Thinking green? Consider your work space

Opportunities for eco-friendly practices can be found in three areas of the vending industry: machine operations, fleet operations, and office/warehouse operations.

Opportunities to save energy in vending machines were explored in previous articles. This article will address opportunities in office and warehouse operations.

There are many variables involved in office and warehouse operations, including physical structure, layout and design, air handling systems, windows and doors, furniture and fixtures, storage compartments and desktop devices.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star specifications for automated office equipment apply to a variety of information technology products, including desktop and notebook computers, handheld devices, game consoles, integrated computer systems, desktop-derived servers and workstations.

Qualified products must meet energy use guidelines in three distinct operating modes: active, standby and sleep. Only the most energy-efficient computing products are awarded the Energy Star label.

By requiring efficiency savings across operating modes, these specifications are expected to produce significant cost savings while also helping control greenhouse gas emissions.

Are customers willing to pay more to gain eco-centric benefits? Are location clients willing to switch to a vendor with more green technology? The answers to these questions are somewhat unclear at present since eco-friendly building and property management are still fairly new.

Green information technology (IT), includes eco-friendly practices such as reducing paper usage through minimal printing, operating more efficiently with power management, and exercising proper recycling habits. Green IT addresses sustainability, recyclability, resourceability, powerability and viability.

OFFICE APPLIANCES AND APPLICATIONS

While the scope of information technology in a vending/OCS operation may be extensive, a few of the more common components can be handled as part of an eco-friendly approach.

* Desktop/laptop PC — Energy-efficient desktop PCs were introduced some time ago that, based on construction and operation, use less power than legacy machines. Recent efforts by manufacturers have focused on building devices that are more energy-efficient, have lower operating expenses, and are easier to recycle. Nearly all PCs have been assigned an Energy Star rating.

* Computer networking — Late model PCs are designed to use much less energy than older models; the newest machines use about 25 percent fewer kilowatt hours. Users are wise to program PCs to automatically move into a standby (sleep) mode when not in use.

* Electronics — Devices plugged into a surge protector or power grid enable wider control of devices than in a switched “on” position.

* Lighting — For overhead lighting purposes, fluorescent bulbs use less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs without sacrificing light quality. Fluorescent bulbs can be one-fifth the cost.

* Copier/fax/scanner machines — Copiers, scanners and fax machines are among the most energy-intensive office equipment since they tend to remain on for long periods of time. Energy Star certified imaging equipment is expected to deliver quality performance at a 25 percent higher level of efficiency. Devices that power down when not in use will use about half the electricity of standard models. In addition, products that print double-sided pages reduce both copying and paper costs. Certified products also require less air conditioning and require less maintenance.

* Uninterruptable power supply (UPS) — Newer models with UPS are more energy efficient. Effective UPS devices are also capable of powering down idle devices for further energy conservation.