Mailing Systems Technology - February 2008 - (Page 12)

they are planning for waterless urinals, for example. Also, see whether they are going to install water-efﬁcient equipment. Water-conserving toilets, shower heads and faucet aerators not only reduce water use, but also reduce demand on septic systems or sewage treatment plants. Reducing hot water use also saves energy. 3. Energy Efﬁciency Energy efﬁciency requires use of manufacturing processes and production of products that require less energy and improve and enhance occupant comfort and health. High-efﬁciency appliances offer both economic and environmental advantages over their conventional counterparts. Use Energy Star-qualiﬁed appliances and electronics, which save energy and money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Quality and durability: longerlasting and better-functioning products will have to be replaced less frequently, reducing the impacts of producing replacements. Ask for underﬂoor air distribution, where the wires run in a space dedicated to airﬂow below the ﬂoor. It will help in the control and distribution of heating and cooling for the staff and in the arrangement of furniture. 4. Materials Selection Low-impact materials— Choose nontoxic, sustainably produced or recycled materials that require little energy to process. Design for reuse and recycling: “Products, processes and systems should be designed for performance in a commercial ‘afterlife,’” some experts advise. Ask for materials that come from nearby, sustainably managed renewable sources that can be composted when their usefulness has been exhausted. Some manufacturers offer mail center furniture made of certiﬁed wood and that complies with these requirements. Use untreated natural fabrics whenever possible and fabrics that are dyed with organic or natural pigments, free of toxins, carcinogens and heavy metals and also solution dyed versus conventional dyed. Use fabrics that are naturally ﬁre retardant and stain resistant versus Many interior materials involve the use of toxins, which are frequently found in adhesives, paints, binders, ﬁnishing products and even the cleaners used for a product’s maintenance. needing chemical treatments. Whenever possible, use refurbished systems or use regional woods for new furniture, harvested from sustainable forestry operations. Flooring—Bamboo, a recent addition to our market, is now widely available for ﬂooring. A fast-growing grass from China, bamboo is a renewable resource that is harvested every 3-5 years. It is durable and a dimensionally stable material, but one should be certain it is from a certiﬁed source and manufactured with environmentally safe adhesives. For resilient ﬂooring, linoleum is recommended over vinyl ﬂooring. It is a natural product, biodegradable and emits very low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Cork tile is another natural, sustainable choice that is durable and naturally moisture resistant. Vinyl tile and sheet is made from PVC, it emits VOCs, and it is not biodegradable. Solid vinyl tiles can be recycled, but sheet vinyl has a backing that makes it difﬁcult to recycle. Vinyl products have been linked with health risks and are therefore not recommended. Tiles and sheets are frequently available with recycled content, but be aware that there are also VOCs being emitted and care should be taken to use appropriately. Carpet may contain many chemicals, such as ﬂame retardants and biocides. Natural ﬁbers (such as jute, cotton, wool) or ﬁbers containing recycled materials carry a lower embodied energy than carpet made from nylon or virgin plastics. Carpets can col- lect high amounts of dust, which can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people, especially when combined with forced-air heating. Vacuuming stirs up this dust, thereby contributing to indoor air quality problems. Several carpet manufacturers have started recycling programs with their carpet products. At the end of the carpet’s useful life, the manufacturer takes the product back and fabricates it into new carpet. Carpet backings of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) latex should not be used when considering healthy environments. Paint—Paints, stains, transparent ﬁnishes and adhesives contain many toxins, including urea formaldehyde and other VOCs, volatile organic compounds. VOCs are used to increase ﬁnish level, durability and convenience of application. Numerous nontoxic or low-toxic versions are available and are preferable. In general, alkyd-based or alcohol-based paints contain higher levels of VOCs than do latex or waterbased paints. Use adhesives with low VOC levels, or better yet, do not use adhesives where possible. Nonsolvent adhesives release 99% fewer hazardous emissions than solvent adhesives. Yellow and white glues are recommended. When specifying sealants, consider using only silicone sealants in interior areas. All other sealant types, especially the butyl sealants, emit VOCs and other toxic compounds. Factory-applied ﬁnishes generally contribute fewer VOCs than ﬁeld-applied ﬁnishes. 12 FEBRUARY 2008 | WWW.MAILINGSYSTEMSTECHNOLOGY.COM http://www.MailingSystemsTechnology.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Mailing Systems Technology - February 2008

Mailing Systems Technology - February 2008 Contents Editor’s Note Peer to Peer How to Green Your Mail Center Adopting an Automated Document Factory Warning! Avoid Negative Financial Impact More Productivity, Less Expense BCC Software Formscan A Smooth Transition Kate’s Slate Products & Services Advertiser Index Sho Time

Mailing Systems Technology - February 2008

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