Environmental protection | Higher education » Green Office Tips

Green Office Tips Green certificates, an easy way to support green electricity WWF Finland and VVO, a member of the Green Office network, are putting their responsibility to slow down climate change into effect by using green electricity. The premises of VVO are supplied with electricity generated by an old hydroelectric power plant and by wind power. This saves 9,400 tons of carbon dioxide each year or the equivalent of the emissions caused by 4 million litres of petrol. To bind this amount of carbon dioxide would require planting about 30,750 trees. Many offices and office units can’t make their own contracts for green electricity because this is the responsibility of their company or the owner of the office block. However, green certificates offer a possibility to support the production of emissionfree energy, because they can be bought independently of the electricity contract. One certificate costs five euros and is equal of one megawatt-hour. Based on the average specific

emission of energy production in Finland each certificate bought reduces the office’s carbon dioxide emission by 200 kg. You can buy certificates corresponding to the total electricity consumption of your office or a certain part of that. Certificates can be used for instance to make seminars or other happenings emission free, when they correspond to the energy consumption of the event. Also private people can by green certificates By using green electricity and green certificates you support the use of renewable energy sources. More information: Motiva Oy: www.motivafi/fi/kirjasto/uusiutuvatenergialahteetsuomessa/vihreatsertifikaatit GreenStream Network Oy: www.gsn-tradecom Switch off lights and appliances at home and in the office As a part of the Green Office programme the employees of OP Bank in Helsinki Itäkeskus office were advised to switch off lights and appliances when they were not being used. People were given instructions in meetings and reminded with notes in their

office rooms to switch off the lights. Employees used to leave the lights on throughout the day in social premises and office rooms, and computer screens were left on on weekends. Lights are now no longer left on in empty rooms, and computer screens are switched off at the end of the day. "The message has reached everyone", said Green Office coordinator Salla Hillberg. "If someone forgets the lights on, co-workers always remind them and switch off the lights." In 2005 the consumption of electricity decreased by 12 % from the previous year in the ten employee office. The office’s carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 026 tons and its ecological footprint shrank by 0.4 hectares Read more about OP Bank Helsinki Itäkeskus (in Finnish) Switch off lights freely – or remember the tenminutes rule In order to prevent climate change WWF encourages offices to leave empty spaces dark. Lighting takes about one third of the electricity used by the offices, so switching off

unnecessary lights brings savings and cuts emissions. Fluorescent lamps with an electronic control gear can be switched off always when no light is needed. Turning such a light on and off does not shorten its life in any way Fluorescent lamps with electronic control gear use about 20-30 % less energy than fluorescent lamps with old technique. In addition, they have a higher light efficiency and last longer. Lamps also improve the working environment because they switch on without flickering, shine with a constant intensity and are silent. The life of fluorescent lamps with old fashioned technique shortens when they are switched on and off, but this doesn’t cause peaks in energy use as is often thought. It is better to leave such lamps on if somebody comes back to the room within 10 minutes. If it can be switched off for more than 10 minutes it is advisable to do so This 10-minutes rule is based on the average results of calculations that analized together the shortening of a

lamp’s life and its energy use. The production of a lamp takes about 1% of the energy used during its life. By switching off lights you can reduce emissions caused by it’s total energy consumption by 25%. You must know which technology is being used in the lamps for giving correct instructions about their use. Your office most likely has lamps with electronic control gear if they have been installed after the end of the nineties, the tubes are narrow (diameter about 16 mm) and/or they turn on all at the same time after a short delay without flickering. Electronic control gear came to the market in the beginning of the eighties and have become very common after 1990. If you are not sure which technique is in use, ask a person or a company that is in charge of changing the lamps in your office. Source of information: VTT and Osram Buy fair products during Fair Trade weeks Fair Trade weeks take place October 16–29. The aim of the weeks is to bring Fair Trade and Fair Trade products

to public attention through various events and the media. WWF encourages everyone to enjoy Fair Trade weeks. The easiest way to participate is to buy Fair Trade products. All grocery retail groups in Finland offer Fair Trade food products, so you can buy them in most grocery stores. In Finland the Fair Trade product range includes e.g coffee, tea, bananas, pineapples, oranges, lemons, grapes, mangos, avocados, chocolate, muesli, juices, wine, cacao, honey and sugar. TAC Atmostech belongs to WWF Finland’s Green Office network. The company’s head office of approximately 100 employees uses Fair Trade coffee, tea, cacao and sugar. Due to positive experiences at the head office, eleven local offices will also start using Fair Trade products in the near future. TAC Atmostech spends annually 560–1680 euros more on Fair Trade coffee than it would on regular coffee but the money goes to a good cause. "We know that these decisions build a better world. It is great that we can help

take our society to a more sustainable direction. Investments in quality and welfare benefit us all now and in the future", said Linda Hellroos-Heikkilä, Head of Marketing at TAC Atmostech. Read more about Fair Trade Read more about TAC Atmostech’s Fair Trade campaign (in Finnish) The sewer is not a wastebasket One of WWF’s aims is to save the Baltic Sea. The biggest threats to the Baltic Sea are eutrophication and oil transport. In addition to the sea also lakes and bird waters are important to protect. From the office you can protect these waters by keeping household waste water as clean as possible and, for example, by using long-distance communication techniques, because traffic emissions cause eutrophication and the growing use of petrol means more oil transports in the Baltic Sea. Each year, Helsinki’s sewage treatment plant collects about 1,000 tons of solid waste that doesn’t belong in the sewer system. The treatment plant has to handle this solid waste

several times. It has to be washed, degraded, moved, pressed, loaded on lorries and finally transported to the dumping place. 1,000 tons of solid waste is about 200 lorry loads. The expenses of cleaning, transportation and dumping are paid by the tax payer – a waste of money. Don’t throw anything in the toilet that doesn’t belong there. In fact the only thing that can be thrown in the toilet is toilet paper, nothing else, not even kitchen paper. The sewer is not a wastebasket, so please don’t use the toilet for cigarette butts, sanitary towels, matches, cotton balls, or any other solid substances that might plug the drain. For example, a match can easily get stuck in the joints of pipe curves. It is also prohibited to pour waste oil, paints, solvents, medicines or other hazardous waste into the sewer. These substances may disrupt the biological processes of waste water treatment. Unnecessary plumbing and water pollution can easily be prevented by putting a wastebasket and clear

notes in the office’s toilets. Source of information: Helsinki Water and WWF Practise to be paper-saving champion! To help protect the forests WWF recommends efficient use of paper. During the last thirty years paper consumption has tripled, and it is still growing. Large amounts of paper are used for disposal products like ads and unnecessarily printed documents. Most of the forests in western countries are already in the economical use. Growing paper consumption increases the pressure on rain forests, the Russian taiga and other areas of old forest, and possible increases the illegal logging for paper production. Down below you’ll find couple of tips for more efficient use of paper. How to print a double-sided Word document? - Click <File> in the upper toolbar and choose <Print> - Choose <Properties> in the window that opens - A second window opens with options for double-sided printing, printing of multiple pages per sheet of paper and adjustment of the

