Greening Your Office

In recent years, many engineering firms have taken the same basic steps toward lessening the environmental impact of our offices as our counterparts in other industries. We use recycled paper, sort lunchtime refuse into recycling bins, and purchase office equipment with built-in energy saving technology. Through simple, common sense methods for organizing such practices into a document known as an Environmental Management System (EMS), engineering firms can become role models for sustainable office operation. Benefits include reduced operational costs, improved worker morale, increased productivity, and peace of mind in the knowledge that our industry is doing its part to combat global warming and minimize consumption of nature’s resources.

One of the best templates for an Environmental Management System is ISO 14001, launched in 1996 as an initiative of the Amsterdam based International Standards Organization and updated in 2004. It outlines an EMS dedicated to continually improving the environmental efficiency of an office via a cyclical five step process: environmental policy, planning, implementation & operation, checking & corrective action, and management review. Participation at all levels is a de facto tenet of a good EMS. By calling a series of lunchtime meetings, principals can brainstorm with their engineers, drafting technicians, and administrative assistants to craft a comprehensive document that addresses each component of the cycle. Liaisons can be assigned for each design team to provide feedback and make the management review process more effective. Even if a firm has no intentions of applying to the International Standards Organization for certification, a quality EMS is a great way to make green thinking a way of life in the office.

What kinds of ideas fall under the heading of implementation and operation? Simple ones include using the double-sided option as the default setting for printers and copies, stocking renewable batteries, and purchasing supplies from local ISO 14001 manufacturers. Providing personal recycling bins at each workstation, strategically placing refuse cans to encourage container recycling, and shutting down computers in the evening are also easily accomplished. A “Please turn off lights when leaving” sign in bathrooms serves as a daily reminder that everyone, from the most senior partner to the newest intern, must remain committed to making the EMS a living document. In terms of technology, firms should consider procuring Energy Star rated computers. These machines use 80% less power in sleep mode than when active. The Energy Star program is a joint effort of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Supporting U.S. government initiatives within the framework of the European ISO model is indicative of the resourcefulness and ingenuity for which structural engineers are famous.

Firms that would like to make bolder investments in going green have many options. When working with environmentally conscious clients, it may be appropriate during the contract/fee negotiation phase to propose a partnership that will offset the greenhouse gas emissions of project-related airline travel. A for-profit British firm called Climate Care, founded in 1998, offers an online calculator to quantify the greenhouse gases released on common airline routes. Companies can set up an account with Climate Care and make contributions that go toward projects to offset these emissions. Examples include the installation of wind turbines in India and the replacement of nearly 10,000 outdated light fixtures in Kazakhstan with energy efficient lamps. Carbon Care and U.S. based Native Energy are similar organizations.

Environmentally friendly and high performance technologies are often one in the same. Commercial lighting systems are available that sense the amount of daylight entering an office and reduce energy usage accordingly. Motion sensors and timers allow such systems to switch on and off as people enter and leave a workspace. In terms of software, several firms in the city have begun using Revit for drafting because of its 3D modeling capabilities. The program comes with a mark-up editor that allows engineers to do all of their redlining on the computer. That file can be imported back into the building model by the CAD technician so that she can easily understand and accommodate engineers’ changes. This streamlined mark-up process conserves plotting paper and improves efficiency.

Once an office drafts an EMS and becomes comfortable with the implementation portion, the next logical step is to apply for ISO 14001 certification. Currently, the US does not rank in the top five nations in terms of the number of ISO 14001 certified companies. As of December 2005, the top two nations were Japan and China, with 23,466 and 12,683 certifications, respectively; the US had only 5,061. Certification is becoming increasingly common in Asia, which suggests that it could eventually become a requirement for doing business in that market. Inchon Airport in South Korea, for example, requires information about the ISO 14001 status of its suppliers. Certified consulting engineers who latch onto the trend share a common bond with like-minded European and Asian clients. This puts them one step ahead of non-certified peers when competing for facility upgrades or new construction.

The structural engineering community is revered for creating amazing structures that serve the public good; it is our responsibility to expand this commitment to society by practicing environmental efficiency in our day-to-day operations. An EMS modeled after ISO 14001 is a great way to cut operational expenses and extend sustainable practices from the job site into the office.