Green practices

Air-conditioning

• Conduct routine checks and affix  “Save Energy” sticker to AC switch to remind staff to switch off air conditioners when not in use.

• Control air-conditioning by a Central Control and Monitoring System, and use automatic switch-off timers.

• Change manual control to occupancy sensor control.

• Use small air-conditioning zones and sect oral  switches in offices to facilitate switching off when not occupied.

• Adjust thermostats and set room temperature and fan speed at a reasonable level to avoid excessive air conditioning. As a general advice, the temperature setting should be at 25.5 oC in summer.

• Switch off ventilation in lift after being idle for 5 minutes.

• Switch on air-conditioning only 30 minutes before staff start work.

• Use reflective film on windows against direct sunlight.

• Ensure that windows are closed when air-conditioners are operating and keep entrance doors to non air-conditioned rooms closed.

• Use venetian blinds to mitigate room temperature rise due to direct sunlight.

• Install variable speed motor controls for fresh air units in air-conditioning systems, wherever appropriate.

Lighting

• Conduct routine checks and affix “Save Energy” sticker to the lighting switch to remind staff to switch to    switch off lights when not in use.

• Control lighting by a Central Control and Monitoring System, and use automatic switch-off timers.

• Change manual control to occ panc sensor control

• Use small lighting zones and sectoral  control in offices to facilitate switching off when not occupied.

• Use natural light where possible. Switch off e.g. 50% of lighting in certain areas as daylight can reach the areas, e.g. waiting halls,  corridors and common areas during office hours.

• Switch off lighting in lift after being  idle for 5 minutes.

• Replace aging lighting facilities with energy-saving devices and use lamps with Energy Efficiency label.

• Use long lasting rechargeable batteries e.g. in fire exit illumination.

Office Equipment

• Use power saving features on  computers and office equipment.

• Switch off all unused computer monitors, printers and office  equipment.

• Unplug all hand-held equipment  chargers from socket outlets when not in use.

• Minimize the use of personal  electrical appliances such as heater, fan, lamp and kettle.

• Use computers and office equipment with Energy Efficiency Labels.

Other

• Carry out energy audits and develop a structured energy saving plan.

• Require Unit Environmental Auditors to submit periodic returns on energy consumption to the Headquarters for monitoring purposes. • Use staircases instead of lifts for inter-floor traffic.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Avoid Paper Use

(a)Electronic Means to Avoid Paper Use

• Use e-mail for internal and external  communication, instead of paper memos and faxes.

• Use electronic submissions, forms and payment methods.

• Use e-tendering process.

• Introduce e-filing systems where applicable, i.e. using diskettes and CD-ROMs to keep records. Avoid paper records unless it is absolutely necessary.

• Use e-faxes (i.e. send and receive faxes electronically instead of using printouts).

• Adopt electronic templates of letterhead, memo and forms to avoid pre-printed copies.

• Transfer documents on diskettes or through e-mail for editing and review.

• Upload reports and paper for public access through the internet to reduce number of printed copies.

• Implement computer program  for booking of meeting rooms, to reduce consumption of paper.

• Send greeting cards by electronic means.

• Use digital cameras for site photo taking and establish a digital photo system to store digital photos.

Avoid development of paper copies of photos unless it is absolutely necessary.

• Reduce the printed copies of publications by the Department’s library by subscribing to CD-ROMs and on-line databases.

PAPER SAVING

• Review critically the distribution of items such as diaries, calendars, telephone directories and performance pledge booklets by replacing them with electronic equivalents as far as possible.

(b)Share Documents to Eliminate Paper Use

• Post circulars and notices on bulletin boards, in particular e -bulletin boards accessible by

communal terminals.

• Whenever possible and time permits, circulate documents using routing slips rather than sending out individual copies.

• Commenting/editing of documents on-screen using different fonts or colour by different parties.

• Encourage sharing of document in meetings especially when there are more than one representative from one department / bureau.

       (c)Proper Use of Paper Fax     

• Avoid fax machine that uses thermal papers to eliminate the need for making copies of filing.

• Use fax note instead of leader page for outgoing faxes.

• Avoid sending original documents after they have been sent by fax.

(d)Review Distribution Lists

• Examine critically who should be on distribution lists

• Minimize photocopies by circulating circulars and other documents instead of providing officers with personal copies, or by circulating one copy to all staff for each  section/sub-division.

• Examine critically the copies, circulars and official publications to be produced.

Reduce Paper Use

• Use both sides of the paper, whether for copying or printing.

• Promote printing of documents in condense mode i.e. multiple pages onto a sheet.

• Reduce font size, margins and line spacing, and adjust page format to reduce the pages of a document.

• Proper use of copiers to reduce abortive copying (e.g. ensure right setting before copying).

Reuse/Recycle Waste Paper

• Provide green boxes at strategic places in every workplace for collection of waste papers for recycling or reuse.

• Use the blank side of used paper.