Talkin' Trash - April

SPRING HAS SPRUNG, THE GRASS HAS RIZ

Ahhhh...springtime!! Time to cast off those winter coats and emerge from hibernation, refreshed, renewed and ready for anything...including a bit of spring cleaning.

And it turns out that here at Energy & Environment, we have a bit of cleaning to do...a drip of information here, a drop of a reminder there and a general hodgepodge of GREENING@UHN tidbits that have accumulated throughout the winter. And, because perhaps I’m suffering a slight bout of spring fever (aka, plain ol’ lazy), instead of writing out proper sentences and full newsletters, I give you...

A SMORGASBORD OF GREEN
(in no particular order)

● So, aside from hibernating, suffering spring fever and writing emails, what exactly does Energy & Environment do? Find out in the 2009 Annual Report available at http://documents.uhn.ca/sites/uhn/Environmental_Management/Annual%20Report/2009.pdf

● Biomedical waste – throwing it in the regular garbage can lead to fines, injury, and our garbage companies not taking our 21,000 pounds of waste any more...so please dispose of appropriately.

● Speaking of spring cleaning...do you have any extra binders, furniture or other office supplies? Instead of tossing them, post their availability on UHN’s Virtual Swap room at http://142.224.24.146:8080/~discussion/guests. And before you go buying all sorts of new stuff, check out the swap room first.

● Biomedical waste – throwing non-biomedical waste items in yellow bags, red bags or sharps container costs the hospital unnecessarily (do we really need to sterilize clean wrappers, newspapers and your leftover lunch, cooking abilities not withstanding?), not to mention the environmental impacts associated with waste treatment...so please dispose of appropriately.

● Nothing says springtime like getting out the ol’ two wheeler. Learn more about cycling at UHN and have your say at the very first ever Cycling Town Hall being held on April 22 (Earth Day) from 9:00 – 10:30 am in the TGH Wellness Office (1 NU 168, beside the Tim Horton’s. Dr. Chris Cavacuiti from St. Michael’s Hospital will be speaking about “Making the Case for Cycling - A Physician's Perspective”.

● Biomedical waste – please, please, please, please, please recycle batteries, but please, please, please, please, please do not use sharps containers to collect them. Get in touch for more information on how to set-up battery recycling in your department.

● Recycling – it’s good for the environment, saves UHN money and easy to do. Get the full list of what can and cannot be recycled and composted on the Energy & Environment intranet page at http://intranet.uhn.ca/departments/enviro/ ...but please remember that, because we have a private waste company servicing the hospital, “cans & bottles” (aka, metal, glass and plastic) cannot be mixed with paper or cardboard for recycling.

● Speaking of spring cleaning...UHN will once again be participating the 20 Minute Toronto Makeover on April 23. Learn more at www.toronto.ca/litter/clean-up/20minute.htm and stay tuned for UHN details.

● Energy efficiency – it’s good for the environment, saves UHN money and easy to do. Learn more about our “TLC – Care to Conserve” energy management program at http://intranet.uhn.ca/departments/enviro/tlc/index.asp.

Green Team News - March

Hi Folks,

Spring has sprung and I invite YOU ALL to participate in two upcoming Earth minded events

• WWF Earth Hour: UNPLUG and connect with a friend - enjoy the much needed break from all things electronic!
Saturday March 27th 2010 – 8:30 pm
www.earthhour.org/Homepage.aspx

Once you have warmed up with that don’t forget to do something special at home and at work for the
• 40th anniversary of Earth Day
Thursday April 22, 2010
www.earthday.net

Kady will be promoting REUSE through the UHN virtual swap room, check it out on the UHN intranet message board as well as reducing the use of plastic at home

• WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

Here are a few suggestions:
If you are at UHN visit us on the intranet http://intranet.uhn.ca/departments/enviro/

1. Launch TLC Thermostats, Lights and Controls – UHN energy management program in your department
2. Get a bin for battery recycling
3. Get a compost bin and schedule to empty contents in central collection
4. Pack litterless lunches for a whole week or more
5. Use your travel mug every day
6. Host a lunch and learn in your department
7. Get everyone in your department to sign the UHN greening pledge online
8. Download and put up fresh UHN Recycling posters -

Let us know what you are up to and what we can do to help
Future generations will thank you!

