a special advertising section of the bermuda sun • aPRIL 23, 2014
Plenty of great ideas for greening your office By Robyn Bardgett rbardgett@bermudasun.bm
These days it’s not hard to look around and see people taking up the mantle of being more environmentally friendly. From recycling to eating clean, we’re all trying a little harder to save our planet. The green movement has also moved into our offices and many businesses are looking for ways that they can create less waste and not only improve the environment but also save money. “AF Smith provides furniture, equipment, software and many other ways to green up your office,” says Robyn Baras, brand experience manager at AF Smith. AF Smith is hosting a Love your planet Expo on Tuesday, April 29 from 3.00pm to 5.00pm at their headquarters located on Tumkins Lane. “We want to bring awareness within the community that we offer these products and that they are actually not more expensive than non-green products,” Mrs Baras says.
They will be showcasing some of the innovative products they currently have available to help businesses get a little more green in their life.
Refillable
Take for instance the B2P pens made from 100 per cent recycled water bottles. They even look like a little water bottle and they write like a dream. They also use refillable ink, so there’s less wastage. One of the other exciting products that will be on display at the Expo includes the Xerox ColorQube printer. Some of its green credentials include producing 90 per cent less waste, reducing cost by up to 60 per cent and it uses cartridge-free ink. So instead of having to shake the cartridge a few times to get those last drops of ink out before you replace it, this printer uses
every last bit of ink. AF Smith also provides software that can help manage output and help employees to be a little more environmentally savvy. “While the Equitrac software is not itself necessarily green it allows companies to manage their printing expenses, maximize office equipment efficiency, reduce waste, ensure document privacy and boost bottomline,” says Mrs Baras. Some of the neat tools it can do include stopping employees from printing from certain applications as well as forcing double-sided printing and forcing black and white printing, say, for instance when printing an email. It also has a green reporting function to check by user who prints the most in the company and alerts user to printer options.
n Photo by Robyn Bardgett
innovative: The MediaScape conference table at the AF Smith headquarters surrounded by Steelcase Leap chairs. At left, the B2P pens. One of AF Smith’s biggest sellers is recycled printing paper. Other paper products available include Postit notepads, lined paper note pads and breakroom products, including plates, cups and utensils. These items are all made from 100 per cent renewable resources or 100 per cent consumer recycled materials. Also on show during the Expo will be AF Smith’s line of recycled furniture. Most notable are the line of Steelcase chairs, which are made of recycled content as
well as being recyclable. It doesn’t hurt that the chairs are all incredibly stylish and functional. AF Smith will be displaying their Steelcase chairs in the office’s MediaScape conferencing room, which features the MediaScape table that is made from 45 per cent recycled content. “The concept behind the MediaScape table is to make telecommuting easier and cuts down on travel,” says Mrs Baras. “Going green in the office doesn’t have to happen all at once,” she adds. “Taking
little steps makes it more doable and it’s not that expensive if you are doing it in little steps. You’re also not cutting back on quality –– that is not the case with the products that we provide.” To get a first-hand look at the green products available at AF Smith check out the Expo. Food and beverages will be served and a discount will be offered to those who attend. n
For more information, contact Robyn Baras at AF Smith on 292-1882.
EVERY SATURDAY PIER SIX LOWER LEVEL, FRONT ST., HAMILTON
8AM - 1PM
MID NOVEMBER TO JUNE
n City cORNER
Rock out to the many sounds of summer By Robyn Bardgett rbardgett@bermudasun.bm
Need a good reason to get out and get some fresh air with your family this summer? Summer Sundays in the Park is back and the perfect excuse for a relaxing day in the park. Of course, great music, food and entertainment will be featured, with Lift Your Voice –– a gospelthemed event kicking off the party on May 4.
Popular
The SDA Inspirational Choir, dancers and popular artists such as Bermuda Idol winner Olivia Hamilton, Sia and Tricray are currently scheduled for the event. “This is our sixth year and it keeps growing in popularity,” says Thomas
Lightbourne, event and marketing coordinator at the Corporation of Hamilton. “It’s been a very popular event and we are starting to see the demographic change as we start to engage younger performers.” Throughout the summer, the event, which takes place in Victoria Park from 3pm-8pm the first Sunday of every month until September, will feature reggae artists as well as soul and R & B and good, as well as old Rock ’n’ Roll. There will also be a children’s area, featuring fun castles and face painting. “Bring a blanket and a chair and come on out and expect the unexpected,” says Mr Lightbourne. n
For more information, visit www.cityhall.bm.
et n a Pl With apologies to Kermit, we think it’s easy being
GREEN
We can compost and conserve at home all we want. But as soon as we step into the office, we turn into triplicate-printing, air-conditioning-abusing, run-our-computers-all-night earth destroyers! At A.F. Smith, we can help you make green office living easy.
Don’t believe us?
Join us on April 29th for our Life’s short. Love your Planet Expo.
To RSVP or learn more: 1 Email love@afsmith.bm 2 Call Dara at 299-1855 3 www.afsmith.bm/green
Summer Sundays Schedule May 4 Lift Your Voice: Gospel June 1 Soulful Expressions: Soul Classics/R&B July 7 Rockin’ De Rock: Rock ’n’ Roll August 10 Island Rhythms: Soca/Reggae/ Latin September 10 Reggae Vibes: Reggae/Old School/New School
n Photo supplied
vibes: Crowds enjoy entertainment at the Summer Sundays event, which makes Victroia Park a popular place to be.
BELCO 2013 Energy Efficiency Final Go Green Ad fp.:BELCO Energy Efficiency Guide
7/8/13
3:56 PM
Page 1
Find the right setting
Pull the plug to save
Don’t make your fridge too cold and always
Even when electronics are turned off,
use the energy-saver setting. Maintain
they still use energy in standby mode, drawing “phantom
according to manufacturer’s instructions. If you have a fridge
load”. Put electronics on power strips and turn off the strips.
or freezer that is not fully used, unplug it or dispose of it.
Turn off lights and TVs when you leave rooms. When you travel, unplug everything possible at home.
Control your water heaters carefully
Switch to CFLs and LEDs A big energy saver is the small bulb. Switch to light-emitting
Water heaters use a lot of
diode (LED) or compact fluorescent
electricity. Setting them no higher
lightbulbs (CFLs). They last a long
than 120° F, or according to
time and suit most applications.
manufacturer’s instructions, will
Put the pieces
save money and be ample for your dishwasher, washing machine and shower. When travelling, unplug your home water heater.
Put timers everywhere
together to save energy, money and
Look for the smallest appliance Microwave ovens cook food quickly
the environment.
and with relatively little energy. Toaster
Timers on water heaters can save hundreds of dollars a year. Timers also save energy when used with other appliances, lighting and electronic items.
Get the AC to fit your bill Air conditioning can make energy bills soar.
ovens use less energy than full-size ovens and produce less heat. Use lids with pots and pans to keep heat in and use the smallest pot and burner.
Use appliances efficiently Use dishwashers, washing machines and dryers only when they are full, and use the shortest, coolest or most energy-efficient settings.
Turning the AC on when you come home and off when you leave costs less than leaving the AC running continually. You don’t use energy when the air conditioner is off. Choose fans and open windows when you can.
Watch the size of your TV
Choose “Energy Star” Appliances with the Energy Star label use less energy, save money and help protect the environment. When buying home appliances or electronics, choose highly rated Energy Star models.
The bigger the TV screen, the more energy is used. Some TVs consume more energy than others. LEDs are the most energy efficient, while plasma TVs are energy hogs.
For further information visit
www.belco.bm