amount of ink. How to print multiple PP-slides on one page? - Click <File> in the upper toolbar and choose <Print> - Down on the left is a dropdown menu with heading <Print what>. Select <Handouts> from the list and choose how many slides you want on one page. - In <Properties> you can choose for double-sided printing and other options for saving paper and ink. The possibilities to change the settings depend on the operating system of your computer, the version of your MS Office programme and the type of printer. If these instructions do not fit your use, dont hesitate to ask advise from you computer support person. Recycle toilet paper before use! Because toilet paper and other tissue products are hardly recycled, about 270,000 trees worldwide are flushed down the toilet or end up in the waste bin everyday. A WWF study has shown that very little recycled fibre is used for tissue production. Instead of recycled fibre the industry uses large amounts of

high-quality virgin fibre. In many countries unsustainable and illegal logging, as well as unsustainable plantation management threaten biodiversity and the survival of many local forest species. WWF favours tissue products made of 100 % recycled raw materials. Recycling labels on tissue products can be misleading: they often refer to the packaging material and not the product itself. The amount of recycled material in the product is often also expressed in an unclear way. Environmental labels are not a guarantee, so when buying toilet paper and hand towels it is important to read the information label and check that they have been made of 100 % recycled fibre. Another problem is that the supply of recycled white office paper, the raw material which the domestic manufacturers need, is insufficient. Finnish consumers do not really demand the use of recycled raw material. As a result, white recycled paper is often exported to Germany where it fetches a better price because of its higher

demand. Save trees by recycling white office paper efficiently and buy tissue products made of 100 % recycled fibre. For example, Serla toilet paper made by Metsä Tissue is made of 100 % recycled fibre. More information: http://www.wwffi/ymparisto/metsat/paperiteollisuus/ and www.pandaorg/forests/tissue Get a Panda passport to have more influence WWF’s Panda passport is an easy way to influence decision makers for the benefit of nature. This internet service is meant for all those who want to do more for the environment than they can do at work or during their free time. Environmentally friendly consuming habits usually have a direct effect on nature. For instance, saving energy reduces the use of fossil fuel and buying organic products reduces the use of poisonous pesticides. Influencing decision making offers an opportunity to promote nature conservation on a larger scale. With WWF’s Panda Passport campaigning for nature conservation is easy. It is a tool to sign appeals

and to send e-mails and letters to decision makers. The idea of the personal Panda Passport is to travel around the world on virtual map and to collect stamps in your passport, which you get for taking part in nature protection campaigns. There is a short introduction to each project and users are given different options for campaigning for a certain region, animal or more general subject, like oceans. By using the Panda Passport you can influence the future of the Galapagos Islands as well the panda itself. You can register yourself as a user at: www.passportpandaorg The climate calculator helps to estimate the carbon dioxide emission Climate change has many effects on human life and wildlife worldwide. Our life style particularly affects the emission of carbon dioxide, which accounts for about 80 % of all green house gases. WWF together with TKK Dipoli and Motiva ltd have developed an internet based service, which offices and organisers of mass events can use to calculate the carbon

dioxide emission of their activities. Information on ways to reduce emissions is also provided. The climate calculator can estimate the impact of energy use and other activities on carbon dioxide emission. The calculator has been developed primarily for use by offices and organisers of mass events, but can be adapted for other purposes. Also as a private person you can estimate the carbon dioxide emission you cause in your daily life and during travelling. Register to the calculator by calling your organisation e.g "My family" and the unit "home at Strawberry Field". In this way you can adapt the calculator according to your private wishes. The calculator can give an estimation of the carbon dioxide emission of energy use and travelling. Register yourself and try out the calculator at : www.ilmastolaskurifi (in Finnish) A preheated engine saves the environment and money You can reduce the environmental impact of your travels, even when you most of the time use

your own car. Environmentally friendly driving habits and a preheated engine will save many tanks of petrol during the year. New cars use much less petrol than old ones, but it is the driver who in the end determines the car’s petrol consumption and its environmental impact. Every consumed litre of petrol adds 2,350 g of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and one litre of diesel 2,660 g. It is a good habit to preheat you car as soon as winter approaches. The effect of a cold start on the engine is the same as that of 500–600 km of driving. Starting a cold engine also causes much more emissions than starting a warm motor. Already three cold starts a day leads to an increase in petrol consumption of several litres a week. The right time to begin with preheating is when the outside temperature reaches +5 °C. Already half an hour of heating with block heating or one hour with radiation heating will cut petrol consumption during the first kilometres by half compared to that of a cold

engine. When the temperature drops under –5 °C, heating time is doubled and when the temperature is under –10 °C, heating time is from two to three hours depending of the heating technique. For more information: Motiva Oy. A guide to preheating can be ordered or downloaded in pdf format from: http://www.motivafi/fi/julkaisut/liikenne/ Protect the environment while travelling WWF encourages you to protect the environment with small choices during your business and leisure time trips. The service sector companies usually develop their organizations and services according to the feedback received from their customers. You can write to hotels, airline companies and other service providers with compliments or comments regarding their environmental program. Businesses usually react and respond to requests from guests, customers and clients who voice their concerns. So, when you write a note regarding the environment, you cast a vote. As a paying customer you can encourage

businesses to take responsibility for the environment. You can also protect the environment while travelling. During your hotel stay, let the management know that it is not necessary to change your towels and sheets every day. When you leave the room, turn off the AC/heat, lights and TV Relax and leave driving to public transportation and taxi drivers. Spend your money on cultural events, excursions and local services rather than shopping. WWF Finland’s staff wishes all Green Offices a very relaxing and refreshing summer! Next eco-tip will be released after the vacation season in August. Leave your car at home during the European Mobility Week WWF encourages the Green Office network to acknowledge the International Car Free Day and the European Mobility Week. The International Car Free Day is on the Mobility Week, on Friday September 22. The objective of the week is to make people think how our choices regarding transport and mobility and in particular the use of private cars affect

climate change. Highway and air traffic are the fastest growing forms of traffic in Europe. Private cars produce the majority of traffic pollution. The use of gasoline increases all the time When gasoline burns it produces carbon dioxide and steam, which combined with the nitrogen gas in the air produce exhaust fumes. They contain harmful sideproducts like carbon monoxide. We can combat climate change with our choices. For example we can choose to commute to work by public transport or by carpooling. Walking and bicycling are good and climate-friendly ways of getting around. If you travel longer distances, choose the train or the bus because air traffic produces five times more pollution than the train. When buying a new car, consider a hybrid with both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. They use less fuel and pollute less Read more (in Finnish) More on the International Car Free Day and the European Mobility Week Promote physical exercise at your working place Promotion of

physical exercise is one way to keep staff active and healthy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the same time. Employers can stimulate cycling by providing good parking places for bicycles and proper shower facilities for staff members. Other possibilities are company bicycles and kilometre allowances for commuting by bicycle. If you think conditions at your working place need improvement, make a suggestion to promote physical exercise. Employees hop from meeting to meeting by campus bicycles - TKK Dipoli Two campus bicycles are available at the TKK Dipoli campus of the Helsinki University of Technology and a third one at the nearby Innopoli campus. Employees can use these bicycles for moving from place to place within the campus areas. Often people are so much in a hurry that instead of walking the short distance to their meetings they go there by car. In 2006, the campus bicycles will be used approximately 128 times. The average length of a roundtrip is 6 km, making a total of