Bicycle User Group - aka BUG News February

Hello Cycling Enthusiasts,

I hope that winter is treating you well and biking has been plentiful.

We are only an email away
It has been a while since we were in touch – so if you have any comments or questions for Energy and Environment and/or the UHN cycling group please get in touch
By email
UHNCycling@uhn.on.ca

Visit the NEW and IMPROVED website
http://intranet.uhn.ca/home/wellness/cycling.asp

Awards
You asked did UHN win any sustainable transportation awards recently, and the answer is YES!!!
We received the 2009 SMART Commute Employer of the Year award in the Fall.

Other Green things at UHN
Please commit to caring for the environment by taking UHN’s online Greening Pledge.
Names will be displayed online to showcase the number of staff working together to conserve energy and the environment, thus creating a greener UHN. Take the pledge and show that you care!
http://documents.uhn.ca/sites/enviro/Lists/UHN%20Greening%20Pledge%202/NewForm.aspx

Planning to give up your car?
University Health Network Employees receive Zipcar discounts for car sharing. You’ll receive a discounted flat rate of $8.75/hr, $66/day (24hrs) and $56/business day (7am - 7pm) Monday through Friday (includes evenings, excludes BMWs, Audis and convertibles). For More information visit: www.zipcar.com/uhn.

Upcoming Event
Save the Date April 22, 2010 Time: 3 -4:30 pm (Earth Day)
UHN cycling TOWN HALL

I am looking forward to getting MORE UHN staff on their bikes in 2010.

Bright Ideas - information on energy conservation, January

YOU, YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE...IN AN ENERGY SAVING SORTA WAY

Sigh.

I must be getting old. You see, it’s time for another Bright Ideas newsletter, where we remind people of the importance of shutting off lights, computers, monitors, fans, radios, printers and heaters when you leave for the day, or when you step away from your work area...and just how easy it is to do so.

In my youthful past...well, I just would have come right out and asked people to “GIVE A FLICK”, but now well...I just want people to show a little TLC.

Now, before you get all sentimental on me, allow me to explain.

You see, TLC (which stands for “thermostats, lights and controls” and has the tag line “Care to Conserve”...pretty snazzy, eh?) is UHN’s brand spanking new, integrated, comprehensive, free-range, 100% organically raised energy management program, that combines a little of the techie side of saving energy (you, know, installing light switches, tuning up the ventilation system and those sort of things) and a little of the people side of saving energy (you know, getting people to use those light switches, give us a call if the ventilation needs tuning up, and those sort of things).

And while we’re on the subject, TLC is actually not that brand spanking new...it’s already been in place for a year at TWH (where we’re seeing energy savings of about 5%, with greenhouse gas reductions of over 5,600 tonnes), it’s currently being rolled-out at TGH, and we’re just getting ready to bring a little TLC to PMH.

TLC’s goals are lofty (a 25% reduction in energy use), the plan is big...and we really need your help to get there. You see, as far as we can tell, nobody has really tried to implement a comprehensive energy management program like TLC, especially in a complex and diverse setting such as a hospital, so even though we have a pretty good idea of what we need to do, we’re doing a bit of learning and a lot of listening along the way. We need your feedback, we need your ideas, we need your eyes & ears...and we need you to Care to Conserve.

It’s easy:
● Got hands? Clean ‘em...but first turn off unused equipment and appliances (thanks Infection Prevention & Control).
● Submit an energy saving idea...let your Energy & Environment department know what opportunities you see to save energy at UHN...and you can send them all to our brand spanking new email address, energyandenvironment@uhn.on.ca.
● Become a champion, inspire others, save the world...join the UHN GREEN TEAM.

And remember...isn’t it time you gave a FLICK (sorry, old habits die hard)?