{"id":9919,"date":"2024-04-18T13:21:48","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T12:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/?p=9919"},"modified":"2024-04-18T16:51:46","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:51:46","slug":"embracing-sustainability-the-journey-to-our-green-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/2024\/04\/18\/embracing-sustainability-the-journey-to-our-green-office\/","title":{"rendered":"Embracing Sustainability: The Journey to Our GrEEn Office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>by Simon Overton, Educational Enhancement Co-ordinator, University of Sussex<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/2024-04-18-GrEEn-Office-_-Educational-Enhancement.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In a world increasingly conscious of its environmental footprint, the responsibility to adopt sustainable practices falls not just on individuals, but also on organisations. At the heart of this movement lies the concept of the green office \u2013 a space where eco-consciousness is integrated into every aspect of daily operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A little flag made with a toothpick and folded paper) on top of a monitor in the EE office. It states the name of this desk - Capri - and that &quot;this desk is of medium temperature with moderate natural light&quot;.\" class=\"wp-image-9926\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145826-900x900.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>A close-up view of Capri. Each desk has a flag indicating how warm and naturally-lit it is.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For our team, Educational Enhancement (or EE), the decision to transition to a more environmentally friendly workspace wasn\u2019t just about following a trend; it was a reflection of our commitment to minimising our impact on the planet whilst still being efficient, inclusive, looking after everyone&#8217;s well-being and being a little bit playful at the same time. With this ethos guiding us, as well as the <a href=\"https:\/\/toolkit.sos-uk.org\/greenimpact\/sussex\">Green Impact<\/a> toolkit, we embarked on a journey to transform our office into a beacon of sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the first steps we took was to select our new office location. EE sits in the office space on the first floor of the University of Sussex Library, and had been close to an internal window: lovely for seeing Sussex students beavering away at their studies, but less good in terms of heat and light. The library stays pretty warm all year round (probably thanks to 1960s archectural decisions, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.sussex.ac.uk\/fiftyyears\/events\/spence\">#SirBasilSpence<\/a>) and in the summer can become extremely stuffy. Moving closer to windows allowed us to harness natural light, reducing our reliance on artificial lighting and minimising energy consumption. By strategically positioning our workspaces to take advantage of natural heating and cooling, we not only embraced eco-friendliness but also prioritised the comfort of our team members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We gathered up and stored a large number of desk fans and lamps, dramatically reduced the number of devices drawing AC power, recycled defunct cables, old-fashioned phones, surplus power strips and other outdated tech, and moved our desks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Four members of Educational Enhancement stand amid their newly moved desks, by a window showing the campus beyond. On the floor are piles of wires which have been removed in the process. \" class=\"wp-image-9920\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Selected-photo-900x900.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Desk moving complete: 8 December 2023.<br>Top: George Robinson (Senior Learning Technologist), Chris O&#8217;Reilly (Learning Technologist).<br>Middle: Simona Connelly (Academic Enhancement Officer).<br>Bottom: Simon Overton (me, pulling a silly face!)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As we settled into our new space, we set out to foster a culture of sustainability within our team. Inspired by the diverse countries of origin within EE and indeed the student body at Sussex, we devised a map highlighting different zones based on natural light and temperature variations. Each desk was given a name, fostering a sense of connection to our surroundings and encouraging mindfulness of our energy usage. The map was inspired by Tolkein&#8217;s Lord of the Rings and hangs in our office for visitors to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-1024x724.png\" alt=\"A map of the EE office in the style of Tolkein's Lord of the Rings maps. Each desk is labelled with the name of an island, reflecting the &quot;climate&quot; in that area. Other sustainability areas are also labelled. There are sea creatures swimming in the &quot;water&quot; between the desks.\" class=\"wp-image-9922\" width=\"768\" height=\"543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-1024x724.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-768x543.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-1536x1086.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-2048x1448.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-100x71.png 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-150x106.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-200x141.png 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-450x318.png 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-600x424.