How to take action- Communicate electronically as much as possible. Collect an email list of members for all regular communications and avoid printing unless absolutely necessary.
- Reduce paper usage. If you do have to print, collect enough messages or notices to completely fill a piece of paper on both sides. Set your print to double-sided printing. Always buy paper with 100% recycled content. Don't use paper towels; buy cloth cleaning rags that can be washed and used again.
- Avoid disposable dishes. If serving food is a regular part of your gatherings, seek inexpensive, durable dishware that is light and stacks efficiently. Get a plastic crate to store them in. Make communal dish-washing a regular part of your get-togethers – or rotate turns taking the dish crate home and washing. Never use Styrofoam dishes. Reusable dishes – whether made of plastic, enameled metal or ceramic – will save your group money and cut your waste substantially.
- Eliminate toxics. If your group has a lawn or garden, or runs a kitchen or other built facility, go toxic-free. Replace chemical gardening products with natural alternatives, use natural cleaning products and choose equipment or furniture that will not release volatile organic compounds (toxic off-gassing).
- Turn out the lights. It's a basic idea, but often forgotten! Help everyone get in the habit of turning off lights and electrical equipment when not needed. Put outdoor lights on a motion sensor so they aren't on all the time.
- Use sustainable office supplies. If your group uses office supplies, look for a brand that is environmentally friendly.
- Establish a recycling program. Whether you meet informally or run a multi-venue operation, make recycling, reducing, and reusing part of your group's ethic.
- Serve fair trade and/or organic coffee. There's now a wide selection of coffee brands that are better for the environment and the communities of farmers who produce them. Buying these coffees is a great way to introduce friends to environmental and social equity issues (and to make sure your group is making a difference). Other fair trade products are available too.
- Serve organic foods at least part of the time. Remember that your group offers people a chance to try new things and learn about topics they otherwise might not encounter. Having an "organic fruit snack platter" once in a while, or highlighting other organic foods here and there, can start a fruitful conversation about change.
- Shop local. Look for ways to support your local businesses, suppliers, and farmers. You may not feel you can do it all the time, but you might be surprised what you can arrange if you try.
- Reduce the distance your group drives. If driving is a regular part of your service (i.e delivering meals), plan the most efficient routes and avoid peak hours. Help your group members think about energy-efficient travel.
- If you're buying any electrical equipment – from computers to freezers to telephones, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. That's your assurance that what you're buying is one of the most energy efficient options on the market. Look for the label on other items too – for example, energy efficient building products.
- Research whether there are BC Hydro incentives that might apply to your organization. If you operate any sort of facility – from a church to a community hall to a small office space – you may qualify for financial incentives related to upgrading your lighting, heating and ventilation systems, and more. These incentives help cover the cost of switching to more energy efficient technologies (right down to buying new light bulbs). From then on, your organization saves money on each power bill.
- Form a green team. Within your group, gather a few folks interested in environmental issues. Brainstorm the list above (and more!) and pick a few items at a time that you can change. Help teach your fellow organization members about environmental issues, and make it fun too.
- Show leadership. Your organization can make a difference in your community simply by making an effort. Choose one environmental action your group can lead or sponsor each year. It could be a stream cleanup, an energy efficiency education day, a movie night showing films about environmental issues, hosting a how-to organic gardening workshop or promoting car-pooling or bike-riding – whatever seems to be a fit. By demonstrating that your group cares about environmental issues, you’ll encourage others and make it easier for them to show leadership too.
Why it makes a difference- Our current approach to our economy and environment is contributing to resource depletion, increasing levels of pollution, mounting levels of waste, and rising global temperatures due to our use of fossil fuels and rapid consumption patterns. However, people often feel alone in their concerns about the environment, and feel their singular efforts to reduce their environmental impact can't possibly make a difference. By engaging your community group in taking steps towards better environmental practices, you help create a community conservation ethic, bringing issues to the attention of others, empowering them to make change, and demonstrating the impact of collective action.
For more information- Many of BC Hydro's guides and tips for small businesses and could be applied to your organization – depending on its size and operating activities. Browse the Green Your Business and Green Your Home guides to find more information your organization could use.
- For more information about toxics, visit Toxic Free Canada.
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