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Welcome to Enquiro:Earth

Enquiro:Earth is the name of our greening and sustainability team and program. We started out as a group of volunteers who have a passion for nature and for nurturing those around us, both close and far away. Our actions have evolved into a corporate mandate!
Our most important goal is getting the message out there that no change that is a positive change is too small to start with. In our busy lives, we know it's not easy to implement huge, sweeping changes. However, implementing easy, small changes on a consistent and ongoing basis will have a huge effect in the end.
Some people don't bother with the little stuff because they think "it's just me, I can't change anything by recycling this one piece of plastic". An entire community of individuals doing the little things creates the potential for great change. Each one of us can "save the world".
Why do we do it?
it makes social sense - the staff here love to have fun. We like taking care of each other and reaching out. This is another way for us to create meaning at our work and in our lives. Taking care of ourselves (which includes our environment) first, has a trickle down effect. We feel great and we're more effectively able to take care of others.
it makes business sense - We have a healthier work environment, have more activities and less sick days. It's easier to maintain and attract staff. It's a great way to get in touch with other like-minded companies. We're making ourselves leaner and meaner and more efficient and effective with our resources.
it makes economic sense - we save money in the long term - on supplies, on energy, on sick days, on training a number of areas. We're also doing our part to make sure that business is cost effective in the future. Supporting alternative sources of energy, or local farmers, for example, will make sure more of these businesses are still around and viable in the future when everyone needs to rely more heavily on them, keeping costs for energy and food reasonable.
What are our main goals?
How are we doing it?
Here are some of the initiatives we've undertaken to go green. Some of them we've implemented already and others are on our "to do" list. We're trying to follow our own advice of "you don't have to do everything at once". We try to do more and more every day and ingrain habits that are long term. It's relatively painless. Believe us!
solid waste reduction
| Get Waste Audit from Regional Waste Management office – obtain compliance certification |
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Recycle household goods implement program to donate items to Big Brothers Big Sisters |
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Implement extensive waste/composting program |
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Recycle electronics/batteries/CFLs at responsible local recycler |
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Don't use styrofoam plates and plastic cutlery for staff, use real dishes |
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Use recycled printer cartridges from a service |
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Use large cream containers instead of creamos |
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Attractive/fun colour coded and labelled bins for easier recycling |
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Return drink containers with deposits on them to appropriate bottle depot/store |
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Put up list of what can and what can't be recycled, to make it easier |
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Recycle plastic bags (all shopping bags can be recycled) |
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Encourage employees to use commuter mugs rather than disposable coffee cups on way to work |
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Purchase snacks with recyclable packaging - if packaging necessary - or in bulk |
In Progress |
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Rent or use eco friendly dishware for large events like our Annual Stampede Pancake Breakfast |
In Progress |
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Extend the life of existing electronics - don't replace unless we really need it and re-use components of our existing electronics if we can - create upgraded system from 2 old systems for example |
In Progress |
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Donate computers to charity if still in good working condition |
In Progress |
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In Progress |
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Use cloth towels when possible instead of paper towels |
In Progress |
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Use permanent reusable coffee filter |
Proposed |
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When recycling electronics/computers is required, use responsible recycler |
Proposed |
| Source out biodegradable garbage bags |
Proposed |
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Locally produced sustainable snacks with less packaging |
Proposed |
energy conservation
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Turn off monitor when not at desk - or after 5 min. of inactivity - set up "energy saver" on monitor |
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Turn off computers at night when not in use |
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Purchased new energy saving dishwasher and refrigerator - Part of July move |
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Replace CRT monitors with LCD - Part of July move |
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Turn off the lights when we're not in the room |
In Progress |
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Use rechargeable batteries for laptops rather than plugging in |
In Progress |
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Get Audit from electricity vendor |
Proposed |
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Install air hand dryers - suggest to Landlord? |
Proposed |
| Take out light bulbs we don't need/use |
Proposed |
sustainable forests
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Get pay stubs e-mailed instead of printed handouts |
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Use both sides when printing |
