralised stationary and equipment storage with more closely monitored usage and ordering allows for reduced waste.
Much of the waste offices create is due to inefficient structures and systems. Some of the measures below highlight how small simple changes to office operation can reduce waste. In particular centralised stationary and equipment storage with more closely monitored usage and ordering allows for reduced waste.
It is also worth considering the habitual nature of some office practice and some resistance you may meet with staff e.g. with reducing personal waste bins. Sharing information on the sustainability and practical benefits of these decisions is one way to make changes more acceptable.
• Office waste recycling via London Borough of Camden
• Reduce number of personal waste bins to encourage waste separation and use of recycling facilities.
• Spent ink cartridges sent for re-use via charity scheme
• Tighter control of office supply inventory ordering procedure
• Reduce number of personal waste bins to encourage waste separation and use of recycling facilities.
• Spent ink cartridges sent for re-use via charity scheme
• Tighter control of office supply inventory ordering procedure
TRAVEL
UJIA made accessible public transport a major priority during its relocation to offer staff easy alternatives to driving.
UJIA made accessible public transport a major priority during its relocation to offer staff easy alternatives to driving.
As part of reimbursing travel expense to the voluntary summer tour leaders attending out training seminar, we insist that to be reimbursed volunteers must car pool and travel with at least 4 people in a car. We are currently carrying out a review of staff flights taken as part of our work to identify those that can be reduced.
• Location chosen for its excellent public transport links
• No staff parking, limited guest parking
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Lockers and showers
• Secure cycle parking
• Liaison with Camden and Transport for London Enterprise Scheme resulting in grant support for pro-cycling measures
• Mileage payments for staff using bicycles to travel to work meetings
• Location chosen for its excellent public transport links
• No staff parking, limited guest parking
• Season ticket loans
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Lockers and showers
• Secure cycle parking
• Liaison with Camden and Transport for London Enterprise Scheme resulting in grant support for pro-cycling measures
• Mileage payments for staff using bicycles to travel to work meetings
PURCHASING AND MATERIALS POLICIES
• No meat on UJIA 37 Kentish Town Road premises including at functions on site. This makes Kashrut simpler and also means that meat, with its large carbon footprint, is consumed less
• Minimal use of disposable crockery and cutlery, supported by Kashrut policy and purchase of new permanent crockery and cutlery for the new office
• On site shredding rather than using a contractor – the shredded paper is collected as part of our recycling contract, saving separate journeys by secure disposal contractor
• Participation in “Camden Wedge” scheme to encourage use of local shops and facilities
• Rainforest Alliance certified or Fairtrade tea and coffee
• No meat on UJIA 37 Kentish Town Road premises including at functions on site. This makes Kashrut simpler and also means that meat, with its large carbon footprint, is consumed less
• Minimal use of disposable crockery and cutlery, supported by Kashrut policy and purchase of new permanent crockery and cutlery for the new office
• On site shredding rather than using a contractor – the shredded paper is collected as part of our recycling contract, saving separate journeys by secure disposal contractor
• Participation in “Camden Wedge” scheme to encourage use of local shops and facilities
• Rainforest Alliance certified or Fairtrade tea and coffee
COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICITY
• All office printing defaulted to double-sided and gradual replacement of all printers not capable of double-sided printing
• All outsourced printing on sustainable paper using environmentally-friendly processes
• Branded pens from recycled plastic
• Replace cut flowers with informative, reusable table display at our main appeal dinner, and reused at further events throughout the year
• All office printing defaulted to double-sided and gradual replacement of all printers not capable of double-sided printing
• All outsourced printing on sustainable paper using environmentally-friendly processes
• Branded pens from recycled plastic
• Replace cut flowers with informative, reusable table display at our main appeal dinner, and reused at further events throughout the year
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