1. National University of Singapore Campus Sustainability Committee
SUSTAINABLE-OFFICE GUIDE
National University of Singapore
Campus Sustainability Committee

2. There is only ONE planet!
“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
- Ancient Indian Proverb

3. Do you know that…
One office worker can use a quarter ton of materials in a year which includes 10,000 pieces of copier paper?
Computers in the office can burn up to $1 billion worth of electricity annually and that's when they're idling?
Every 100 reams of recycled paper that is printed double sided saves two trees, more than a ton of greenhouse gases?

4. We spend at least 8 hours a day in our office, and in the process, consuming a large amount of resources - electricity, paper, stationeries, toners, electronic devices and so on.
This sustainable-office guide seeks to show you how you can do your bit for the environment from where you spend most of your day, that is in the office!

6. Paper
Stationery
Personal Computer
Photocopiers
Printers
Lighting
Refrigerator
Plastic
Tissue Products
Sustainable Office Guide
Air-Conditioning
Scanners
Pantry
Fax Machines

7. Paper
Do you know?
Recycled paper uses 50% less energy, up to 75% less water and generates about 90% less wastewater than producing paper from virgin timber.

8. Paper
For every 150 reams of paper with 70% recycled content, we can save 1 tree!

9. Paper
Figures show that an average office worker can use about 100 sheets of paper per day and throw away about kg of paper every year.

10. Paper
In 2005, paper and paper cardboard consumption in Singapore is 144kg / person / year, that is approximately 576,440,000 kg of paper, equivalent to chopping down approximately 14 millions of trees*!
* This calculation is done based on the figure given by Conservatree: 1 ton of uncoated virgin (non-recycled) printing and office paper uses 24 trees

11. Paper
Although Singapore is just a tiny dot on the world map, the level of resource consumption is of the opposite. In fact, Singapore is one of the top 25 largest paper and paper cardboard consumers in the world.

12. Paper MORE? Want some tips?
So, let’s start reducing, reusing & recycling paper NOW!
Provide recycling boxers besides printers, copiers to facilitate collection of waste paper.
MORE?

13. Paper
Correspond electronically and refrain from printing s.
Choose a printer which has a duplex function.
Ensure that office equipment can handle paper with a minimum of 20% recycled material and paper with only one side used.
Locate one tray on the copier for paper with one side used only.
MORE?

14. Paper
Reuse old cardboard boxes for loose files, magazines or other materials, or as scrap-paper trays
Reuse paper with one side used only for writing telephone message, drafting and etc and recycle them thereafter.
Reuse paper bags, envelop & mailers.

15. Paper
Choose paper which has been manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner, i.e. 100% chlorine free bleaching process.
Subscribe to electronic mailing list whenever possible.
Proof-read documents before printing to minimize wastage of paper.
Directory

16. Stationery
Do you know?
A survey by the Department of Environment, in New South Wales, in 2002 showed that an office worker threw away $23 worth of reusable office stationery every year.

17. Stationery
We pay little attention to the office stationery that we use daily. The combined office waste generated by these materials however is not insignificant. There are a wide range of brands and products one can choose from and with just a little bit of care, we could do our part in minimizing unnecessary waste and thus elongating the life of our Pulau Semakau Landfill.
Tips?

18. Stationery
Consider using Green-Labeled recycled notepads and stationery paper, Green-Labeled correction fluid and tape, refillable pens and highlighters and mechanical pencils.
MORE?

19. Stationery
Post Its cannot be recycled due to the glue on them. Try to replace them with scrap paper pads so that it can be recycled.
If notebooks and pads are used for rough working and the likes only, try to replace it with used paper. If not, purchase those with a high recycled content.
Try to use refillable pens to minimize waste. If you are purchasing disposable pens, ask for those made from biodegradable plastic.
MORE?

20. Stationery
Purchase water-soluble adhesives which are more environmentally friendly.
Reuse!
Buy those with recycled content!

21. Stationery
Try to use envelop without plastic windows as they are harder to recycle or use envelopes with a high recycled content.
Buy rewritable CD so that it can be reused.
Purchase water-soluble adhesives which are more environmentally friendly.
Directory

22. Computer
Do you know?
Backgrounds in white and bright colors can use up to 20% more power than black or dark colors. Unfortunately, and word processors tend to use white backgrounds, so your workstation uses considerable power while you are in these programs.
You can change your background by selecting Start, Settings, Control Panel, Display and Appearance tab. The item "field” should say “Desktop”. Under color, select one of the colors at the right that has a rating below 65W and then click OK.

23. Computer
Computers use about the same amount of power when they are idling as when they are being used actively.
Table 1. Power Consumption of a personal computer*
Desktop Computer
watts
On Screen Saver
Laptop
15-45 watts
Sleep / Standby
1-6 watts
* Based on Dell Computers

24. Computer
Consider buying a laptop since it is both energy- and material- efficient.
Energy management puts your computer and/or monitor into a low-power sleep when they are not used after a certain period of time.
Look out for energy-saving labels, such as Green Label and Energy Star. Refer to their respective websites for a list of endorsed products.

