owp/p's in-house initiatives

OWP/P is committed to sustainability in our project work. Because this is one of our core values we have also been incorporating sustainability into our everyday operations. Below is a list, as well as a look forward to a few things we are planning for the future:

• Chicago office pursues LEED-CI Gold Rating. (In progress 2008)
• Eliminate plastic bottled water from vending machines. (April 2008)
• Promote filtered tap water consumption and supply employees with a re-usable Kleen Kanteen aluminum water bottle. (August 2008)
• Encourage employees to reduce consumption of disposable products. Phase out one-time use biodegradable kitchen utensils, plates and cups. Ask employees to bring personal cup, plate and utensil from home for daily lunches. (April 2008)
• Haworth Zody ergonomic task chairs for employee comfort; an award-winning chair recognized for sustainability. (2008)
• Electronic and hazardous waste is properly disposed of with professional hazardous waste handlers. (2007)
• Toilet room sinks have low-flow and motion activated faucets. (2007)
• Develop relationship with caterers and restaurants that provide local and organic food. (2007)
• Contract with cleaning vendor that uses 100% environmentally friendly products. (Phoenix 2006, Chicago’s Vendor Changing May 2008)
• Lighting occupancy sensors in conference rooms/private offices. (2007)
• Green roof plots in our rooftop garden demonstrating green roof systems. (2007)
• Local plants and perennial vegetation in our rooftop garden. (April 2007)
• Standardize duplex printing for copy/print exceeding one page of correspondence. (2007)
• Purchase recycled and refurbished office supplies. (2007)
• Eliminate large HP printers located near Canon multi-function devices. (2006)
• Compact fluorescent lighting in place of incandescent lighting where applicable. (2006)
• Donate computers, monitors, and printers to organizations that can help local charities and schools. (2006)
• Offer hourly car sharing for business rentals, promoting use of hybrid and low emissions vehicles. (2006)
• Offer healthier snacks and beverages in vending machines. (2006, revisited 2008)
• Recycle/refurbish laser printer toner. (2005)
• Recycling program includes metal and aluminum containers, glass, plastic and paper. (2005)
• Paper purchases include recycled content of 100% in business cards, grid paper, and envelopes, and 30% recycled content of standard stationery lines. (2005)
• Collection points at all copy/kitchen centers for proper disposal of batteries, CD’s and DVD’s. (2005)
• Use only recycled paper towels, earth friendly soaps and cleaning products. (2005)
• Allow employees to bring shipping peanuts for re-use in mailroom. (2004)
• Office lighting system is programmed for "lights out" throughout the space at 7:00 p.m. every weeknight, with periodic sweeps on weekends. Achieved 15% electric cost reduction for the office by making this change. (2003)
• Wind Power purchase offsets 100% of firm electric consumption. (2003)
• Set sleep modes for when copier is not in use. (2000)
• Daylight harvesting lighting system pilot installed in conference space. (2000)
• Reuse, recycle and reduce waste in mailroom services. (1998)
• Create in-house recycled paper pads from discarded office paper. (1998)
• Energy star rated PC’s, Monitors, Printers, Copiers and Appliances. (Ongoing)
• Keep employees updated about "what we are doing now" and "future possibilities" and news articles about supporting a healthier environment. (Ongoing)