Greener Office

GREEN HOUSEKEEPING has always been a high priority in the EPD for two reasons. First, we want to conserve resources. But equally, we want to set a good example to others, including other government departments, and the community at large. We have adopted a number of environment-friendly measures in our offices and we expect all of our colleagues to practise them, regardless of rank.

Our first departmental green housekeeping guideline was issued in 1987 on the use of electricity. Later, we were the first government department to specify the use of recycled paper for all our publications. From 2000, we began using environmentally friendly printing ink in our publications. Since 1999, we have been using only photocopy paper with recycled content. We were also one of the first departments to utilise information technology to reduce paper consumption, as well as to enhance office efficiency.

In 2000, we started investigating all major sources of paper and electrical consumption so that realistic reduction targets could be set in 2001. A 3% increase in paper consumption was found in 2000, when compared with 1999. While this slight increase is mainly attributed to an increase in workload, we are investigating further means of saving paper. Further reduction in paper is expected from the implementation of our electronic transaction and service delivery initiatives. We have also required that external parties submit software copies of reports to reduce paper consumption. In 2001 we planned to ask the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to conduct an energy audit of the EPD floors in Southorn Centre to see what energy-saving measures could be adopted.

Image of A recycling corner in our office

Chart of Electricity consumption for office operations
Chart of Paper consumption for office operations
Chart of Use of recycled paper in the office

Office Environment

Indoor air quality surveys were conducted at the 10 main EPD offices by the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department between 1998 and 2000. The air quality in our offices generally complied with our indoor air quality guideline levels, but the levels of carbon dioxide and/or total viable count of microbial/biological contaminants exceeded the set levels in some office areas. Improvements have been undertaken with the aim of gaining full compliance. To provide a better working environment for our staff, a no-smoking policy has been in place in all our offices since 1995. The ban has recently been extended to all departmental vehicles, in line with general government policy.

Office Transport

Motor vehicle transport is by its nature polluting, so we have devised a number of ways to reduce our emissions and fuel consumption. For example, our Local Control Offices combine trips, thereby maximising the use of our departmental vehicles. Since 1999, we have joined the pooling system of government vehicles at Revenue Tower in Wanchai North to maximise the use of vehicles between departments. As a result of these measures, we have not had to purchase any new vehicles since 1996 even though our operations have increased.

None of our vehicles - mainly medium vans, saloons, and motorcycles - run on the more polluting diesel fuel. They use petrol instead. The only non-petrol vehicle is a saloon which runs on liquid petroleum gas (LPG). We have also initiated a non-idling policy for our vehicles in an effort to reduce air pollution.

In 1999 we began discussions with the Government Land Transport Agency (GLTA) to include environmental performance considerations in awarding contracts for hired vehicles, such as whether they emit black smoke, use petrol instead of diesel, or are installed with particulate traps and/or catalytic converters. As a result, a preferential clause was included in tender specifications for new contracts starting in 2000, indicating clearly to vehicle contractors our policy of requiring good environmental performance. Contract drivers are also required to switch off their engines when the vehicles are stationary.

We aim to improve our performance further and in 2001 we will devise plans to promote greater use of efficient and environmentally friendly means of transport in our internal operations.

Suppliers and Service Providers

For out-sourced services, we require our service providers to adopt green measures as much as possible. For example, where hard copies are unavoidable, consultants are required to submit reports that are environmentally friendly, i.e. double-sided printing, simple binding, no excessive use of plastics, etc. The same goes for the production of the education packs used by our Community Relations Unit. Publicity souvenirs such as clips and rulers must be manufactured from recycled plastics.

For the new mobile Environmental Resource Centre, which will be delivered in 2001, the contractor who is fitting it out is required to install environmentally friendly features such as solar fans and energy-saving bulbs. The vehicle is also powered by the less polluting liquid petroleum gas.

To exert further influence on our contractors and suppliers, we began requiring them in 2000 to provide information on their environmental performance, such as whether they have obtained ISO 14001 certification, whether they avoid the use of hazardous materials in the manufacturing process and whether they will take back spent products such as batteries.