Power play Few people enjoyed the transition from incandescent to buzzing fluorescent lights when they became the office standard, but LEDs haven’t met the same resistance.
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“Thanks to years of research and development, LEDs have come a long way in light quality and cost, which makes them a better option for retrofitting,” says David Russell, senior vice president of corporate real estate and facilities for CB&T. “Not to mention that the CALGreen portion of California’s Title 24 has put a lot of urgency into energy efficiency, including lighting.”
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LEDs use up to 90% less energy, can last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and can even reduce air-conditioning needs since they produce very little heat. While you’re in the process of doing a retrofit, motion-sensitive light switches can also
make a difference on utility bills. Energy Star-certified appliances are yet another way to conserve on power, especially if that office refrigerator is getting up in years. If you’re looking to augment your power with solar panels, it’s worth investigating the tax-credit subsidies available for corporations.
Watch your waste Talk of the “paperless office” has been around for decades, but we’re not quite there yet. Nonetheless, using digital transactions wherever possible represents a significant way to reduce waste, storage and costs.
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Transitioning away from single-use water bottles — one of the largest office-waste culprits — can help on multiple fronts. By switching to a water cooler or reverse osmosis, you’re sending less plastic into landfills and probably saving enough money to buy everyone in the office a reusable company-logoed plastic cup. If you prefer recycled cups, the good news is that they’re now about the same cost as Styrofoam, without the environmental harm.
Recycle The list of materials that can be recycled today continues to grow, from plastic and paper to toner
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cartridges and all types of electronics. “If your business requires document shredding, look for a vendor that also recycles,” Russell says. Different cities, counties and municipalities have standardized programs to handle recycling of plastic and other products. Participating can help save money in some cases, or it might just be doing the right thing. The other side of the recycling coin is buying products with recycled content, whether it’s paper, furniture or even carpeting.
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IN YOUR CORNER ISSUE 10 | 2022
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