After looking at ways we could reduce our energy consumption and paper use, the OHIONET Green Team started finding opportunities for recycling. Our recycling efforts include:

• Using recycled paper - We got management buy-in and asked our purchasing agent to switch to recycled paper for all day-to-day printing.
• Facilitating can and bottle recycling - One of our staff members takes the cans and bottles to a local recycling center.
• Coordinating paper recycling - We tapped into the Just in Time Recycling Service from SWACO and got small desk bins for each staff member and a large container for on-site pickup of high-grade paper waste. Other staff members volunteer to take lower-grade paper waste to local drop-off sites.

You can do the same at your library with a volunteer or two and a couple containers. Start small and build on your success. Find a recycling center near you to get started!

For more information on the OHIONET Green Team, please contact any of its members: Mary Conroy, Jill Boggs Brust, or Susan Furniss.

In addition to saving energy, OHIONET has been working to save paper. You may find some of these ideas inspiring in your own efforts.

• Paperless invoices - OHIONET is now using its accounting software to send electronic invoices to our members. What regular communications can you do electronically to save paper? Electronic reserve, overdue, or recall notices? Making checkout receipts optional in your ILS?
• Electronic handouts - Our instructors now coordinate with our Community Manager to make handouts available for workshop attendees electronically. We’ve also made our entire background notes from the ALAO poster session available online. What opportunities for electronic handouts do you have at your library?
• Online newsletter to blogs - OHIONET has been communicating with members via online newsletters for the past few years, but that mode has been transitioned to blogs for more rapid, timely communication. What methods of communication are your library using? Can any benefit from an e-makeover?

Reducing paper can save time and money as well as the environment. Make sure your library leverages technology to maximize savings to all three!

For more information on the OHIONET Green Team, please contact any of its members: Mary Conroy, Jill Boggs Brust, or Susan Furniss.

Inspired by the efforts of our member libraries, OHIONET started a “Green Team” to try to coordinate efforts to make our office a little more environmentally friendly.

One of the first things we did was an energy audit to find ways we could conserve energy and resources. We found a few simple things to save a lot of energy–maybe these are things your library could try, too!

• Turn off the computers at night - According to the folks at TechSoup, the carbon dioxide savings from a simple act like turning the computer off at night for the lifetime of the computer could be the rough equivalent of taking a car off the road for a year!
• Turn off lights in unused areas - We made a simple little sign for each light switch in the building. You could use this sign or something similar in public places (like meeting rooms, study rooms) or staff areas (private offices, break rooms).
• Save water - We took advantage of a free service from the City of Columbus and got kits to check toilets for leakage. Once we identified problems, a plumber fixed the leaks, and we saved water and money by prevention.
• Change to energy efficient light bulbs - We got management buy-in and asked our purchasing agent to switch to more efficient bulbs, citing long-term savings.
• Select Energy Star-rated equipment - We suggested our purchasing agent consider an Energy Star ratings when we had to replace our copier. Ratings are available for computers, monitors, and other equipment as well.
• Telecommuting and flex time - A few of our staff telecommute a day or more per week, and some are on flex time to avoid gas costs or traffic. Telecommuting or flexing can reduce gas consumption by 20% per person for each day not spent in the office. These solutions require a little extra coordination of schedules for general coverage with flex-timers, and some coordination of schedules for in-person meetings with telecommuters, but that effort can be very worthwhile for the employee and the environment.

Some of these suggestions are easy to follow; some are a little more difficult. Look around and see what opportunities your library has to conserve, and celebrate what you are already doing!

For more information on the OHIONET Green Team, please contact any of its members: Mary Conroy, Jill Boggs Brust, or Susan Furniss.