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If we're using paper - to take notes, use the paper we're going to recycle anyway - set up a location for it |
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| Use electronic post it notes whenever we can |
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Don't print out department reports/dashboards, put them on the projector to discuss |
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Don't print out staff meeting agendas, put them up on the projector |
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Purchase recycled paper |
In Progress |
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Use eco-friendly office supplies |
In Progress |
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Determine what NEEDS to be printed and what can stay electronic (example, faxes get sent straight to e-mail) - planned purchase of a new printer that can handle these functions when the time comes to replace existing equipment |
In Progress |
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Outlook - paperless office - internal workshop |
In Progress |
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Send e-cards or personal e-mail thank you at Christmas instead of paper |
Proposed |
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Purchase eBooks or audiobooks |
Proposed |
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Separate out corrugated cardboard from other recycling for possible cash back |
Proposed |
environmental awareness & sustainability leadership
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Create Name for sustainability/greening program |
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Create team for sustainability/greening program |
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Spread the message with articles in local newspapers |
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Team Activity - Community Make Over |
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Purchase Fair Trade Coffee from our coffee supplier |
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Getting the message out and inspire other companies through our web site - the Regional Waste Management district is using this site to educate other local companies |
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Create internal web site/resource |
In Progress |
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Develop a BHAG or statement |
In Progress |
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Green Challenge – challenge other local companies to a particular “green” initiative |
In Progress |
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Set up blog and report on energy/cost/carbon etc. savings |
In Progress |
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Document current usage/impact in all areas |
Proposed |
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Determine calculations for savings |
Proposed |
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Document savings |
Proposed |
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Report on savings internally |
Proposed |
clean air / greenhouse gas reduction
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Participate in local Bike to Work week May 4-10 - 33% of employees were able to participate in 2008 by either riding to work or walking. Won top team in "Media/ Other Advertising/ Marketing" category! |
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Encourage riding bikes to work and other lower emissions forms of transportation. Participate in Commuter Challenge - June 1-7. June 4 was Clean Air Day (several employees purchased new bikes and are cycling to work) |
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Cancelled contract for water cooler, avoiding carbon emissions for transporting bottles |
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Place additional eco friendly carbon exchanging plants in the office - part of July move |
In Progress |
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Create carpool map and organize carpool |
In Progress |
| Participate in RideShare week Feb 4-10th |
Proposed |
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Community garden - create one? |
Proposed |
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Purchase carbon offsets |
Proposed |
| Use a "green" shipper or evaluate shipper impacts |
Proposed |
toxins elimination
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Eco friendly office cleaning products |
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Eco friendly window cleaner |
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Eco friendly whiteboard cleaner - use orange oil or rubbing alcohol |
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Eco friendly renovation products - Requested low VOC or latex paints to be used for new offices - part of July move |
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Eco friendly dish soap |
Proposed |
water conservation
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Purchase newer water saving dishwasher - Part of July move |
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| Aerator on faucet - Part of July move |
Proposed |
How did this all get started, anyway?
Earlier this year, a couple of our staff were privileged to attend a local "Greening Your Business" Workshop Presentation. Though we felt as individuals we were fairly conscientious of the goings on in the world and recent efforts to make the environment a consideration in our every day lives, we walked away from the seminar with the knowledge that there was a lot more that we could and should be doing for Mother Earth and sustainability, and we also had the excitement in our hearts that there was so much opportunity out there to make that happen.
Our first, most important "greening" action at Enquiro (so we thought) was just getting people to care about doing it in the first place. Instead, we got an overwhelming response when we presented the idea to our team. We had so many like-minded individuals here, well-versed in the critical environmental and sustainability issues of today, but we hadn't made it a discussion point yet to realize that a lot of us were thinking along the same lines. Caring about our environment and about the health of our workplace, community and the earth is what will benefit us all as individuals in the end