IES is passionate about the environment and minimising the impact we have on it. Not only do our products and services make a scalable difference to the impact of buildings on our environment, but we also strive continually to reduce our own carbon footprint and resource use.
We have currently implemented the following small, but impactful, measures into our day-to-day working life, and are undertaking more detailed energy and sustainability audits in order to progress this further. Engagement with our staff, across all offices and ‘home office’ locations is key – we listen to and implement ideas from our staff wherever possible.
Recycling
- A recycling service is in operation at each office – bins for paper/cardboard, plastic, glass and cans are provided. In larger offices paper recycling bins are provided at each desk bank.
- Recycling advice is supplied to all ‘home office’ workers and actively encouraged.
- Any old IT equipment is recycled.
- Recycled paper is used in all printers and its purchase encouraged by ‘home office’ workers.
- Solid wax ink cartridges used in printers instead of toners.
- Printer maintenance kits are returned to the manufacturer for recycling.
Waste Reduction
- Double-sided printing is set as standard on all office and ‘home office’ printers.
- The re-use of scrap paper is encouraged.
- Responsible printing is encouraged – 1) is printing it necessary 2) can I decrease the number of pages printed by printing handouts instead of slides or by printing more than one page per sheet?
Energy Reduction
- Office lights are either on occupancy light sensors or turned off when not in use.
- Office printers and other suitable equipment is set to automatically switch off when not in use.
- Office and ‘home office’ staff are encouraged to switch off all IT and other equipment when it’s not in use.
- Energy efficient light bulbs are supplied to all ‘home office’ workers.
Marketing Material
- USBs are used instead of information packs to reduce paper use. The USBs are made from 100% recycled plastic.
- When printed literature is required it’s printed on 100% recycled material.
- Software updates are sent out via email rather than on DVDs to reduce waste.
- Our DVD packaging is created using 100% recycled materials and printed using environmentally safe vegetable based inks.
Travel
- Online e-training offered as standard to reduce our staff and customer’s travel.
- All unnecessary business travel avoided.
- Cycle-to-work scheme.
- Carpooling and use of public transport is encouraged.
- Company cars (of which there are only two) are environmentally friendly (one is a Toyota Prius hybrid)
Community action
- IES has a Charity Committee that supports local causes, contributes to large scale appeals and sponsors staff undertaking fundraising events.
- Christmas card money donated to charity.
