greening government strategy - alberta · 2011-12 greening government progress report • 3...

greening government strategy 2011-12 Progress rePort

• 2011-12 greening government Progress rePort2 Please consider the environment before printing this document.

contents

3 Introduction

5 Corporate Implementation Results

13 Corporate Implementation Features

17 Department Implementation Results

19 Department Implementation Features

2011-12 greening government Progress rePort • 3

Introduction

The Greening Government Strategy was implemented in April 2010 to set the direction for the Government of Alberta to become a greener organization. The purpose of the strategy is to continuously reduce – in concrete and measurable ways – any detrimental environmental impacts that result from the Government of Alberta’s operations and overall purchasing practices.

First-year implementation activities focused on building a culture of green among staff, developing supports to assist departments with greening and carrying out government-wide greening initiatives. The 2010-11 progress report shared first-year implementation achievements with staff and the public.

Second-year implementation in 2011-12 focused on maintaining existing government-wide greening initiatives, while continuing to build a stronger “culture of green” among staff.

Broad department implementation of the strategy began in April 2011; government-wide supports were put in place and 16 departments developed individual green plans to focus greening efforts in their respective departments. Other highlights include the launch of the Greening Government SharePoint site for staff and recognition from the Recycling Council of Alberta for excellence in government leadership.

PURPose oF RePoRt

This report highlights progress in implementing activities that support the Greening Government Strategy in 2011-12.

http://www.environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/8351.pdf

http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/8420.pdf

http://environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/8420.pdf

• 2011-12 greening government Progress rePort4

previously used file folders

recycling bin

mini garbage bin

reusable cleaning towel

environmentally certified cleaner

previously used bindersreusable coffee mug

reusable lunch bag and water bottle

scrap paper – one side already used

desk chair – made of 37% recycled content and is 98% recyclable by weight

electronic “paperless” organizer

calendar with 100% post- consumer recycled content

notebook with 30% post-consumer recycled content

snack in reusable container - yum!

retractable pens made from 81% post-consumer recycled content and pen refill cartridges

ePeAt gold certified laptop

file organizer with 25% post-consumer recycled plastic

recycled content binders with a minimum 50% post-consumer recycled content within the inner and outer layers

reusable travel mug

32 per cent of the total funds used to purchase office supplies by government departements were for green products.


CorPorAte imPlementAtion Results

corporate ImplementationThe Government of Alberta implementation team (consisting of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD), Service Alberta, Infrastructure, and Treasury Board and Finance), continued to oversee government-wide implementation in 2011-12 by providing direction and support to departments with information, tools, and best practices. Key achievements are outlined below.

Launching the strategyLed by ESRD

stRategy LaUnch

The strategy was launched to government staff on April 18, 2011. All departments were encouraged to communicate a “Champion’s Message” from the Deputy Ministers of ESRD, Infrastructure, Service Alberta and Treasury Board and Finance to their staff. In the message, the Champions:

•Encouraged staff to get involved with the strategy and recognized the role staff plays in making green choices at work;

•Recommended all departments develop green plans, measure and report-on their success over time; and

• Informed staff that government-wide supports and educational materials were being developed.

gReenIng goveRnment shaRePoInt sIte

The Greening Government SharePoint site was introduced in conjunction with the strategy’s launch, giving government staff access to resources for greening their workplace and daily business practices. A separate department lead section was developed to assist them with implementation in their department.

•Approximately 2,220 unique individuals accessed the site during its first year (about 10 new users per business day).

•Service Alberta added a quick-link for staff to access the Greening Government site on a government-wide staff resource page.



greening our cultureLed by ESRD

edUcatIon, oUtReach and commUnIcatIons

•Promoted a list of 14 green activities for staff to adopt at work.

•Distributed educational materials and tools to staff across government via the Government of Alberta Connector newsletter and the Greening Government SharePoint site.

•Assisted departments with distributing specific messaging for government-wide green events, including the strategy’s launch, Environment Week and the 2010-11 progress report.

• Implemented a communications plan that focused on the strategy’s launch.

developing capacity for all government of alberta departmentsLed by ESRD

dePaRtment Lead netwoRk

ESRD coordinated the department lead network, which consists of department leads who regularly meet to share implementation updates with their colleagues.

• Three workshops were held throughout the year.

•Green planning tools were available to department leads on the Greening Government SharePoint site.

•A half-day department lead tour of the City of Edmonton’s Waste Management Centre of Excellence was organized.