768 km. This means a saving of 013 tons of carbon dioxide and a reduction of the ecological footprint by 0.07 hectares per year. The campus employees have given the bicycles a very positive reception. Short trips are faster by bicycle, because no time is needed anymore to find a parking place. Cycling is also a refreshing exercise during the working day. If by bicycle it takes 5 minutes less to cover the 6 km to a meeting than by car, the annual savings are 290 €. A bicycle pays itself back in one year "The use of the campus bicycles is expected to increase in the future as more people get to know the possibility to use them in campus area", says Minja Huopalainen, responsible for the TKK Dipoli Green Office. "Campus bicycles are still a new phenomenon for the employees." Source: WWF Finland and Helsinki University of Technology, Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli Evaluate your needs for the benefit of nature! WWF would like to remind you that the total

consumption of goods has to go down remarkably if we want to maintain nature’s bearing capacity. Economic growth based on the use of natural resources can be replaced by economic growth based on quality, strength, services and locality. This would also have a positive impact on the labour market. Too often the use of environmentally friendly products is seen as the only way to decrease the use of natural resources. Much larger results can be achieved by changing the way of working. Better sorting of waste paper has less impact than, for instance, changing to double-sided copying or electronic archiving. A business trip made with an energy-efficient car is less environmentally friendly than a teleconference. It is estimated that a teleconference uses only 1 % of the natural resources needed for a transatlantic business trip. A return flight from Helsinki to New York produces 143 tons of carbon dioxide per passenger, which is equivalent to the use of about 600 litres of petrol. For the

price of one business trip you can buy a teleconference programme, including users’ training, a web-camera, and headphones with microphones for several employees. It is essential to carefully evaluate the needs for a purchase and the different the options to fulfil those needs. Keeping the needs in mind creates space for cost and environmentally efficient innovations. Whether for office work, travel or communication, it is always important to compare different options. Shared use of cars and working space, and telecommunication are examples of possibilities to implement working habits which will not only save nature, but bring financial savings as well. Make short-distance transport environmentally friendly with an electric van WWF recommends companies to purchase electric vans for short-distance transport. The carbon dioxide emission of an electric car is even smaller than that of a hybrid car. This spring, WWF will collect examples from the Green Office network how offices manage

to lower their carbon dioxide emissions and at the same time cut their costs. To fulfil wishes from the network some of these examples will be presented as an Eco Tip. "Päästöistä säästöihin" example: Suomen Uusiokuori, a company manufacturing envelops of recycled paper in Somero, Finland, uses an electric car to transport envelopes to customers in the surrounding area as well as between the company’s office, warehouse and subcontractors. The three employees using the electric car are very satisfied about its performance. “The car’s silence was surprising in the beginning”, says CEO Teppo Jalli, “but now the car is well known in the neighbourhood. Local people like it, because it doesn’t pollute and makes no noise”. The Elcat is used for about 5000 kilometres each year, during which about 0.22 tons of carbon dioxide are produced. The emissions of a comparable van with a traditional combustion engine are about 1.32 tons Thus the yearly reduction in

carbon dioxide emissions is 1.1 tons The car uses about 1100 kWh of electricity per year, which costs about 88 euro. The diesel price is about 1 euro per litre, and the average consumption of a van is 10 litres per 100 kilometres, meaning 500 euro per 5000 kilometres. This is a yearly saving of 412 euro. Source: Elcat Oy, Suomen Uusiokuori Oy and WWF Finland Raise May Day glass with drink from a bottle with a natural cork WWF encourages Green Office staff to raise their May Day glasses with a drink from a bottle with a natural cork instead of a plastic one. The production of natural cork is an environmentally friendly process that doesn’t harm the trees. In addition, natural cork prevents desertification and supports the economy of the Mediterranean region. The economical value of cork oak forests will be lost if the demand for natural cork decreases because plastic corks become more popular. When this happens the cork oak forests will either become overgrown, be cut, or be turned

into farmland. Natural cork is made of the outermost layer of the bark of the cork oak, which is peeled every nine years. This does not harmful for the tree itself The tree can be peeled for the first time when it is about 20 years old. Cork oaks can live for several hundreds of years. The biodiversity of cork oak forest is very large; many animal and plant species rely on it. Several of these species, like the Iberian lynx and the Spanish imperial eagle, are endangered. Cork oaks grow only in the Mediterranean region, where natural cork production is an important part of the working life of hundreds of thousands of people. The production of natural cork also supports traditional ways of life, which include small-scale production of milk, cheese and honey. WWF wishes everyone Happy May Day! Read more on WWF’s website. Avoid hazardous chemicals at work WWF works for a safer living and working environment by demanding the European Union to eliminate hazardous chemicals from the

market. DetoX, the international WWF campaign aims for the European Union to take into account the well-being of humans and nature while reviewing its chemical directives. WWF is also distributing information to consumers on how to avoid exposure to hazardous chemicals. The furniture and electrical equipment in an office, such as computers, tend to contain fire retardant chemicals. These chemicals eventually end up in our bodies with the air we breathe. Some of the fire retardant (bromide) chemicals degrade slowly in nature, accumulate in our bodies and may disturb our hormonal balance. They have also been linked with various types of cancer. These chemicals may spread everywhere in nature: they have been detected for example in arctic animla species. Exposure to the chemicals in an office can be reduced w! ith the following tips: For everyone: Do your share in keeping the office environment clean. Acquaint yourself with the consumer tips on WWF Finlands website (in Finnish) For those

responsible of the working environment: Make sure cleaning is proper and thorough. The most common way of exposure to chemicals in an office is via air and skin contact. Make it a prerequisite that cleansing agents are environmentally friendly. Request the cleaning company to avoid substances containing triclosan in particular. Triclosan is an environmentally hazardous antibacterial chemical. Source and further information: WWF Finland, dangerous chemicals pages: http://www.wwffi/ymparisto/vaaralliset kemikaalit/ Use the train for work trips! WWF encourages staff of Green Office organisations to take environmental aspects into account when planning their work and business trips. The list below shows the amounts of carbon dioxide produced by various means of transport per individual traveller and per 1,000 km: - long distance train 24 kg - bus 50 kg - passenger car 92 kg - airplane 163 kg - car ferry 318 kg - express ferry 596 kg Based on carbon dioxide emission and often also to

comfort, the recommended way of travelling in Finland is by train. Airplanes and ferries produce many times more carbon dioxide than trains and also cars. Especially short-distance domestic flights can be replaced by train trips. Flying is not necessarily faster because of the time spent at the airports, which are often located a long way from the actual destination. The game "Travelling in Finland" by Motiva (http://www.motivafi/fi/kuluttajat/liikkuminen/matkallasuomessa-peli) helps you to find the fastest and cheapest way of travelling with the lowest emission and petrol use. Organised cruises could be replaced, for example, by trips to a nearby hotel, farm or to a sport, action or adventure centre. Source of information: VTT Lipasto and Motiva oy Hybrid cars are better for the environment WWF encourages car buyers to consider a hybrid car as an option. Hybrid cars are, for the time being, more expensive than ordinary cars but they are a more environmentally friendly

