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Energy
We’ve spent a lot of ink in this book talking about reducing your power consumption—and
there’s even more discussion in the chapters ahead. But there are some non-IT places where
you can also reduce the amount of electricity your organization uses.

Appliances
Your break room likely has various appliances, including refrigerators. When buying
refrigerators and other appliances, you should buy models that are Energy Star certified.
Energy Star is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s program to promote
products that use less power than noncertified products.

NOTE You can find a list of Energy Star–rated refrigerators via Link 5-1.
Rebates
You don’t have to make all these eco-friendly changes in a vacuum. Chances are, wherever
your business is located, you’ll be able to get some sort of rebate for changing the type of
lighting you use and the like. Failing that, governmental organizations want to help.
For example, the San Francisco Department of the Environment, in partnership with the
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, provides free energy audits, reports, technical assistance,
and rebates for commercial customers in San Francisco. Your city, county, or province might
provide similar services. You just have to ask.
Pollutants
Another place your organization can reduce its environmental impact is through the types of
materials it uses. That is, products are available that contain fewer toxins than conventional
materials.

Cleaning Products
Most janitorial cleaning products contain ingredients that may cause harm to human health,
indoor air quality, and the environment. Some ingredients in janitorial cleaning products
can instantly burn the eyes, skin, and lungs. By choosing the least toxic cleaning products
for your organization, you lessen your environmental impact, and you also lessen the
chance for an employee to be harmed. You can determine which products have low levels of
toxins by observing the following:

• Reading the product label and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) can help you
make this determination. The MSDSs of many cleaning products that are sold to the
general public can be found in the National Institutes of Health’s Household
Products Database at http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov, or via Link 5-2.
• Examine the list of institutional cleaning products that have been certified by Green
Seal as meeting its Standard GS-37 for general cleaners and GS-40 for floor-care
products. This list is available at www.greenseal.org, or via Link 5-3.
• Read the Janitorial Pollution Prevention website. This public service website has fact
sheets on safe and effective cleaning techniques for windows, carpets, restrooms,
and other cleaning job. The website can be accessed via Link 5-4.