Department Lead Tour of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre of Excellence


demonstRatIng LeadeRshIP

•ESRD’s green plan was made available to all government staff on the Greening Government SharePoint site – other departments were encouraged to use this plan as a template.

gReenIng goveRnment conFeRence

•Participated remotely in the spring (Toronto) and fall (Ottawa) sessions of the 2nd Annual Greening Government Conference.

PResentatIons and sPeakeRs

•Provided strategy related presentations to four departments and partnered with Service Alberta on a lunch-and-learn about the 2010-11 progress report.

•Presented at the Alberta CARE and the Recycling Council of Alberta’s 2011 annual conferences.

• Facilitated a presentation from the City of Edmonton, which was attended by 42 government staff. The presentation highlighted the city’s waste management system.

greening our ProcurementLed by Service Alberta

gReen standIng oFFeRs

•Green standing offer requirements were maintained in 2011-12 for copy paper, new computers and notebooks, monitors and pre-printed stationary.

•All photocopiers and printers on standing offer were ENERGY STAR® compliant.

•Mandatory criteria were included in standing offers for printers: printer manufacturers must be ISO 14001:2004 certified and the printers support double-sided printing.

•All new furniture purchases, except chairs, on standing offer were processed through Alberta Infrastructure in order to enable recycling and reconfigurations from existing inventory and standardization of furniture purchases versus new purchases.


New computers and notebooks were available on green standing offer.

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/10759

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=31807

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=31807


coRPoRate RePoRtIng systems FoR gReen PURchasIng

•Office supply vendors provided Service Alberta with quarterly reports which identified green items and supported reporting on green purchases by department.

• 32 per cent of the total funds used to purchase office supplies by government departments were for green products.

» Green items are identified in office supply vendor catalogues as items that meet or exceed at least one of the following criteria: are certified through a third party eco label; are made from material which is less harmful to the environment; or are made from re-used or water based materials in order to conserve natural resources.

greening our surplus salesLed by Service Alberta

sURPLUs asset dIsPosaLs

Highlights of the Surplus Sales program from 2011-12:

• 27,538 items were sold in daily cash and carry sales in Edmonton and Calgary.

• 1,177 items were sold at 103 sales in areas outside of Edmonton and Calgary.

• 40,974 items were sold through auction.

• 1,244 items were redeployed back in to service within government.

• 319 tonnes of scrap metal was recycled.

• 14,673 end-of-life computers and other electronic items weighing 105 tonnes were recycled through Alberta’s provincial electronics recycling program.

comPUteRs FoR schooLs

• 13,687 computers and related equipment were donated to the Computers for Schools program.


Surplus Sales warehouse, Edmonton: cash and carry sales floor.

http://www.cfsalberta.ca/


greening our vehicle FleetLed by Service Alberta

hybRIds

•As of March 31, 2012, the government fleet consisted of approximately 3,100 vehicles, including 87 hybrid vehicles.

•When purchasing new vehicles, hybrids were available in only three of the five vehicle categories: cars, trucks and SUVs.

best In cLass

A Best-in-Class rating system identifies the most suitable vehicles for each vehicle type (e.g. cars, trucks, SUVs). For the 2011 and 2012 model years, fuel economy was one of four criteria considered in the Best-in-Class rating system (the other criteria being purchase price, reliability and safety).

new vehIcLe PURchases

• 61 of the 93 new vehicles added to the government fleet in 2011-12 were rated Best-in-Class.

RePLacement vehIcLes

• 81 vehicles were replaced with new models. These new models were, on average, 20 per cent more fuel efficient than the ones they replaced. This is estimated to have reduced carbon emissions by 127 tonnes.

exIstIng FLeet

•A preventative maintenance program ensures vehicles will last as long as possible and maintain optimal fuel efficiency.

• Through vehicle pooling, sharing and reduction strategies, 10 vehicles were identified as no longer required and were removed from the government fleet.


The Government fleet had 87 hybrid vehicles, including the truck pictured above.


greening our buildings & Infrastructure Led by Alberta Infrastructure

gReenIng oUR bUILdIngs

• 84 government-owned buildings in total were certified BOMA BESt, including two buildings (the Red Deer & Rocky Mountain House Provincial Buildings) that achieved BOMA BESt Level 4, the highest level of certification.

• 25 leased facilities were certified BOMA BESt and landlords of leased facilities were encouraged to participate in green initiatives (e.g. recycling).