choice. Hybrid cars combine two technologies: a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The combination consumes as little gasoline and produces as few carbon dioxide emissions as possible. The hybrid car’s electric batteries charge up when the car runs on the gasoline engine. The car also stores the energy produced by braking Its batteries do not need to be separately charged. Companies that offer their employees the use of a company car should discuss the possibility of switching to a hybrid. Workplace is a good environment for discussing the advantages of hybrid cars. At present, there are three hybrid car models on the Finnish market but there will be more in the future. Antti Tuisku, who is one of the most popular Finnish pop stars as well as WWF Finland’s ambassador, also drives a Toyota Prius hybrid car. Choose an eco-labelled hotel Attending meetings via phone or video conference saves both time and the environment. When travelling is necessary, however, choose hotels

with an eco-label The Swan eco-label ensures that a hotel takes environmental matters into account in all of its actions, such as in the use of energy and water, cleaning, waste disposal, management, and procurement. For example, disposable articles have been taken out of use, appliances have been replaced with energy- and water-saving models, the breakfast table offers several organic dishes, and there are recycling bins in the hotel rooms for sorting different types of waste. Many hotels with the Swan eco-label also have bicycles available for rent. The Swan eco-label indicates that a hotel is a forerunner in environmental matters. Currently there are 117 Swan eco-labelled hotels in Scandinavia, most of them in Sweden and Norway. In Finland you can lodge in a Swan eco-labelled hotel in Jyväskylä (Scandic Hotel Jyväskylä), Tuusula (Krapi Hotel) and Espoo (Scandic Hotel Espoo). You can find the Swan eco-labelled hotels on a map The Swan eco-label, is the Scandinavian eco-label. It

is voluntary and impartial The Swan eco-label can only be given to products and services that are top quality from an environmental point of view. In Finland the licence for the Swan eco-label is granted by the Finnish Standards Association, SFS ry. It also monitors the use of the ecolabel You can find a list of all eco-labelled products and services from the SFS homepage. WWF Finland promotes sustainable travelling. Tips for travellers in Finnish can be read here. Choose an eco-labelled hotel Attending meetings via phone or video conference saves both time and the environment. When travelling is necessary, however, choose hotels with an eco-label The Swan eco-label ensures that a hotel takes environmental matters into account in all of its actions, such as in the use of energy and water, cleaning, waste disposal, management, and procurement. For example, disposable articles have been taken out of use, appliances have been replaced with energy- and water-saving models, the breakfast

table offers several organic dishes, and there are recycling bins in the hotel rooms for sorting different types of waste. Many hotels with the Swan eco-label also have bicycles available for rent. The Swan eco-label indicates that a hotel is a forerunner in environmental matters. Currently there are 117 Swan eco-labelled hotels in Scandinavia, most of them in Sweden and Norway. In Finland you can lodge in a Swan eco-labelled hotel in Jyväskylä (Scandic Hotel Jyväskylä), Tuusula (Krapi Hotel) and Espoo (Scandic Hotel Espoo). You can find the Swan eco-labelled hotels on a map The Swan eco-label, is the Scandinavian eco-label. It is voluntary and impartial The Swan eco-label can only be given to products and services that are top quality from an environmental point of view. In Finland the licence for the Swan eco-label is granted by the Finnish Standards Association, SFS ry. It also monitors the use of the ecolabel You can find a list of all eco-labelled products and services

from the SFS homepage. WWF Finland promotes sustainable travelling. Tips for travellers in Finnish can be read here. Have a green Christmas! Soon it will be Christmas and you not only haven’t bought the presents yet, but don’t even know what to buy either. Even in a situation like this, don’t make the typical mistake of buying something totally useless! A wonderful present is for example a gift coupon to used at the hairdresser’s, massage parlour or ticket booking office. There is no need to buy every present, you can make some of them yourself Baking creates a Christmas atmosphere and self-made hats and gloves give warmth also after Christmas. You can cover the presents with fabric or recycled paper with a pattern, and you can attach a self made Christmas card. While preparing for Christmas, consume with care and save the environment. Be energy efficient when using the oven forbaking and cooking. An electric oven uses most energy during heating up If you travel by the car

during the Christmas, make sure your reserve time enough for it. If possible share you car with other people or use public transport. WWF wishes all staff members of Green Offices a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The next Green Office-Tip will come on the 15th ofJanuary 2004 Paperless internal communication One of WWFs most important aims is forest protection. During the last 50 years, the biodiversity of our forests has changed dramatically because the aim of forestry was to produce raw material for the forest industry. About 700 species have been classified as threatened because of the activities of the forest industry. Using less paper not only saves our forests, but also decreases the use of energy, chemicals, office equipment, transport and produces less waste. Germans do in average use 34 % less paper and cardboard than Finns. Finns do still have good possibilities to use less paper. As a tool of communication nowadays emails and intranet have in large scale replaced

the communication on paper The internal communication in the offices can be more electronic when you: - make a good use of intranet by putting there example bullets, minutes, reports, guide books, instructions, manuals. - use intranet for collecting information and data for follow up and reporting Essential is not only the information available in intranet, but also the improving the use of the intranet. During the summer 2003 was finalised a study for Green Office " Solutions of information technology to decrease the environmental impact of office work". Summary of study (in Finnish) can be found as a pdf-file from: http://www.wwffi/greenoffice/go palveluthtml You can find there a list of companies offering services and soft wear programmers. Source: Suomen WWF Metsätilastollinen vuosikirja 2001. METLA Stop climate change, change to green electricity! WWF works globally to prevent and to slow down climate change. The aim of the international Climate Change Programme is to

protect nature against the impacts of climate change. The main cause of climate change is an increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere resulting from human activities. Therefore, the most effective way to prevent climate change is to reduce the use of fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas. Every organisation and every individual have a possibility to slow down climate change. One of the most effective ways to do so is to change from so-called mixed electricity to green electricity. Green electricity’s main environmental advantage is that it is environmentally friendly. Unlike the use of fossil fuel green electricity does not increase carbon dioxide emissions. It is therefore a responsible choice against global climate change. Green electricity is produced from solar or wind power, biomass or old water power. Although according to the laws of physics the electricity you get from the socket is mixed electricity, you can influence the proportion of electricity

generated by renewable energy sources that flows in the electricity cables. More information on companies supplying green electricity, prices and contracts can found on the following websites: - Vaihda virtaa – Pages of the Green Electricity Promotion Campaign: http://www.vaihdavirtaanet - The Finnish Association of Nature Conservation’s recommends the Norppa ecoenergy -label: http://www.ekoenergiainfo/ - VaasaEmg’s price watch green – price comparison service for green electricity: http://www.vaasaemgcom/suomi/index2 suomiphpsmenu=submenu PW suomi.htm&text1=text1 PW etusivu suomi&text2=text2 PW general suomi Sources: WWF Finland, Finnish Association of Nature Conservation, VaasaEmg and Vaihda virtaa-campaign Choose eco-tourism Tourism is the world’s largest business and at the same time a major environmental burden. 800 million tourists travel all over the globe each year Tourism is expected to double its size by the year 2020. 40% of all holiday makers fly to

