Thursday, April 10, 2008

 

Pledge to green your work  

Thursday’s NPHW behavior encourages Americans to take steps to “Green Your Work.” If you haven’t already, it’s not too late to get started making a difference by signing on to the Healthy Climate Pledge.

With all the time we spend at our jobs, going green at work is an important step in the fight against climate change. If greening your workplace sounds like a daunting task, here are some ideas for where to start:

  • Save energy

Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other electronic devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day (“standby” settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch, the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once. Also, be sure to power down inkjet printers before shutting off the power — they need to seal their cartridges. Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.

  • Go digital

The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets. This also makes it easier to make backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office. Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send e-mail instead of paper letters and invest in software that helps eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and converts files to PDF formats for paperless document sharing.

  • Use green office materials

Some paper use can’t be avoided. When you do use paper, make sure to use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom or kitchen and provide biodegradable cleaners for custodial staff. Buy in bulk so that shipping and packaging waste are reduced, reuse shipping boxes, recycle printer cartridges and purchase recycled office product replacements.

  • Telecommute if you can

More than 44 million Americans telecommute. Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative workflow tools are making effective telecommuting a reality. If you can telecommute, hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home, give it a try. It’ll save you the time you would have spent on the trip and as a bonus, you get to work in your pajamas. Also, consider the possibility of working four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days (a consolidated work week), cutting the energy and time spent on commuting by 20 percent and giving you some lovely three-day weekends.

  • Move toward a green workspace

Greening the space in which you work has almost limitless possibilities. Start with good furniture, good lighting and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials and groundbreaking companies have adopted environmentally intelligent designs for many of their office chairs. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents and there is an ever-growing selection of LED desk lamps that use small amounts of energy. Not only is natural daylight a free source of lighting for the office, it improves worker productivity and satisfaction and boosts sales in retail settings. Workspace air quality is also crucial. Good ventilation and safe materials will keep employees healthy.

In This Issue

  • What’s Happening Today
  • NPHW Blog Series
  • Climate Change in the News
  • Take Action Today!
  • Resources

What’s Happening Today

At 10 a.m. today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will be holding a hearing on “Climate Change: A Challenge for Public Health.” Hearing witnesses include APHA members Dr. John Balbus, chief health scientist and program director at the Environmental Defense Fund, Dr. Jonathan Patz, professor and director of global environmental health at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Dr. Kristie Ebi, president of ESS LLC. Visit the committee Web site to learn more.

Want to know what is happening in your community? Visit the NPHW Event Calendar for a complete list of submitted events that are taking place around the nation. You can also get the word out about any NPHW events that you’re organizing.  

NPHW Blog Series

Today’s blog entry on how to green your workplace is written by Adam Segel-Moss, LEED AP, green building outreach coordinator with the Fresh AIRE (Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions) program:

More and more people are taking their green philosophy and practices to work. They refuse to check their morals and beliefs at the door and are helping businesses take the lead on climate change...

Click here to read more!

Climate Change in the News

Here are some recent stories on NPHW from around the nation, as well as a selection of stories from the NPHW Twitter:

Take Action Today!  

Representative Hilda Solis and Representative Edward Markey have introduced a resolution highlighting NPHW and the relationship between climate change and health. Please contact your representative and ask him/her to cosponsor this important resolution.

Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing our nation. Yet many Americans, including many of our elected officials are unaware of the very real consequences of climate change on the health of our communities, our families and our children.

Please take the time to send a message to your senators and representative urging them to include provisions to protect the public’s health from the impacts of climate change as they consider legislation to address climate change this year.

NPHW Resources

Click here for more…