•Daytime Caretaking practices were used in 16 buildings to take advantage of lighting and heating systems that were already operating.

• Lighting, in addition to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in most government-owned office spaces were adjusted to coincide with work hours. This initiative reduced the government’s total energy use by approximately 5-6 per cent from pre-2010 levels.

• The LEED Silver standard was maintained for all new government construction over $2.5 million, including major renovations.

ImPRovIng ReUse and RecycLIng

• 816 pieces of furniture and 193 workstations were redistributed throughout government as part of the Recycled Furniture program, resulting in a cost savings to government of $892,791.

• The tenant standard lease was updated to include a provision stating that landlords shall provide a paper recycling program for non-shredded waste papers and other recyclable goods (e.g. glass, plastic and metal) to the extent that recycling services are available in a particular community.

• 13,400 lamps, 2,256 kilograms of batteries and 796 kilograms of lighting ballasts were collected for recycling from both owned and leased buildings during the 2011 calendar year.

The Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller, Alberta achieved BOMA BESt Level 2.


http://www.bomabest.com/

http://www.cagbc.org/


conFIdentIaL docUment and LIcense PLate RecycLIng (Led by Service Alberta)

• 949 metric tonnes of paper was securely recycled through the locked-bin program. 692 locked bins for confidential record disposal were located at 49 Government of Alberta offices.

» Based on information from the Bureau of International Recycling, the Government of Alberta approximately saved the following through its locked-bin paper recycling program: 30,000 trees, 3,800 MWh of energy, 1,600 barrels of oil, 24.6 million litres of water and 3,300 cubic metres of landfill space.

• 16.83 tonnes of old license plates were collected and recycled from Albertans.

gReenIng PRoPeRty and InFRastRUctURe management PURchases

• The Government of Alberta continued to purchase 100 per cent of its electricity requirements from green sources that are EcoLogo® certified (excluding sites that can not access grid electricity). In 2011-12, government green power contracts avoided the release of over 212,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (calculated based on 2009 figures from Environment Canada).

•Eco-logo® and/or Green Seal™ cleaning products were specified for all government caretaking contracts.

establishing how we’re doingLed by ESRD

coLLectIng QUaLItatIve and QUantItatIve ImPLementatIon data

• The Shades of Green pilot program was developed as a tool to measure and report on green actions taken by staff. The tool also provides an opportunity to recognize staff for their achievements and provide recommendations on future activities. The program will continue to be piloted in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Locked bin for confidential document recycling.


http://www.bir.org/

http://www.bir.org/

http://www.ecologo.org/en/

• 2011-12 greening government Progress rePort1213,687 computers and related equipment were donated to the computers for schools program.


envIRonment week (JUne 5-11, 2011)

A series of staff events were held to celebrate Environment Week and the launch of the strategy. Three government-wide events were held and departments were encouraged to host local events and contests.

greening government game show

• The Greening Government Game Show was an environment-themed trivia contest where 12 departments and one public agency participated. It boasted a host, authentic contestant buzzers and score clocks.

celebrating the environment Led by ESRD

Peter Groot and AnneMarie Lyseng, Alberta Education, participate in the Greening Government Game Show

Taylor Daum, Enterprise and Advanced Education receives a Greening Government Game Show prize from Scott Nicol, ESRD

Anoushka Fernandes, Shan Pletcher and Mark Summers, ESRD, pose with their Greening Government Game Show prizes

CorPorAte imPlementAtion featuRes

http://www.environment.gov.ab.ca/edu/eweek/


one simple act @ work survey

• The One Simple Act @ Work Survey was completed by 161 staff from 17 departments, where participants were asked to select green activities they currently engage in during their work day and commit to an additional activity for the remainder of the year.

green teams map

•Staff were encouraged to register their local green teams for the Green Teams Map, an interactive map on the Greening Government SharePoint site that allows any staff member to locate the nearest green team to them. Fourteen local green teams registered.

department events

• Ten departments hosted green activities and contests at various locations across the province.

waste RedUctIon week (octobeR 17-21, 2011)

Two government-wide events were held during Waste Reduction Week:

•A trivia contest was hosted on the Greening Government SharePoint site with a new question posted each day. Eighty-eight staff participated.

•A Benefits of Composting presentation was attended by 30 staff over lunch.

