10:10 - Cutting 10% of Emissions

Climate change is the biggest single threat facing our planet at the moment. We know that unless we radically cut the amount of fossil fuels that we use, the problems already felt in the developing world will multiply, and threaten the very existence of our race.

For this reason, Seaton Park Medical Group has signed up to the 10:10 campaign (www.1010uk.org), pledging to cut our carbon footprint by 10%. This sounds like a lot but should be manageable, if we all work together. It is the amount that scientists tell us has to change now, in order to prevent global warming becoming unstoppable.

We are involving all our staff in the project by using an ‘incentive scheme’ to reward eco-savings.

The major ways we are trying to achieve our targets are:

• TURNING OFF COMPUTERS
  • We aim to turn off our computers if we are away from our desks for more than an hour because it is more energy efficient to turn a computer off than leave it on standby.
  • At night time, we are making sure monitors, printers and computers are all turned off – preferably at the plug. A computer which has been shut down but remains on at the plug continues to use nearly as much power as one which is on.
  • If we are away for a short while we are turning our computer monitors off as it saves power and prolongs its life.
• TURNING OFF LIGHTS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
  • We are switching electrical equipment such photocopiers and shredders off at the plug overnight.
    
  • In places where nobody may be for a while we are trying to make sure lights are not left on all the time. 
    
  • We are trying to ensure fridges are shut as much as possible – each extra second the fridge stands open (eg whilst we pour milk into coffee) uses energy.
• ONLY PRINTING THINGS OUT IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
  
  • We are using double sided photocopying when possible.
    
  • We are printing using black and white rather than colour when possible.
    
  • If patients have access to the internet we are directing them to information on websites, rather than printing leaflets.
• ONLY BOILING AS MUCH WATER AS WE NEED
  
  • We are trying to only fill the kettle with as much water as we need each time it is boiled.