Tips for A Greener Workplace

Waste

1. Provide an office kitchen to minimise use of disposable packaging.

2. Reuse print cartridges.

3. Reuse drums and containers where possible and ask suppliers to exchange empties.

4. Install recycle areas to make recycling easy.

5. Be part of Earth Hour and, together with Westpac and other businesses, turn your lights off for 60 minutes.

Water

1. Determine the minimum volume of water you need and cut back where possible.

2. Fix dripping taps and leaking pipes – one dripping tap can waste $100 a year.

3. Use dry techniques to clean surfaces rather than wet – brooms, vacuum cleaners or compressed air jets all save on water.

4. Install water-saving devices.

5. Consider using waste or ‘grey’ water for lower-grade uses like watering gardens. 

Energy 

1. Shut down computers at the end of the day and switch off monitors at lunchtime.

2. Turn off lights and/or install a sensor light.

3. Install skylights in the roof or walls to reduce the need for artificial lighting.

4. Use the most efficient motors and ensure you’re using the right equipment for the job – not too big.

5. Replace incandescent globes with fluorescent tubes – it saves power and also reduces air conditioning loads.