HealtH Matters 53
Green Matters
equivalent light yielded dramatic results. the atmosphere for upwards of a century.
Yes, the lCD bulbs were more expensive the emissions of billions of tonnes of
to buy, but they last far longer and each
“If you have a role in
greenhouse gases, principally CO2 as
consumes just three watts, an astonishing
procuring electronic
a result of human activity, are steadily
16-fold power saving. a good-sized room ratcheting up the earth’s temperature.
can now be evenly lit using less power
equipment, you should
already, average temperatures have
than the equivalent of one dim 20-watt increased by 0.8 degrees celsius over
incandescent lightbulb. Now multiply those
query the policies of
pre-industrial levels. this doesn’t sound like
energy savings across an entire office,
prospective suppliers
much, but given the earth’s average surface
laboratory or hospital and modest initiatives temperature is around 14.5°C, this actually
can suddenly translate into dramatic energy
regarding their use of
represents around a six per cent warming in
efficiency improvements. barely a century.
electronic devices, from computers and
hazardous materials,
By way of medical analogy, a similar
monitors to printers, are major consumers
including brominated
increase in a person would see their body
of both energy and materials. Most offices temperature rise to over 39°C – a level that
and stations are cluttered with documents
flame retardants, lead,
would quickly necessitate urgent treatment.
only printed on one side. If the printer you the equally dangerous additional heat we
use has a ‘duplex’ function, this should
chromium, mercury and
have injected into the earth’s system is now
be set to be the default for all users. Many
PVC. Quality suppliers
melting the arctic sea ice, shrinking glaciers
organisations produce documents as all over the world and gnawing away at
PDFs, but neglect to delete blank pages.
will offer you greener,
even the 3km thick Greenland ice pack.
removing these before you create a PDF, the rate of warming is predicted to
and avoiding fussy backgrounds, saves
safer alternatives.”
increase by a disastrous 2-6°C in the
everyone money, time and hassle. coming decades. scientists warn that if we
In many cases the most environmentally do not act strongly and act now to drastically
efficient, as well as thrifty, thing is simply not to ensure that energy efficiency becomes a reduce emissions, the conditions for life on
to print that document or email at all, unless reality within the Hse are in fact the thousands our small blue planet will deteriorate
it’s absolutely necessary. of people who work within the system, who irreparably, within our children’s, and possibly
Most modern computers and monitors know its ins and outs intimately. our own lifetimes.
have energy-saving settings that put them If the arguments in favour of energy “We” means you and me. Don’t wait for
into ‘sleep’ mode if not being used for 15 efficiency and recycling weren’t themselves others to lead, and never believe there’s
minutes for example. If your machine is compelling enough, then consider carbon nothing you can do. In the words of
humming away constantly, the settings need dioxide (CO2), a powerful heat-trapping Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the difference you
to be adjusted. also, these devices come gas that, once released, stays active in want to see in the world.”
with an ‘off’ switch. almost no computer
needs to be left on overnight unless there are
good business reasons for doing so.
If you have a role in procuring electronic
equipment, you should query the policies of
prospective suppliers regarding their use of
hazardous materials, including brominated
flame retardants, lead, chromium, mercury
and PVC. Quality suppliers will offer you
greener, safer alternatives.
Within a large, complex organisation
like the Hse, energy efficiency can only
truly succeed if it’s both a top-down and
bottom-up process. senior managers
clearly have a vital role in making the right + John Gibbons,
procurement decisions. ‘smart’ equipment
a journalist and
is generally a little more expensive initially,
commentator on
environmental issues,
but this is more than offset with energy
has established the
savings over its full life cycle.
not-for-profit website
However, the people who are best placed Climatechange.ie.
HM Iss6.1 p1-70.indd 53 12/03/2010 16:00:23
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