Lobby News - 2012 Winter Edition

Resolve to Go Green in 2012

IO Property Services is working hard to meet energy reduction targets. Below are some initiatives you may notice taking place at your building:

• LED Lighting. The Ottawa Courthouse used new LED lights this past holiday season in an effort to conserve energy.
• Lamp Replacement. Facilities in the South region are replacing existing fluorescent tube lamps with more energy-efficient ones, saving approximately seven watts per lamp.
• Exit Signs. Many facilities across the regions will be replacing existing exit signs with new photo luminous “glow-in-the-dark” exit signs. This will eliminate the need for exit signs to consume electricity and at the same time comply with internationally recognized exit signs.
• Lowered Temperatures. Last December, many facilities lowered their temperature settings and turned off lighting in an effort to conserve energy. Shown below is the typical amount of energy used in one building within a normal calendar month – October 2011. Energy usage peaks on weekdays during daytime hours and levels off during the weekends and holidays (IO Property Services ensures that lights and equipment do not run unnecessarily at these times).
  
  

   Note: All chart scales run from 0 to 348.88 kWh (energy per 15 minute interval)  

This is the perfect time of year to start making some green resolutions to help protect the environment. We can all do our part to be mindful of our activities and conserve energy in the office and at home whenever possible. Here are some conservation tips that can help us during the winter season:

• Where possible, turn off your computer monitor when you leave for the night.
• Turn off your desktop lighting when it is not required.
• Turn off printers and photocopiers when leaving the office for the day.
• Switch off lights in rooms that are unoccupied.
• Unplug cell phone/Blackberry chargers and other adaptors when not in use.
• Close your blinds before leaving for the night as they help to insulate the building from the colder temperatures outside.
• Run your dishwashers only when full and at night.
• Ensure refrigerator temperatures are set between 2-4°C to save food and energy.
Working together, we can help reduce our environmental footprint and make this a “Green Winter Season”! 

Energy Display Screens Coming your Way…

As part of the Ontario government’s and Infrastructure Ontario’s (IO) energy conservation efforts, a number of facilities across the province are having sub-meters installed or upgraded to allow building operators to monitor hourly and daily energy consumption. As part of this initiative led by IO and the Ministry of Infrastructure, IO Property Services is installing energy display screens at a number of facilities across the province to give tenants an understanding of their building’s energy performance, greenhouse gas emissions and tips on reducing energy consumption.

Over the coming months, screens will be installed in the following buildings:

Central Region
• Macdonald Block and Whitney Block, Queen’s Park, Toronto
• 135 St Clair West, Toronto
• 361 University Avenue, Toronto
• Michael Starr Building, 33 King Street, Oshawa
• Brampton Courthouse, Brampton

South Region
• 1 Stone Road, Guelph
• Garden City Tower, 301 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines
• Newmarket Courthouse, Newmarket

North Region
• 615 James Street, Thunder Bay
• 189 Red River Road, Thunder Bay
• 159 Cedar Street, Sudbury

East Region
• 300 Water Street, Peterborough
• Ottawa Courthouse, Ottawa  

Waste Reduction Week 2011 

 
IO Property Services held information fairs in Toronto, Sault Ste Marie, Oshawa, St. Catharines and Peterborough throughout the week of October 17-21 to raise awareness about recycling and composting, and encourage waste diversion. The activities included a rummage table of books and magazines, recycling game and environmental exhibitors from the municipality. The events were a success with more than 60 ministry occupants attending each session. The rummage table was especially popular with event attendees.

Information has been posted at buildings across the province on how to help reduce waste for a cleaner and more sustainable workplace and environment. For more information, please contact your Facility Manager or IO Property Services at 1-877-590-5090.