Environment
As a small, family run business, we really do care about the impact that our business may be having on the environment. We understand that the things we do today could well have a big impact on the World that our children and grandchildren may live in tomorrow.
The thing is though, caring for the environment and doing your "Green bit", doesn't have to be hard or mean you have to wear open toed sandals, well not unless you like to of course. It just means that we all need to be a little more thoughtful about how we do things.
So we decided to sit down and do some thinking about how we could change some of the things we were doing. We were also greatly impressed and influenced by a visit to the Eden Project, in Corwall. As well as being a World renowned visitor attraction, it's also a really great place to see how we can all play an important part in looking after our World for future generations.
I have to be honest though and say that we were actually quite surprised at just how many changes we were able to think of, that would have a positive effect in reducing our impact on the environment. Read on, to discover some of the things we're doing every day to help ensure that we can all be a part of a brighter, better tomorrow.
Cleaner Vauxhall Driving
In an ideal World it would always be better to take shared transport like a bus, coach or train but the truth is that most operators and indeed, most passengers prefer not to be sitting next to tins of paint, timber and piles of bricks. So we have to use a van.
However, when we decided to make a van replacement we thought, why don't we get a van that can help us to be greener? The Vauxhall Vivaro does just that every day. As part of the onboard computer system, the driver can view a display that shows exactly what the average miles per gallon is, (MPG). It also constantly recalculates and updates this information.
With some small changes in driving style the MPG can be made much better. We also try to load
more thoughtfully too, so if ladders and access equipment can go inside, then that's where we put them, so that they're not causing drag by being stowed on the roof racking. Likewise, we always try to ensure that we are only carrying what is actually needed, thus reducing weight and in turn, fuel consumption.
Investing In a Greener Future
When we needed to replace our old printer we decided to look at more than just the purchase price. After considering a number of different options, we settled on a printer manufactured by Canon.
Not only does it provide us with professional quality solutions for printing, copying, scanning and faxing but it uses less ink and energy than the old one. Better still, the ink cartridges can be refilled at a local print supplier. So now we can refill rather than landfill! (Ho ho.) When the cartridges do finally print their last, they are returned for recycling.
We also now use both sides of printer paper when sending out printed material and this simple change has, naturally enough, reduced our paper use by half. That's a lot more trees left standing to help produce the clean air that we all need everyday.
Less To Landfill
It is a fact, we get through quite a bit of paint each year, and no matter how carefully we estimate the amounts required, left over paint is unavoidable. The trouble is though, most paints but especially oil and solvent based paints are very toxic to the environment.
So we got thinking, and we thought that the Painting & Decorating department at the Isle of Wight College might be rather glad to have some of our spare paint. Well, actually they were very happy
because it means that they make a little saving in their paint budget and we're pleased because now
none of our surplus paint needs to go to landfill.
Less Pongy Paint!
Over the years that we have been trading, we have built up a really good working relationship with ICI Dulux Trade. They have an excellent technical advice department, which can help us in providing decorative solutions for all our clients. The same technical department has also been working hard and has developed a whole range of paints that are much better for the environment. We are always pleased to help and advise clients that are looking for paints with a less harmful impact on the environment.
A Tree Is For Life
In the course of an average trading year, we can get through quite an amount of timber and timber derived materials. Trees are of vital importance to human and other life because they help greatly in the production of the air that we all breath. So we think that it's really important to ensure that any wood that we use is being grown, harvested and re-planted in a responsible way.
That's why we will only use timber from suppliers and manufacturers who are members of the
Forest Stewardship Council, (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, (PEFC). Both certification standards are assessed to ISO 14001, which seeks continuous improvement in minimising the environmental impact of company's activities.
Future Friendly
We know this phrase sounds a bit "fluffy" but it's a good way of helping us all to think about the future when we are making decisions today. For instance, when we are working on the interior of properties, we often need to have strong bright site lighting and in the past this has been provided by "Halogen" powered lighting units.
Fairly shortly, these units will be replaced and when they are they will be replaced with low energy powered units. They will provide exactly the same level of bright light, they won't cast shadow but they will use much, much, less energy and the bulb units will last 12,000 hours!
Now The Really Good News
Like a lot of people, when we started to think about being a "greener" business, we expected that it might have a cost. Not so.
The Vauxhall Vivaro had no additional cost when compared to other comparable vehicles but using the onboard computer to monitor and adjust driving style lowers Co2 emissions, reduces fuel consumption and actually saves money.
The Canon office printing equipment cost the same as comparable printers and produces very high quality results but uses less ink from cartridges that can be refilled and then finally recycled. This is better for the environment and leads to much reduced printing costs.
Hopefully, what all this goes to show is that going green or doing your "Green bit", doesn't just help to improve our environment, it can actually produce some serious money saving too!
The Isle of Wight is a beautiful place, it is often referred to as "The Garden Isle" and it is just a small part of an equally beautiful and delicate World. So let's keep thinking about how we can all help to look after this World.
If you would like some inspiration and ideas on what you can do to help look after our World, why not visit the Eden Project website at www.edenproject.com
Better still, if you should find yourself in the gorgeous west of England, you can visit them in person at, Eden Project, Bodelva, St Austell, Cornwall, PL24 2SG
If you have some ideas on recycling or ways in which you are helping the environment and you'd like to share them, why not let us know right now by sending us your thoughts using our "Contact us" page. After all, if you've got a good idea that's working, don't keep it to yourself, pass it on!