their destinations. The major part of the environmental impact results from the flight itself. Travels by plane and car in particular generate carbon dioxide emissions, which enhance climate change. For instance, a return flight to Thailand generates on average 2.5 tons of carbon dioxide per passenger Flying consumes a lot of energy; in the case of the return flight to Thailand about 4,000 kWh or the amount a 40-Watt light bulb uses in 100,000 hours (more than 11 years). If flying is unavoidable the resulting effect on climate change can be balanced by compensating the amount of carbon dioxide it generated. Such a service is provided on the internet among others by Climate Care (http://www.co2org/airtravelcalc/airtravelcalccfm) and FutureForests (http://www.futureforestscom/calculators/flightcalculatorshopasp) Tourism can also be designed to promote nature protection. By sustainable nature tourism WWF means responsible tourism that promotes protection of the natural environment and

supports the local population. Specialised nature tourism minimises environmental burden and the profits are used for local nature protection purposes. Ideally, eco-tourism unifies nature protection and the benefit of the local population. If tourism generates income for the local population, it will give them an economic possibility to protect the regional nature and at the same time guarantee them a better future. Read more about WWF’s eco-tourism tips at http://wwwwwffi/ekomatkailu Source: WWF Dusting with a micro cloth Micro cloths and micro mops clean surfaces without chemicals. In connection to WWF’s DetoX campaign blood of a large number of people was tested. Chemicals originating from human activities were found in all blood samples. WWF demands that the use of harmful chemicals in the EU will be strictly regulated. Micro cloths are a big innovation in the field of nature protection. They can be used without any chemicals, just water is enough. You can use a micro

cloth also when it is dry, because it gets static and thus removes dust effectively. A damp micro cloth removes even greasy spots easily without chemicals. The action of micro cloth is based on microscopic fibres that penetrate under the dirt and thus removes it. Manufacturers of micro cloths and mops can apply for he Nordic Environmental Label. This Environmental Label requires effectiveness, meaning that the product should remove dirt effectively without damaging the surface to be cleaned. In addition, the product should be free of certain chemicals, for instance metal complex dyes or other dyes harmful to health. Micro cloths and mops for household use should last 200 washings and for professional use 300 washings at 60 C. Information on all products with the Nordic Environmental Label and its criteria can be found at www.sfsfi/ymparisto Sources: WWF-UK, Suomen standardisoimisliitto SFS ry Pop open a natural cork when celebrating Many of us celebrate different occasions including

the May Day with a sparkling drink. It matters what kind of cork we pop open then. The cork industry is crucial for the people and the nature of the Mediterranean region, where 99% of the used cork comes from. In Portugal alone, one third of the world’s cork oaks grow (Quercus suber L.) Contrary to general believe, trees are not cut down in order to get the cork. Cutting cork is in fact one of the most environmentally friendly harvesting methods. The cutter separates the cork from the trunk, after which the tree can grow new bark in peace for nine years and the process is repeated. In the Mediterranean countries collecting cork has been part of people’s lives for at least the past thousand year. The oldest cork oaks are up to 600 years old The main commercial product are corks for bottles. The wine industry uses more than 15 billion corks for its bottles each year, which is 80% of the total cork production. Almost all other items made of cork are manufactured from the waste

material of cork production. If the popularity of plastic and screw caps goes on growing at the current speed, then it can not be excluded that the cork oak forests will gradually disappear. Cork oak forests are very important for many people making their living with natural products. If the demand for natural cork goes down, then the cork oak forests will loose their economic value. They will not be looked after anymore and be in danger of disappearing on a large scale. Increased growth of shrubs will reduce biodiversity and threaten the living space and food sources of endangered animals and plants. In these forests many endangered species can be found, like the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) and the imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca). Also the entire population of the European crane (Crus crus) spends their winter in the cork oak forests of Spain and Portugal. When we want to celebrate a special occasion with sparkling wine, let’s remember to choose a bottle with a natural cork!

Source: WWF International Make sure electronic waste is reused safely! WWF is campaigning for a revised version of the EU’s Chemical Directive that takes into account the well-being of nature and human beings. The tissues of practically everyone contain dangerous chemicals that have been linked to various forms of cancer as well as reproductive and hereditary defects. The growing number of cases combined with the continuing exposure of people to chemicals is alarming. You can reduce your own and your surroundings exposure to dangerous chemicals by taking hazardous waste to the appropriate collection site. Most parts of electronic office equipment are nowadays classified as hazardous waste. In Finland about 100,000 tons of electronic office equipment is taken out of use every year. A large part of it ends up on dumping sites. Hazardous waste is for example: - Hard discs of PCs and most laptops - Screens of computers and television sets - Refrigerators - All equipment with a

built-in battery - Telephone and answering machines Examples of hazardous parts are batteries and IC-cards, which contain mercury, and isolated cables and plastic parts, which contain poisonous fire-resistant chemicals. Hazardous waste must be handed in to a licensed collector. Information on collectors who receive electronic waste can be found for example on YTV’s website: http://www.ytvfi/jateh/yrjateh/servastottohtml The equipment is disassembled and the parts are sorted according the materials they contain. Hazardous waste is disposed off in a safe way and materials that can be reused like aluminium, copper and steel are directed to recycling processes. More information: http://www.wwffi/kemikaalit, http://wwwytvfi/jateh/yrjateh/serhtml Change the lights not the climate! WWF and its network are aiming to prevent climate change. Warming of the climate will rise sea levels, threaten low-lying countries, lead to more flooding, drought and storm, decrease biodiversity, make harvests

poorer and facilitate the spread of tropical illnesses. Office staff can slow down climate change by changing their own energy use. In most office buildings lights account for about one third of the electricity bill. Switching off unnecessary lights saves electricity and decreases costs. Saving electricity reduces the use of fossil fuel and carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Often there are too many lights in offices and they are aimed in the wrong direction. Pleasant and effective light can be achieved when it is planned according the tasks and needs of the individual staff members. Properly designed light saves up to 50% energy. To-do list: - Always switch off lights that are not needed. It is useful to switch off strip lights and energy saving lamps when they are not needed for more then 10 minutes. This is not harmful for strip lights and does not create a peak in electricity use when switching them on again. - Switch off the lights in corridors and other common

spaces when leaving as the last person. - Take advantage of natural light and place your desk near the window if possible. Natural light is stronger and more comfortable than artificial light. However, avoid direct sun light in order to avoid reflection into your eyes. - Switch off the light on sunny days. The cleaner the window, the more light you have Light colours and reflecting surfaces make light more effective. - Dust the lamps. Dirt on strip lights can reduce the light level by even 20% - Put instructions next to the light switches to help users choose the right light. - Use smart light in your office. With modern technology you can programme the lights according space and need, for instance by sensors that react to movement or the intensity of day light. For more information: http://www.motivafi Multifunctional equipments do put down the energy consumption WWF’s aim is to stop the continuing decrease in biodiversity and build a future where man can live in harmony with

