Sustainable Spaces - Main Office

Current Procedures and Best Practices

Waste Reduction and Diversion

• All common areas have Zero Waste Stations.
• All inkjet and laser jet cartirdges are recycled (through Ayako Nagasawa).
  
• Office furniture and equipment are disposed of through facilities for salvage and re-use.
• Unless necessary, printing is avoided. Printer options are set to black and white and double sided by default.
• Scrap paper is reused whenever possible, and a pile of scrap paper is kept near the printer.
• Newsletters/catalogues are published and/or received digitally, except for accessibility purposes.
• If necessary, only recycled paper or compostable certified products are provided.
• Work areas have desk-side paper recycling bins with Bin Buddies for landfill waste (rather than full-size garbage cans).
• Staff have their own reusable mugs and water bottles and do not use single-use cups or bottles.
• There is a designated area for sharing and re-using office supplies (located on the front counter).
  
• A designated bin for dead batteries is available in the front office. To dispose of other electronic items please contact Dave Lee or Chang Min Kim.
  
• Efforts to reduce personal paper are explored, such as re-fillable binders and notebooks.
• An espresso machine is used instead of individual coffee pod machines and the grounds are composted.

Energy and Conservation

• Devices are automatically turned off (or put in sleep mode) when not in use.
• All lights are turned off when not in use, except for common areas.
• Tips for maximized energy savings are emailed to all staff prior to holidays and extended breaks.
• Small appliances are unplugged at night.
• Compact fluorescent lights or LED's are used in all desk lamps.
• Warmer clothing, blankets, shawls, and hats are worn in place of personal plug-in heaters.
• Exterior doors and windows are shut tightly during cold weather.
• Blinds in windowed offices are closed at night.

Transportation and Mobility

• Efforts are made to carpool, use public transportation, utilize video conferencing, and walk or cycle to workplace and off-site meetings. If you are interested in organizing or joining a carpool, please contact physinfo@sfu.ca.

Food and Dining

• In progress.
  

Purchasing

• Staff are familiar with, and ahdere to, SFU's Ethical Procurement Policy for all purchases. Disposable, low functionality and energy-consuming options are avoided. Gifts and prizes that are locally made and or/locally significant, environmentally friendly, ethically made, functional, desirable, and educational are selected.
• Appliances and equipment are purchased second-hand when possible. Otherwise, only energy star or EPEAT certified models are purchased.
• Prior to purchasing any new office furniture, Facilities Services is contacted regarding any surplus in stock at Central Stores. Otherwise, preference is given to sustainable furniture options.
• The full life-cycle of a product is researched and considered before purchasing.
• Purchasing priorities are given to local vendors (e.g. Central Stores, Copy Centre) to reduce truck traffic and vehicle emissions.
• Off-campus orders are consolidated to reduce traffic and emissions (e.g. order from STAPLES are placed once every 2 weeks rather than having 2 or 3 small items delivered every other day).

Engagement

• Our office has identified a Sustainability Leader (Andrei Badulescu) whom others can contact with ideas, questions, and comments regarding SFU's Sustainable Spaces Initiative.
• We strive to attend at least one annual sustainability campus event (Last Attended: June 27, 2017).
• We have integrated sustainability as a concept into our events.
• Office sustainability policies and information are included in orientation for new staff, and SFU's Sustainability Policy is outlined in hiring information.
  

Innovation and Leadership

• An office sustainability plan was developed, and contributes to one or more of the goals of SFU's Sustainability Strategic Plan.
• Paper-based recruitment practices were discontinued to favour more digital content.
  

Goals

Waste Reduction and Diversion

• Provide reusable cups, mugs, dishware, and utensils to all attendees during all meetings and events.
• Keep at least one re-usable bag in the office for use instead of plastic bags when shopping for goodies and supplies (Rose said she can probably spare one).

Energy and Conservation

• Ask Facilities to re-seal the windows in the office prior to the cold weather.

Transportation and Mobility

• Organize more carpools and come up with an incentinve system for alternative transportation.
  

Food and Dining

• Use the Go Green Container Exchange program while purchasing meals on campus.
• Staff to regularly explore and purchase healthy and low-impact food in the office.
• Purchase and promote Fair Trade products in the office (cost and departmental member satisfaction are higher priorities).

Purchasing

• Switch to products with a higher post-consumer recycle content (for post-its, notebooks, etc).

Engagement

• Encourage labs to pursue the sustainable labs designation.

Innovation and Leadership

• Push for even more paper-free recruiting.

Sustainable Spaces - Labs

If you'd like to certify your lab as a sustainable space, please fill out and submit the Sustainable Lab checklist to Sustainability Services.