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?

solid waste reduction
energy conservation
sustainable forests
environmental awareness & sustainability leadership
clean air / greenhouse gas reduction
toxins elimination
water conservation

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
Recycle household goods – implement program to donate items to Big Brothers Big Sisters
Implement extensive waste/composting program
Recycle electronics/batteries/CFLs at responsible local recycler
Don't use styrofoam plates and plastic cutlery for staff, use real dishes
Use recycled printer cartridges from a service
Use large cream containers instead of creamos
Attractive/fun colour coded and labelled bins for easier recycling
Return drink containers with deposits on them to appropriate bottle depot/store
Put up list of what can and what can't be recycled, to make it easier
Recycle plastic bags (all shopping bags can be recycled)
Encourage employees to use commuter mugs rather than disposable coffee cups on way to work
Purchase snacks with recyclable packaging - if packaging necessary - or in bulk	In Progress
Rent or use eco friendly dishware for large events like our Annual Stampede Pancake Breakfast	In Progress
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
Donate computers to charity if still in good working condition	In Progress
Donate used furniture	In Progress
Use cloth towels when possible instead of paper towels	In Progress
Use permanent reusable coffee filter	Proposed
When recycling electronics/computers is required, use responsible recycler	Proposed
Source out biodegradable garbage bags	Proposed
Locally produced sustainable snacks with less packaging	Proposed

energy conservation

Turn off monitor when not at desk - or after 5 min. of inactivity - set up "energy saver" on monitor
Turn off computers at night when not in use
Purchased new energy saving dishwasher and refrigerator - Part of July move
Replace CRT monitors with LCD - Part of July move
Turn off the lights when we're not in the room	In Progress
Use rechargeable batteries for laptops rather than plugging in	In Progress
Get Audit from electricity vendor	Proposed
Install air hand dryers - suggest to Landlord?	Proposed
Take out light bulbs we don't need/use	Proposed

sustainable forests

Get pay stubs e-mailed instead of printed handouts
Use both sides when printing
If we're using paper - to take notes, use the paper we're going to recycle anyway - set up a location for it
Use electronic post it notes whenever we can
Don't print out department reports/dashboards, put them on the projector to discuss
Don't print out staff meeting agendas, put them up on the projector
Purchase recycled paper	In Progress
Use eco-friendly office supplies	In Progress
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
Outlook - paperless office - internal workshop	In Progress
Send e-cards or personal e-mail thank you at Christmas instead of paper	Proposed
Purchase eBooks or audiobooks	Proposed
Separate out corrugated cardboard from other recycling for possible cash back	Proposed

environmental awareness & sustainability leadership

Create Name for sustainability/greening program
Create team for sustainability/greening program
Spread the message with articles in local newspapers
Team Activity - Community Make Over
Purchase Fair Trade Coffee from our coffee supplier
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
Create internal web site/resource	In Progress
Develop a BHAG or statement	In Progress
Green Challenge – challenge other local companies to a particular “green” initiative	In Progress
Set up blog and report on energy/cost/carbon etc. savings	In Progress
Document current usage/impact in all areas	Proposed
Determine calculations for savings	Proposed
Document savings	Proposed
Report on savings internally	Proposed

clean air / greenhouse gas reduction

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!
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)
Cancelled contract for water cooler, avoiding carbon emissions for transporting bottles
Place additional eco friendly carbon exchanging plants in the office - part of July move	In Progress
Create carpool map and organize carpool	In Progress
Participate in RideShare week Feb 4-10th	Proposed
Community garden - create one?	Proposed
Purchase carbon offsets	Proposed
Use a "green" shipper or evaluate shipper impacts	Proposed

toxins elimination

Eco friendly office cleaning products
Eco friendly window cleaner
Eco friendly whiteboard cleaner - use orange oil or rubbing alcohol
Eco friendly renovation products - Requested low VOC or latex paints to be used for new offices - part of July move
Eco friendly dish soap	Proposed

water conservation

Purchase newer water saving dishwasher - Part of July move
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.