nature. One of WWF’s activities focuses on the prevention of climate change. Individuals and organisations are encouraged to use renewable natural resources in a sustainable way and to decrease unnecessary consumption. Nowadays, multifunctional equipment is available that combines, for example, the functions a photocopier, a printer and a fax. By combining these functions natural resources are used in a more efficient way and less energy is needed to keep the equipment running. Energy consumption in Finland is not at a sustainable level. Only about 20% of the used energy is produced from renewable energy sources and about 50% from fossil fuels. Office equipments like computers, faxes and photocopiers are the main energy consumers in offices. In addition, their manufacture needs a lot of the natural resources. Sources: WWF Finland Environment and Natural Resources 2002. Statistics Finland Heat up your cars engine -save money and nature If in wintertime you keep your car engine

warm by starting it 3-4 times a day, it uses up to 80 litres of petrol less than an engine that is started cold each time. It is recommended to preheat the engine when the temperature drops below +5C. Between + 5C and - 5C the recommended time for preheating is half an hour. Even when it is freezing hard, two hours of preheating is enough. Preheating is best done by using a timer to start preheating at a suitable time before departure. The recommended periods of time for preheating should be followed, because this method of preheating saves more energy than preheating by letting the engine idle. The benefit of preheating is not only that the car starts more smoothly, but it also reduces the amount of exhaust gas. The catalytic converter is of no help in this case, because it works only when the engine is warm. Studies have shown that a cold engine with a catalytic converter produces as much exhaust gas during one kilometre as a warm engine on the entire journey from Helsinki to Oulu.

Driving short distances pollutes the air we breathe more per kilometre than driving long distances. For example, a six-kilometre trip started with a cold engine produces almost all emissions (90%) on the parking place. When starting a warm motor the saving of petrol can be 0,1-0,3 liter per start. Moreover, a heated engine wears out less. Starting an engine at -15C causes the same wear as driving 500-600 km. WWF wants to point out that most effective way to reduce the amount of emissions caused by driving is to use public transport and to reduce driving by planning it better. For example, combining work and shopping trips can reduce driving by hundreds of kilometres yearly. Source of information: WWF Finland, Varsinais-Suomen Agenda 21 office Send electronic Christmas cards What about sending to your business partners and friends electronic Christmas cards instead of paper cards this Christmas! Electronic cards are an easy and environmentally friendly way to send your Christmas

greetings: Finland Post estimated that sending one traditional paper card causes the emission of 35 g carbon dioxide. WWF’s website http://www.wwffi/postikortit offers you several electronic Christmas cards and many others as well, all of which you can send free of charge. Using a search machine you can easily find many other websites that offer e-cards. Load your batteries in an environmentally friendly way WWF works to reduce the use of heavy metals and make their processing more efficient. Studies have shown that heavy metals accumulating in the Baltic sea effect the growth, reproduction and activities of marine wildlife. The use of small accumulators and rechargeable batteries reduces the number of disposable batteries ending up on dumping sites. This will save not only nature but also consumers’ money. When buying equipment it is good to remember that a product that runs on mains current or solar energy is always a better choice for nature than one that runs on batteries. If

you can’t avoid the use of the batteries it is more environmentally friendly to use a small accumulator or batteries with an environmental label. Tests have shown that they last longer and are environmentally friendly Batteries with the Nordic Environmental label have passed an efficiency test in which 80% of their capacity is still left after being recharged 400 times. Furthermore, these batteries and accumulators contain no arsenic, cadmium or mercury. Cadmium is a very persistent heavy metal. Heavy metals accumulate especially in predators, including predatory fish, causing for example nervous disorders, reduced reproductive capacity and increased risk of cancer. The biggest problems of nickel/cadmium (NiCd) accumulators, which contain heavy metals, arise when they reach the end of their life cycle. They can not be disposed of in the general waste or be burned. The best place for them is a recycling bin meant for batteries and accumulators. If there is no such recycling bin

available, then put the batteries and accumulators in a bin for hazardous waste. GB Batteries is the first manufacturer of rechargeable NiMH batteries that fulfill the new and more strict criteria of the Nordic Environmental Label. This Eco tip has been written jointly by WWF and SFS Environmental Label. Take quality and security into account when designing your office - choose paints with the EUflower For many people autumn is the time to remodel their office or home. Nowadays, environmentally friendly high-quality inside paints are on the market. Traditional paints contain organic solvents that evaporate at room temperature. These solvents can cause allergic reactions or irritations when they get into contact with the skin or when the vapours are inhaled. Such solvents also harm the ozone layer and accumulate in water organisms. The manufacture of white pigments often causes large emissions into air and water. Pigments may also contain metal residues, like lead and cadmium, which

are hazardous to the environment and public health. Paints carrying the European environmental label, the EU-flower, cause the aforementioned problems only as little as possible. Only a minimal amount of solvent is allowed to evaporate from these paints. The amount of white pigments in Ecolabelled paints is strictly limited and they are manufactured by as environmentally friendly proc! ! ! esses as possible. Eco-labelled paints contain neither heavy metals nor carcinogenic or poisonous compounds. You can buy environmentally friendly paint and still choose quality. There is a wide selection of colours and one litre of paint covers at least seven square meters. When painting remember the following tips: - Be accurate. Close the can carefully - Dont waste paint. Reduce waste by using the leftover paint - Dont ever pour leftover paint into the drain, burn it outside or dump waste paint in the environment or bury it. In Finland the inside paints of Tikkurila have been granted the EU

-flower, for example Joker, Remontti-Ässä (A and C basic paints) and their colours tinted with Symphonypaste. More information: www.ecolabelcom The European EU-flower week is from 18 to 24 October 2004 Copy and print two-sided documents What is the best way to use less energy for copying and printing? The starting point is to buy energy-efficient equipment and then to use it to copy and print two-sided documents. To produce one A-4 sheet of paper consumes almost 17 Wh of energy (for recycled paper it takes a little bit less, about 12 Wh). This amount of energy may look small, but the difference is remarkable compared to the energy used by copiers and printers. For example, an average photocopier, which uses about 1,000 W to make 50 copies per minute, consumes 17 Wh of energy. In other words, producing one A-4 costs a paper factory as much energy as it takes an office to print 50 sheets! Thus, the production of paper uses more energy than copying and printing. Therefore two-sided

copying and printing save a lot of energy. Life cycle assessments of office equipment have shown that reduction of the use of paper should be one of the most important environmental targets The standard setting of WWF’s photocopier is two-sided copying, like it is, for example, of the Green Office company Polarputki Oy’s photocopier. Both offices’ experiences have shown this is a good practice. In the beginning this model could create a bit of confusion, but after a while staff members will be even more committed to save paper. More information: http://www.eu-energystarorg (--> energy calculator) Practice to be a master of paper saving! Many Green Office organisations have noticed that the reason for wasteful use of paper is not always that staff members are careless but rather that they dont know the tricks of paper saving. For example, many people dont know how to make doublesided prints If you are one of them dont worry, here are a couple of ideas to change your habits:

