Saving Energy is one of the easiest ways to reduce environmental impact, as it helps cut down pollution, lowers costs, and minimizes ecological and health consequences of energy production.

Considerations

• Making use of energy incentive programs for audits and improvements.   
• Adding a heat pump.  
• Using a programmable thermostat.  
• Choosing low energy usage appliances (look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR logo).  
• Printing “turn me off” stickers next to light switches.  
• Switching to energy-efficient LED lighting.  
• Installing motion sensors in infrequently used rooms to optimize energy efficiency.  
• Turning off all appliances at the end of the day.  
• Using computers wisely. Change computer settings to “Turn off the Monitor Display after X minutes of inactivity” to save energy.  

NB Power offers energy-saving programs and incentives to help businesses adopt efficient solutions and reduce their environmental impact. To learn more, visit their website.

Water Conservation is an important step in protecting our local water sources, easing the strain on distribution systems, and ensuring clean water remains accessible for future generations.

Considerations

• Enhancing water heat efficiency by setting the baseline temperature to 49 degrees Celsius, which is high enough to prevent harmful bacterial growth.  
• Using Low Flow Faucets.  
• Replacing old toilets with new low flush toilets and urinals.  
• Implementing low water and low chemical cleaning processes such as ozonated water cleaning systems and microfiber mops.  

Reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling helps save trees, cuts costs, and improves office efficiency by streamlining communication processes. 

Reduce

• Review and reduce office processes that use paper and (notepads, stationary, patient handouts, charts, photocopy, printer paper, brochures, and business cards).  
• Go electronic for communications and signatures.  
• Set default on printers to double sided to save paper.  
• Install efficient electric hand dryers in restrooms in place of paper hand towels or purchase recycled paper hand towels as an alternative.  
• Minimize or eliminate the use of exam table paper.  

Reuse

• Purchase toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels with 100% post-consumer waste fibre.  
• Source sustainable office products bearing the EcoLogo symbol and integrate reusable plates, cutlery, and cups instead of one-time use items.  
• Integrate reusable Sharps Containers.  

Recycle

• Purchase and deploy recycling bins for the office and waiting rooms.  
• Post recycling guides from your municipality clearly by main recycling bins.  

Education is the greatest impact physicians can have on the health of the environment through their leadership and influence in their communities. 

Considerations

• Establish a team within the clinic to focus on sustainability efforts, investigate issues, develop solutions, educate staff on sustainable office practices, and implement actions towards overarching goals. Invite relevant stakeholders such as waste haulers, housekeeping or landscaping staff, and suppliers of clinical and non-clinical goods and services to ensure comprehensive collaboration.  
• Integrate patient education into clinical interactions and engage with the community through various channels such as social media and informational handouts to raise awareness and inspire positive change.