Focus on 'Green'

At TechSoup Canada we are committed to providing resources to help you create 'greener' workplaces, increase employee productivity and retention, and reduce operational cost.

GreenTech Challenge events:

• Tuesday, April 21 - Toronto Net Tuesday - panel discussion, "Go Green & Save $"
• Wednesday, April 22 - Green Communities Webinar

As part of our GreenTech Challenge initiative, we've partnered with the following organizations to bring you 'Green' tips and learning content:

• TechSoup Global GreenTech Initiative
• the David Suzuki Foundation
• Green Communities Canada
• Carbonzero

TechSoup Global Green Tech Initiative

Beginning April 20 and running through May 15th, TechSoup Global will be kicking off the 'TeleGreen Your Work' educational campaign to help nonprofits, libraries and other social benefit organizations discover ways to save money, reduce travel, and still be effective in your work. Here's a sample of some of the great posts and articles to be featured during the TeleGreen Your Work initiative:

Blog Posts:

• 10 Resolutions to Green Your Technology
• Creating and Distributing Electronic Annual Reports and Marketing Materials
• Choosing Print Management Software
• Reduce Your Computer's Power Consumption in Minutes 
• Duplexing: How to Print or Copy on Both Sides

• Ten Tips for Donating A Computer
• Electronic Fax Alternatives for Your Nonprofit

David Suzuki Foundation (DSF)

Since 1990, the David Suzuki Foundation has worked to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us. Sustainability is about doing thing better: using resources wisely, taking care of people, and creating genuine wealth. David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge at Work helps organizations implement their environmental values with low-cost actions that make a difference.

Here's a sample of some of the tips that you can find in the Nature Challenge toolkit:

1. Get employees on board: No one is better positioned to identify waste and inefficiencies than employees working on the front lines, making them the strongest ally in streamlining operations for cost savings. Invite employees to suggest improvements, then implement the best ideas and recognize the employees who made it happen.


2. Showcase your eco-heroes at work: Draw from people in the organization who are making changes in their lives. Tell the story of the outreach coordinator who bikes to work or the project manager who brings her lunch in reusable containers. Start noticing and celebrating your eco-heroes to help make sustainable choices the new normal!
   
   
3. Make it easy to do the right thing. Even the best of us sometimes forget to check the box for double-sided printing. But you can slash your organization’s paper use by making double-sided the default option. The same goes for saving energy: enable the energy-saving features on your IT equipment and install motion sensors on your lights.
4. Give feedback on the impacts of your green initiatives to show that action makes a difference. If you launch a campaign to power down at night and on the weekend, measure the energy savings and report back to staff. Use energy meters to make energy use personal. This creates accountability and helps people understand the direct impact of their choices.

Carbonzero

Carbonzero is the leading provider of Canadian high-quality, renewable energy and energy efficiency voluntary offsets and corporate greenhouse gas management services. Carbonzero projects produce measurable, verified emissions reductions that provide their host communities with clear environmental, economic and social benefits.

Ways to reduce your Carbon Footprint

Green Gas emmisions are emitted into the atmosphere through the use of energy, cars, inappropriate disposal of waste, and use of water resources.  Ways to reduce your impact on the environment AND your Carbon Footprint are as follows;

1. Un-plug all electrical equipment when you leave the house including stoves, refrigerators, and microwaves.  It is important to note that simply turning off appliances does not negate all energy use.  These appliances often have jolts of energy throughout the day while still plugged on that are un-necessary additions to our carbon footprint.


2. Create a "car-pool/bike" to work day once a week at your place of employment.  or have certain days were employees can work from home.  Approximately 30% of the total work place carbon footprint can be found in the amount of transportation company employees use to get to and from work.


3. Make sure to throw away recyclables and compostables in the correct bins, and try to avoid purchasing over packaged products. Computers and hazardous materials such as CFL lightbulbs and batteries now have specified disposal services aswell. Use them!


4. Have a shower instead of a bath.  Heating and cooling of water takes energy, not to mention the resources used in the purification process.  Switching to water efficient toilets are also a valuable environmental and financial decision.


5. Get a carbon audit!  Carbon Audits are a valuable way to find out just how much your family, business, organization, or community group is contributing to Climate Change.  A quantitative analysis shows your current emissions and also offers suggestions to reduce them (along with pesky monthly energy bills!).

Green Communities Canada

Green Communities Canada is a national network of community-based non-profit organizations that deliver innovative environmental programs and services, with a focus on household and community action. Green Communities Canada supports member organizations in working together to achieve environmental sustainability, including healthy ecosystems and communities, sustainable resource use, and clean air, water, and soil.