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Office-Map-1-900x636.png 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>The EE &#8220;GrEEn Office&#8221; Map.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In our quest to repurpose and reduce waste, we got creative. Old desktop computers, once destined for the landfill, found new life as monitor risers, wrapped up as jolly birthday presents. This not only gave new purpose to discarded electronics but also served as a reminder of our commitment to finding innovative solutions to environmental challenges. We also avoided needing to buy plastic risers from Amazon and everything that entails. The only new things we did introduce were plants, one for every desk, to brighten things up and provide a bit of natural air purification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a typical EE green hot desk. The monitor stands on a riser that looks like a birthday present. Cables are very tidy and the desk is minimalist and has plenty of space for working.\" class=\"wp-image-9923\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/20240319_145813-900x900.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>A typical EE hot desk. Note the &#8220;birthday present&#8221; monitor riser (inside is a defunct desktop PC). The docking hub is hidden behind the monitor and the power strip is behind the riser. The desk is minimalist and has plenty of space for working (also note there are very few cables above or beneath the desk).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Another area of focus was our office kitchen, or &#8220;Teaspoon Island&#8221; as it was named. Single-use items became a thing of the past as we embraced reusable alternatives. A simple system for washing up teaspoons and replacing shared tea, coffee and milk not only minimises waste but also promotes a sense of responsibility among team members to participate actively in our sustainability efforts. In addition, we created a sustainability station \u2013 a hub for all things eco-friendly. Here, team members can swap books, share tools and parts to repair bikes, and find reusable shopping bags, fostering a culture of resourcefulness and community while reducing our environmental footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Two recycled glass jars, one labelled &quot;clean teaspoons&quot; and the other &quot;teaspoons to be washed&quot;.\" class=\"wp-image-9924\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-021-Reusable-cups-2-Photo-900x900.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>&#8220;Teaspoon Island&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps one of the most impactful changes we made was transitioning all desks to hot desks equipped with easily accessible power points. We reduced power strips to four gangs per desk (there had been 8 to 12 gang strips hardwired to each desk prior to that) and fitted each one with USB-C docking hubs, attached to the back of the monitors. All plugs are now at desktop level and are labelled, making it quick and easy to switch off items that are not in use. This empowers team members to monitor and manage their energy usage, and encourages a collective effort to reduce tech that is on standby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Two plugs, one labelled &quot;Dock&quot; and the other &quot;Monitor&quot; lie on a desktop next to a power strip. They have been unplugged. \" class=\"wp-image-9925\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/files\/2024\/04\/Green-Impact-General-007-Energy-Saving-1-Photo-900x900.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Easily accessible power strips are labelled to encourage unplugging.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As we reflect on our journey to transform our office into a little green oasis, we recognise that sustainability is not a destination but a continuous journey. While we\u2019ve made significant strides, there\u2019s always more we can do to reduce our impact on the planet whether that be exploring alternative energy sources or further minimising waste. In embracing sustainability, we\u2019ve not only improved our environmental stewardship but also cultivated a workplace that fosters creativity, collaboration, and well-being. Our &#8220;GrEEn Office&#8221; isn\u2019t just a physical space; it\u2019s a testament to our dedication to building a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you would like to get in touch with EE about our sustainable office, or any matters regarding Educational Enhancement, please email educationalenhancement@sussex.ac.uk or visit staff.sussex.ac.uk\/teaching\/enhancement<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This post was written with help from Chat GPT.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Simon Overton, Educational Enhancement Co-ordinator, University of Sussex In a world increasingly conscious of its environmental footprint, the responsibility to adopt sustainable practices falls not just on individuals, but also on organisations. At the heart of this movement lies<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/2024\/04\/18\/embracing-sustainability-the-journey-to-our-green-office\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":413,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[193241,43416],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9919"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/413"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9919"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9937,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9919\/revisions\/9937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sussex.ac.uk\/tel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}