Angelique Roth, Service Alberta, One Simple Act @ Work prize winner

Kim Rowe, Alberta Culture, One Simple Act @ Work prize winner

Michelle Roth, Alberta Infrastructure, Green Teams Map prize winner


http://www.wrwcanada.com/


being Recognized Provided by the Recycling Council of Alberta

R’s oF exceLLence awaRd

In October 2011, the Government of Alberta was awarded an ‘R’s of Excellence Award’ for government leadership from the Recycling Council of Alberta. This award recognizes all government staff involved in implementing the strategy and highlights department and government-wide green initiatives such as purchasing 100 per cent of electricity requirements from green sources that are EcoLogo™ certified; collecting batteries, ballasts, lamps and mercury devices for recycling; redistributing surplus items within government for reuse; and formation of department green teams to promote green activities in their departments. The R’s of Excellence awards are open to nominations from all Albertans and recognize outstanding contributions to waste reduction, recycling and resource conservation in Alberta.

Back Row: (Michael Fleming, Dustin Engel, Jennifer Martin, Dave Hardwick, Scott Kashuba) Front Row: (Scott Nicol and Giselle Beaudry) accept the R’s of Excellence Award on behalf of the Government of Alberta


• 2011-12 greening government Progress rePort1616 departments completed green plans and five departments were developing green plans. departments were encouraged to incorporate the use of re-usable dishes into their green plans.


dePArtment imPlementAtion Results

department ImplementationVoluntary department implementation began in April 2011. Each department decided how involved they wanted to be with greening and selected the implementation approach that best suited their needs: from supporting ongoing communications about the strategy to developing a department green plan. Key results are outlined below.

department green PlanningIn the previous year, 2010-11, 13 departments committed to green planning. Departments were encouraged to develop green plans as a best practice during 2011-12, with the following progress made:

• 16 departments developed green plans: 12 were implementing and four were seeking executive approval.

• Five departments were developing their green plans.

department Lead workshopsDepartment leads attended three workshops, which allowed them to share implementation updates with their colleagues:

workshop date workshop theme

July 2011 • Green planning

• A review of the Greening Government site

november 2011 • Green purchasing

march 2012 •Education and outreach

•Evaluating the Department Lead Network

•An overview of the draft Shades of Green measurement tool

• 2011-12 greening government Progress rePort18tourism, Parks and Recreation championed videoconferencing using cisco™ and microsoft based systems.


ESRD Spruce Grove office’s “Plant and Everything Else Exchange” during Environment Week. Half of the proceeds went to the Tree Canada Foundation’s Alberta Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf program.

departments in actionDepartments embraced implementation in 2011-12. The following stories highlight department green successes.

gReen sUccess: LeadIng the way, enhancIng a cULtURe oF gReen

Submitted by ESRD

As part of the actions outlined in the Department Green Plan, activities were hosted during Environment Week that educated, empowered and engaged staff to go green. These activities included a free-cycle, community cleanup, potluck and green-themed workshops.

Our Green Plan pushes us to institute an even greener culture and demonstrates our commitment to the Cabinet-approved Greening Government Strategy.

Rick Brown, past ESRD Executive Champion for the Green Plan

dePArtment imPlementAtion featuRes

Kevin Nipp, Glenn Gustafson, Neil Hollands and Chiadih Chang, ESRD Spruce Grove office, sift compost from their office composter.

ESRD Freecycle at Oxbridge Place in Edmonton. Staff were asked to bring in items they no longer needed and exchange them for items they could take home.


gReen PRomotIon day: gettIng the woRd oUt aboUt gReenIng goveRnment

Submitted by Alberta Health

The Alberta Health Green Team raised awareness about environmentalism during a special environment themed event. Two green booths were set-up that featured Greening Government posters with a ‘3Rs’ (reduce, reuse and, recycle) theme. Members of the green team approached employees as they arrived at work and asked them a green skill-testing question. All who participated received a free biodegradable pen. The event also succeeded in piquing interest among Health staff about a lunch-and-learn presentation by the City of Edmonton later in the month. This event was attended by about 50 department staff. Both events proved to be a successful fit with the Department Green Plan, which encourages employees to regularly practice simple, environmentally friendly actions to build a green government culture.

