University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

A little effort can go a long way toward helping to create the culture shift required to achieve an environmentally sustainable UB. Since most UB employees spend more time at work than at home, the behaviors we engage in while on campus play a critical role in determining how green UB can be.

Look around your office; you’ll find plenty of opportunities to contribute. Start with the basics and focus on improving those things within your direct control, such as recycling, energy conservation and paper consumption.

Begin by running down this recycling checklist:

• Do you have a paper-recycling bin at your desk?

• Does your department have a recycling bin for plastic, glass and metal in a communal space, like a kitchen or break room?

• Do you know what is and is not recyclable?

If you need bins or information on recycling, or further instructional training, contact UB Green at 829-3535. Recycling saves money, so during these tight financial times, the more we can save, the better.

A great way to determine potential energy savings is to generate a list of all the activities you engage in daily that require energy. You may be surprised by the opportunities you have to save at the office.

Start your day by choosing the stairs over the elevator. Avoid the temptation to hit the button for the automatic door. This is a service reserved for people with disabilities, and excessive use wastes heated/cooled air.

Confirm that the power-management features on your computer are enabled and eliminate the need for a screensaver by simply turning off your monitor when you leave your desk; don’t forget to turn off all equipment before you head home.

Plug all electrical equipment into a power strip; it’s a fast and easy way to disconnect everything at once. This is important because many electrical items continue to draw power, even when turned off.

Turning off any equipment not in active use is the easiest thing you can do to save energy. This includes lighting.

If you have enough daylight to work without overhead lights, turn them off. If you see lights on in unoccupied kitchens, bathrooms or lecture halls, flip the switch.

Do you and your colleagues have coffee makers within reach? Consolidating kitchen appliances with co-workers can significantly reduce yearly energy consumption. Unless you’re completely isolated, try rethinking having your own coffee maker, microwave or minifridge. Many of these appliances end up at work because we have extras at home or took advantage of a sale. Consider donating these to a charity or to a college-age niece or nephew.

Operational problems, like overheating/cooling, can be resolved by submitting a work order with University Facilities customer service.

Think about the paper you use each day; slight adjustments could add up to substantial savings:

• Try creating a filing system within your email account to avoid printing correspondence you must save.

• Adjust default settings to print multiple pages per sheet, or to print double-sided.

• Use scrap paper for printing drafts or taking notes.

• All UB units can order tree-free, 100-percent, post-consumer waste copy paper through the university’s Staples contract. This high-quality, bright-white paper is available at a reasonable cost, and using it significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with paper production.

These are just a few simple suggestions to begin the greening process. If you’re beyond the basics, give UB Green a call (829-3535) for next steps. Remember: The adjustments in your behavior serve as a model to others and help initiate the changes necessary to create a sustainable culture at UB.

—Erin Cala Moscati, UB Green