25. Computer
Consider LCD monitor which consumes half of the energy as compared to CRT monitor.
Table 2. Power Consumption of a Monitor*
Typical 17’
CRT-monitor
80 watts
LCD-monitor
35 watts
Sleeping
0-15 watts
Turned off at switch
0 watt
* Based on Dell Computers

26. Computer Energy Saving Tips Enable your power management program.
Window XP
Go to Control Panel  Power Options  Power Scheme
Recommended Settings:
Turn off monitor: after mins
Turn off hard disk: after 2-3 hours
System Standby: after mins
System Hibernate: after 2 hours
Window Vista
Go to Control Panel  System & Maintenance  Power Options  Power Saver

27. Computer Energy Saving Tips Need more explanation? Click here
Macintosh OSX
Go to Apple Menu  System Preferences  Energy Saver
Recommended Settings:
Put computer to sleep after minutes
Put display to sleep after 10 minutes
Need more explanation? Click here

28. Computer Directory Energy Saving Tips Turn off your screen saver
Go to desktop, right click and choose “Properties”  Screen Saver  choose “None”
Switch off your monitor whenever it is not in use.
Switch off your computer and monitor after work.
If possible, switch off the main switch as without doing so, there will be power loss ranging from watts.
Directory

29. Photocopiers Do you know?
Copiers are the largest energy guzzlers in the office environment, with power consumption up to 3500 kW.
There is a great potential to save energy in this area because 70% of the energy consumed by copiers is used to keep it warm when idle. Even in standby mode, a photocopier is capable of consuming enough energy in one night to print over 1500 copiers of A4 paper.

30. Photocopiers Purchasing Tips
The most effective way to save energy and reduce copying costs is to copy on both sides of the paper (duplex). Choose a copier with duplexing function.
Look for a copier with an “energy save” button in addition to programmable power management features so that users can put the machine into low power mode as soon as they finish copying.

31. Photocopiers Purchasing Tips
Select a photocopier with a high recycled material content and that makes use of recycled components.
Choose a copier that allows you to program it to turn off when it isn’t needed at the end of each work day and on weekends.
Choose a copier which is either labeled with Green Label or ENERGY STAR.

32. Photocopiers
*Courtesy to Green Office Guide (Australia)

33. Photocopiers Cost-Saving Tips MORE?
Paper (including toner) is the biggest cost of a photocopier and has the most environmental impact. So reduce paper usage as much as possible.
Give clear instructions on how to perform single-sided and double-sided copying
Always use duplexing function wherever possible
Choose a bin to put paper with one-side used only
Do not photocopy unnecessary documents
Reduce documents from A3 to A4 size if possible
MORE?

34. Directory Recycle toners / cartridges Recycled paper
Auto-off it after one hour of inaction.
Copiers with energy saving label.
Copier with the right size
Activate Energy Saver!
Directory

35. Printers Purchasing Tips
Purchase printers labeled with Green Label or ENERGY STAR
Ensure the printer has toner- or ink-saving modes such as “draft”
Choose a printer that can print double-sided and allow printing on paper that is already printed on one side.
For small-volume printers that don’t have the ability to print double-sided, make sure odd and even pages can be printed easily.

36. Remember, saving energy prevents pollution!
Printers
Remember, saving energy prevents pollution!
Imaging products qualified under the new ENERGY STAR specification will save more than $3 billion over the next five years and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 4 million cars.
Check out ENERGY STAR qualified products here:

37. Printers
*Courtesy to Green Office Guide (Australia)

38. Tips Directory Preview to avoid wastage of paper
Activate Energy- Saver!
Reuse paper with one-side used only
Use a copier to make more copies
Double -sided printing!
Directory
Use compatible inks / cartridges & recycle them

39. Air-Con
Do you know?
Air-conditioning units are another huge energy guzzler in the office.
Apparently air-conditioning accounts for about 60% of our overall energy consumption in NUS.

40. Air-Con Directory Cost-Saving Tips
Choose properly-sized air-conditioners. How to? Click here
Purchase energy-efficient air-conditioners.
Click here
Switch off all air-conditioners after office hours.
Set the thermostat at 25oC. Consider buying a small fan if it is too hot for you.
Directory

41. Lighting
Do you know?
While installing energy efficient lighting systems is an important aspect of a green building, occupants can contribute to a great deal of energy savings.

42. Lighting
Replace conventional light bulbs or tubes with the energy efficient light ones.
Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL)
Light Emitting Diodes (LED)

43. Lighting Directory Install occupancy sensors!
Switch off lights whenever the room is not occupied.
Adjust the brightness in the office to save energy.
Report defective sensors!
Directory

44. Scanners
In most offices, scanners are used infrequently. Switch it on only when you need to use.
Purchase energy efficient scanners such as those ENERGY STAR qualified products. Click here
Nowadays, many scanners come in the form of All-in-one devices. Follow the energy-saving tips with copiers or printers.
Directory

45. Fax Machines
Fax machines are mostly inactive so it is important to choose one with a low standby energy rating.
Ensure the fax machine has toner or ink-saving modes such as draft.
Use ink and toner saving settings
Recycle and refill toner and ink cartridges.
Fill the paper bin/cartridge with paper that is already printed on one side

46. Fax Machines
Directory

47. Tissue
Purchase tissue with more than 30% of recycled content
Choose recycled chlorine-free tissue products
Use dryer instead of paper tower
Directory

48. Pantry Directory Use reusable plates, glasses and cutlery
Use bio-degradable disposables such as starch plates
Bring your own container for take away meals if possible
Remember to recycle all recyclables
Use environmentally friendly dish washer
Directory

49. Refrigerator Do you know? Replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with
a new ENERGY STAR qualified model would
save enough energy to light the average
household for nearly four months.

50. Refrigerator Choose an energy efficient refrigerator.
Choose a refrigerator with right capacity.
ENERGY STAR compact refrigerators and freezers use 40% less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001.

51. Tips
Position your refrigerator away from a heat source such as an oven, a dishwasher, or direct sunlight from a window.
To allow air to circulate around the condenser coils, leave a space between the wall or cabinets and the refrigerator or freezer and keep the coils clean.
Make sure the door seals are airtight.
Keep your refrigerator around 3 degrees Celsius and your freezer at -18 degrees Celsius.
Minimize the amount of time the refrigerator door is open.
Recycle older or second refrigerators.
Directory