Lynn Kostenuk, Charlene Wong, Liz Forbes, Karen Hunter and Steven Aurther, Alberta Health, at Health’s environment themed event

Greening Government Display at Health’s environment themed event

dePArtment imPlementAtion: featuRes


envIRonmentaL tIPs, exPo and stRategIc meetIngs

Submitted by Alberta Infrastructure

Infrastructure’s Department Implementation Team enjoyed a busy year in 2011-12 as a draft of the Department Green Plan was being finalized and environmentally focused activities were ramped up. A number of events were successfully hosted in support of national and international causes, including Environment Week, Earth Hour and Waste Reduction Week. Highlights from these events included a ‘Tip of the Day’ email initiative, an Eco-Expo and the Properties Division’s annual Environmental Meeting.

The Tip of the Day ran during Waste Reduction Week and focused on providing helpful ideas for reducing waste in the workplace. It featured “real-life examples” of department staff carrying out these initiatives in fun and innovative ways. The Eco-Expo, hosted during Earth Day and in partnership with Alberta Transportation, was attended by over 200 government staff and featured 21 environmental and sustainability focused information booths. The annual Environmental Meeting engaged over 150 staff in a dedicated “roll out” of the Greening Government Strategy, followed by brainstorming sessions for departmental implementation. The feedback garnered from this meeting was helpful in developing the draft Department Green Plan.

gReen PLannIng LeadeRshIP

Submitted by Alberta Justice and Solicitor General

Alberta Justice and Solicitor General uploaded their Green Plans to the Greening Government SharePoint site for all government staff to access. Solicitor General also reported on its green accomplishments. The following are some results of Solicitor General’s activities:

•battery, toner cartridge and paper recycling Baseline information for all Solicitor General occupied buildings was collected, with a goal of increasing staff access to and usage of recycling infrastructure. Results showed 92 per cent of worksites recycled batteries, 93 per cent of worksites recycled toner cartridges and 89 per cent of worksites recycled shredded paper.

•Reducing the environmental impact of travel Staff from the Sheriffs and Security Operations Branch was encouraged to use alternative modes and methods of transportation to minimize travel. A communications campaign was employed and information was included on the department’s intranet site. Results showed 674 planned meetings and discussions were conducted via videoconference throughout the province, which saved approximately $67,704 in fuel costs.

Video conferencing equipment, similar to above, was used by the Sheriffs and Securities Operations Branch for 674 meetings, saving $67,704 in fuel costs.


Alberta Infrastructure’s 2011 Earth Day Eco-Expo.


Solicitor General replaced polystyrene cups with reusable polycarbonate at correctional centres and Staff College (where security concerns allowed).


•Reducing the purchase, use and disposal of polystyrene containers Polycarbonate cups were purchased as an alternative to polystyrene. The initiative was encouraged at correctional centers and Staff College (where security concerns allowed). These cups are reusable and contributed to a significant cost savings.

chamPIonIng vIdeoconFeRencIng

Submitted by Tourism, Parks and Recreation

Tourism, Parks and Recreation championed videoconferencing for the Parks Division program using Cisco TANDBERG™ and Microsoft based systems (e.g. LiveMeeting). Staff was able to make use of the Government of Alberta’s SuperNet Videoconferencing system, which permits users to have face-to-face communication in real time without leaving the office. Since 2008, the department has provided an educational video conferencing service for students and teachers in Alberta Schools equipped with videoconferencing capabilities that lets them access the Government of Alberta’s SuperNet Videoconferencing system.

Also during 2011-12: the department hosted a presentation from the City of Edmonton, which was attended by 20 department staff; conducted research into the recycling of one-pound green propane canisters; promoted waste reduction and recycling with new Canadians through the Nature as a Second Language program; and used bicycles, and occasionally horses, to patrol provincial parks.


goveRnment oF aLbeRta ImPLementatIon team membeRs

alberta environment and sustainable Resource developmentPatrick Kane

alberta InfrastructureDustin Engel

service albertaMichael Fleming Dave Hardwick

treasury board and FinanceScott Kashuba

ImPLementatIon team – secRetaRIat sUPPoRt

alberta environment and sustainable Resource developmentGiselle BeaudryShelleen Lakusta Jennifer Martin Scott Nicol

acknowledgements

Comments, questions or suggestions regarding the content of this document can be directed to:

alberta environment and sustainable Resource development Email: [email protected]

alberta Infrastructure Email: [email protected]

service albertaEmail (Corporate Purchasing): [email protected] Email (Surplus Sales Program): [email protected] or [email protected]

ISBN No: 978-1-4601-0817-8 (On-line)

greening government strategy - alberta · 2011-12 greening government progress report • 3...

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