How to print a double-sided Word document? - Click <File> in the upper toolbar and choose <Print> - Choose <Properties> in the window that opens - A second window opens with options for double-sided printing, printing of multiple pages per sheet of paper and adjustment of the amount of ink. How to print multiple PP-slides on one page? - Click <File> in the upper toolbar and choose <Print> - Down on the left is a dropdown menu with heading <Print what>. Select <Handouts> from the list and go to the dropdown menu to the right of ! ! it and choose how many slides you want on one page. - In <Properties> you can choose for double-sided printing and other options for saving paper and ink. The possibilities to change the settings depend on the operating system of your computer, the version of your MS Office programme and the type of printer. If these instructions do not fit your use, dont hesitate to ask advise from you computer support

person. Saving paper means saving energy and forest! WWF office wishes the staff of all Green Office organisations a very good International Environmental Day on 5 June 2004! Energy performance certificates for buildings The law and decree concerning energy performance certificates came into force on the 1st of January 2008. WWF recommends the Green Office network to familiarize themselves with the new law and decree. What is an energy performance certificate? With an energy certificate consumers can compare the energy efficiency of buildings and recognize which buildings use the most and least energy. The purpose of the certificates is to draw the attention of building planners, builders, owners and users on energy use and the possibilities to decrease it in new buildings as well as in existing ones. Energy performance certificates state the amount of energy that is needed for operating a building as it is meant to be used. In order to enable the comparison of similar buildings,

energy classes are determined on the scale of A-G, based on energy efficiency. A-class buildings consume the least enegry, G-class the most. The type of energy does not impact the classification. Improvement in energy efficiency benefits the owner of the building most of all. The less energy a building consumes, the more money is saved. Lower consumption also saves the environment. When is it necessary to obtain an energy performance certificate? A building owner must obtain an energy performance certificate when the building or a part of it is taken into use, sold, or rented out. The certificate is not required for industrial buildings, leisure-time residences, or protected buildings. Issue and validity of the certificate: The energy performance certificate can be issued during a building permit procedure or an energy inspection, as a part of a landlord certificate, or as a separate certificate. A certificate issued during the a building permit procedure for an office or service

building is valid for four years. For buildings finished before the law came into force, the law will be applied from the beginning of 2009. Sources: www.environmentfi and WWF Green Office More information: Finnish Ministry of the Environment and www.environmentfi Finland is going digital; consider energy consumption when selecting your digital receiver Moving to the digital age will soon be a current issue for households and office environments alike. WWF recommends that the Green Office network considers energy consumption upon selecting a digital receiver. About a million new receivers will be brought into use in Finland by the end of October. Everyone can have on impact on energy consumption- a bad device can consume five times as much energy as a good one. The manner in which receivers are use also impacts significantly. Stand-by mode wastes energy and money, and small increases do add up. If a digital receiver is constantly held on stand-by mode, 160 kWh of energy or 17

euros are wasted per year. If these figures are raised to the national level the consumption will sound much larger: if each household would have one device constantly in standby mode, the energy consumption would be more than 380 GWh, which would be sufficient to heat up 19 000 houses for a year. Calculated in this manner, the share of receivers would be about 3,7% of the total household energy consumption in Finland in 2008. Consumers can have an impact- by purchasing a device that uses less electricity and by using it properly. This way the energy consumption of receivers in Finland would be 73 GWh per year, and households would save altogether 30 million euros on their energy bills per year. Carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 14 600 tons. Therefore let’s be smart and move to the digital age considering our environment! Tips for purchasing a digital receiver • • • Check the use and stand-by energy consumption of the apparatus from the sales clerk or technical

information. On average a recording, dual-turner receiver utilizes about 41 watts when in use and 15 watts in stand-by mode. Ensure that the apparatus has an power switch for completely turning off the power. Check from the sales clerk or technical information that the product settings and saved preferences will remain even if the power is switched off. Tips for digital receiver users • • When the apparatus is not in use, do not leave it on standby mode, but instead turn it completely off from the power switch. If the power switch is in an unconvenient place or if the apparatus does not have one, you may also use an extension chord with a power switch and super voltage protection. You can also connect your television and other electrical devices to the same chord. This way you can turn off all equipment from the same switch. Sources: Motiva Oy, Consumer Agency, TUKES Safety Technology Authority, Climate Calculator (www.ilmastolaskurifi) Managing air conditioning at the

office Offices can get unbearably hot in the summertime, while in winter employees might feel chilly at work. A comfortable working temperature can be achieved as a result of cooperation between personnel and the tenement’s maintenance staff. In the summertime when the sun is shining through the windows, the office may become to resemble a greenhouse. It is wise to close the blinds or curtains as you are leaving work to prevent heating up the office. Curtains will block the sun and the rooms will not get too hot In this case the air conditioner will not need to operate at full capacity either. A small gesture can save energy, and the office will not resemble a sauna in the morning. The same trick helps to keep warmth in the rooms in the wintertime. In the winter the curtains should be removed from in front of the radiators so that warm air can move freely. When the office is hot and the air seems stiff, it is best to rapidly ventilate the rooms with a draft. Windows should not be

left open, as the air conditioner will not function properly and the warmth of the tenement will be lost. The best way is to open up the window completely, open the door, and let the draft ventilate the office efficiently. Windows should not be left open when away from the office. The tenement maintenance staff are to check air conditioning settings and switch filters regularly. Sometimes the air conditioner runs too high at other places, too low at others In these cases the settings need to be adjusted. The functions of the AC system can be optimized when adjusting, and wasting of heat and electricity can be avoided. Ask more from your tenement maintenance staff. Source: WWF/Green Office Practise to be paper-saving champion! To help protect the forests WWF recommends efficient use of paper. During the last thirty years paper consumption has tripled, and it is still growing. Large amounts of paper are used for disposal products like ads and unnecessarily printed documents. Most of the

forests in western countries are already in the economical use. Growing paper consumption increases the pressure on rain forests, the Russian taiga and other areas of old forest, and possible increases the illegal logging for paper production. Down below you’ll find couple of tips for more efficient use of paper. How to print a double-sided Word document? - Click <File> in the upper toolbar and choose <Print> - Choose <Properties> in the window that opens - A second window opens with options for double-sided printing, printing of multiple pages per sheet of paper and adjustment of the amount of ink. How to print multiple PP-slides on one page? - Click <File> in the upper toolbar and choose <Print> - Down on the left is a dropdown menu with heading <Print what>. Select <Handouts> from the list and choose how many slides you want on one page. - In <Properties> you can choose for double-sided printing and other options for saving paper

and ink. The possibilities to change the settings depend on the operating system of your computer, the version of your MS Office programme and the type of printer. If these instructions do not fit your use, dont hesitate to ask advise from you computer support person. Print two-sided and try to print and copy all files at the same time so that you will not need to start up the printer or copy machine several times. Avoid needless printing and use e-mail when possible Pay for driving a car, not for owning it Most cars stand idle for 23 hours a day. Unused cars create expenses both for their owners and the society. Owners have to pay for insurance, parking, and the car’s capital outlay Municipalities have to build roads and parking lots for the growing number of vehicles. Joint use service of cars gives companies as well as private persons the possibility to use a car without having to own and maintain one. Companies offering joint use services take care inspections, cleaning,

