Going Green In the Workplace

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Going Green In the Workplace

• Bluegrass PRIDE
• Amy Sohner
• Executive Director

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Bluegrass PRIDE

• Personal Responsibility In a Desirable Environment

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(No Transcript)
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Mission

• 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

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Why 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)

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Why 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

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How Can You Help?

• Use the Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools
  website s inventories
• www.greenschools.ky.gov

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Home 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
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Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools

• 9 Inventories
• Solid Waste
• Energy
• Transportation
• Green Space
• Indoor Air Quality
• Hazardous Chemicals
• Leadership
• Water
• Health and Safety

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Solid Waste

• Recycling
• Trash
• Composting
• Reuse, Reduce and Rebuy

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Recycling

• 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?

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Recycling

• How much income does your office receive from
  recycling?
• or
• How much does your office pay as a recycling fee?

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Improvement 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

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Resources

• 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

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Resources

• 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
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Trash 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?

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Trash 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?

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Improvement Ideas

• Conduct a waste audit
• After reducing amount of trash, shop around for a
  smaller dumpster

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Resources

• 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

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Composting

• 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?

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Improvement Ideas

• Look into participating in a composting program
• Through landscaping companies
• Install an indoor compost bin
• In Fayette County, participate in the Lenny
  program

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Resources

• 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

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Reduce, 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

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Reduce, 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)?

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Improvement 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

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Improvement 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

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Improvement Ideas

• Use rechargeable batteries
• Recycle your electronics
• Computers
• Cell Phones
• Printer cartridges

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Resources

• 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

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Energy
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Energy

• 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

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Energy

• 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?

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Energy

• 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?

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Energy

• 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?

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Energy

• 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

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Improvement 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

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Resources

• Energy Calculators
• ces.ca.uky.edu/energy/calculators.htm
• Energy Star Program
• www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c
• challenge.bus_challenge

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Transportation
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Transportation

• 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?

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Transportation

• 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)?

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Improvement 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

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Resources

• 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

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Green Spaces
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General 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?

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Lawns

• 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?

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Resources

• 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

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Gardens

• 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?

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Resources

• Rain Garden Alliance
• www.bluegrassraingardenalliance.org
• Bluegrass PRIDE www.kentuckypride.com
  

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Air Quality
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General 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

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General Questions

• What does your regular cleaning schedule entail?
• How are employees workspace kept clean and dry?
• What sanitation policies are followed?

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Resources

• Kentucky Division for Air Quality [phone]
  or [phone]
• National Institute of Occupational Safety and
  Health (NIOSH),
• Building Air Quality Action Plan
  www.cdc.gov/niosh/baqtoc.html

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Asthma/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?

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Resources

• 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

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Dust 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?

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Dust 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?

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Resources

• 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

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Gases 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?

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Resources

• 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

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Hazardous Chemicals

• Mercury
• Pest Management
• Chemical Safety

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Mercury

• 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)?

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Pest 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?

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Improvement 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

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Chemicals

• Are all chemicals properly stored and labeled?
• Are alternatives in use when possible?

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Chemical 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

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Leadership
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Leadership

• 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?

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Water

• Water Quality
• Water Management
• Water Conservation

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Water 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

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Water 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)?

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Water 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?

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Improvement 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

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• Environmental Education

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Environmental Education

• WasteBuster Program
• Available to all businesses and schools in
  Fayette County
• Classroom activities
• Teacher trainings
• Help setting up recycling program

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Environmental Education

• PRIDEs Resource Library
• Free check out materials
• Reading with Rosie Program

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Volunteer!
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Volunteer!

• Sign up for updates at www.kentuckyPRIDE.com
• Schedule your own office activity
• Storm drain stenciling
• Litter cleanup

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• It is getting easier to be
• green

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• Questions?
• Bluegrass PRIDE
• www.KentuckyPRIDE.com
• 866-222-1648
• Amy_at_KentuckyPRIDE.com