permanent parking places and, for instance, changing of the tires. A jointly used car is in most cases cheaper than a privately owned one if driven less than 12,000 km a year. It is also substantially cheaper than renting a car A jointly used car can be booked easily, for example through the internet, choosing a model that best meets the current situation and the needs and preferences of the customer. Joint use of cars significantly reduces the burden on nature. Studies have shown that it reduces driving by about 50%, because drivers of jointly used cars are more likely to use public transportation than other drivers. Each car in joint use replaces about eight cars in private use. Joint use of cars significantly increases efficient use of natural resources and decreases emissions, energy consumption and traffic noise. Choosing a small car with low gasoline consumption is an eco-act in itself, but it is also a good choice especially in the cities as the parking spots are limited. More

information: City Car Club oy, http://www.citycarclubnet Energy-efficient office buildings rule! There are tens of thousands of office buildings in Finland, which together produce a significant amount of greenhouse gases as well as hazardous and other waste. The biggest environmental impact of the service sector is made by its office buildings. A company’s environmental burden is determined more by the type of building it operates in and how it is uses its space, than for example by business trips and commuting between home and work. Office buildings account for about 50-80% of the service sector’s environmental impact. Office buildings are often managed by real estate companies. Nevertheless, the company renting office space can influence environmental matters management with their own actions and by making proposals to the owner of the property. Remarkable savings can be achieved by taking environment into account. For example, a renovation can be carried out using materials

that are sustainable and minimize the burden on the environment. Such technical solutions can be selected which efficiently reduce the consumption of electricity, heat, and water. The environmental burden can also be reduced for example by using water-soluble paints in stead of solvent paints, installing efficient strip lights and having heat capture in air conditioning systems. Every company can reduce its own environmental impact and expenses by locating its office in a building that provides an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient working environment. Technical solutions and services can also improve the functionality of already existing workspace. For example, the core business of TAC Atmostech is stretching life cycles and improving productivity by offering housing solutions. Simultaneously the welfare and satisfaction of the personnel is improved. Energy agencies promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources. Motiva Oy acts as the national partner and

supporter of the network of Finnish energy agencies, which impartially provide diversified services for companies and communities, as well as implement joint energy initiatives. Source: Seppo Junnila, HUT, TAC Atmostech, Motiva Oy More information: of European Commission’s energy efficiency initiative www.managEnergynet of Motiva’s Energy Agencies http://www.motivafi/fi/kirjasto/energiatoimistot/ (in Finnish) of TAC Atmostech http://www.taccom/fi (in Finnish) Save energy at the office and at home Electricity use accounts for one third of Finland’s carbon dioxide emissions. Computers and lights consume the most electricity. Computers along with their accessories can use as much electricity as the lighting of the whole office. The computer in itself uses as much electricity as all of its accessories, such as the screen and printer. The easiest way to save energy is by turning off all electronic equipment and lights when you do not need them, both at home and at the office.

Shut your computer down during lunch hour and meetings, and make sure that that all devices are turned off overnight and on the weekends. In normal use the computer’s electricity consumption can be reduced by one fourth just by shutting it off after use. Automatic blanking systems can reduce the electricity consumption during use by half. Copy machines also eat up energy. If there are two copy machines in your office, turn off at least one of them when use is not heavy. The use of energy-saving settings is recommendable. Energy saving will reduce either your or your company’s electricity bill. More information about energy efficient devices at Motiva’s Top Ten webpage: http://www.topten-suomifi/indexphp?page=koti (In Finnish) Join us in halting climate change! Check out WWF’s anf YleX’s Ilmasto On Hot- campaign at www.IlmastoOnHotfi (In Finnish) Sources: WWF, Motiva Oy Sustainable consumption around Christmas time Christmas and its preceding festivity can be beautiful, warm

and cozy while causing minimal harm to the environment. Sending Christmas cards is an old tradition that belongs to Christmas. The most ecological card, however, is an electronic one: e-cards save paper and energy and you can send them for free on the Internet. Buy domestic organic food during the holidays; food that is produced as near to you as possible and is not heavily packaged. Food that is produced near to the buyer is more ecological than food imported from the other side of the world. Even though imported food may sometimes be cheaper, its transport consumes more natural resources and energy. Favour domestic production also when purchasing a Christmas tree. Around Christmas time it is customary for companies to remember their partners. Self-made Christmas decorations, recycled presents, and ecological food gifts are better for the environment than plastic junk imported from the other side of the world. Gift wrapping can also be ecological if given a bit of thought. Regular

gift wrap cannot be recycled as it contains too much dye. Use nice boxes or bags made of cloth instead of gift wrap and make them a part of the present. They can be reused next year Companies can support WWF’s work for example by buying our ecological and beautiful Christmas e-cards. More information about the cards from this link (in Finnish) Surprise your friends with services and domestic products! The best gift is one that the receiver truly needs. Presents bought at the last minute because of obligation are typically the ones that are left to collect dust. Desired and ecological gifts can surely be found with relatively little effort- all one needs is some thinking and well considered choices. Ecological Christmas is also often cheaper WWF recommends to give services and time as gifts. You can delight a friend with a gift certificate to a theatre. Seeing a play together is a great way to spend some time together as well. Being together with family is valuable as well! If

you do choose to purchase merchandise, it is recommended to favor local products instead of those imported from far away. Transportation of domestic goods does not comsume as much energy and cause so many emissions triggering climate change. You may also give support for an NGO that the receiver appreciates as a gift. For example, a donation for WWF’s Mermaid program is certain to make a Baltic Sea friend happy. (finnish text in between) WWF wishes relaxing Christmas to the Green Office network! WWF recommends to give services and time as gifts. For example you can delight a friend with a gift token to a theatre. Seeing a play together is a great way to spend some time together as well. Being together with family is valuable as well! If you do choose to purchase merchandise, it is recommended to favour local products instead of those imported from far away. Transportation of domestic goods does not consume as much energy and cause as much emissions triggering climate change. Here is

a little summary of the CO2 emission reduction and reduction of consuming from Green Offices. Comparison is made between years 2005 and 2006 Figures are from the offices, which have given those indicator figures both years: - - Total electricity consumption decreased 1 217 038 kWh in 16 offices. That is 3,8 % decrease from the year 2005 and the reduction of CO2 emission was 230 tons! According to Statistics Finland trend is Finland during same period of time was about 6 % increase in electricity consumption. Paper consumption decreased 11 030 189 paper sheets in 13 offices. That is 22 060 packets of paper and if they would be piled it would be 1,1 km high pile of paper, which would weigh 55 tons. Reduction of CO2 emission was 157 tons! - Amount of waste decreased 75 tons in 6 companies! Let’s make year 2008 even more effective together! WWF wishes relaxing Christmas to the Green Office network! Sources: WWF, Statistics Finland