Going green is more than a trend — it’s a reality. Many businesses large and small are adopting green habits to reduce waste and conserve energy. Have you implemented green policies at your office? If you haven’t, it’s easy to get started. Many ideas are free or very inexpensive.
To help you along, the ADA has compiled 80 green tips below. Most of them are specific to your dental practice but there are some general green tips, as well. To make for easier reading, they’ve been grouped in categories such as “Be Proactive” and “Educate Your Staff and Patients.” Take a moment and choose one idea you can implement this week. Even one small change can have a big impact on the environment over time.
Be proactive
- Implement an environmentally friendly sterilization program
- Install an amalgam separator
- Get rid of aerosol products
- Plan the office layout to maximize natural light and ventilation
- Walk, bike or take public transportation to work
- Consider stocking all-natural oral care products, from toothpaste to mouthwash
- Sign up for your energy company's summer energy savings program
- Partner with businesses that have sustainable principals, such as a green bank, a recycling service or a green architect/engineer to help with office design
- Send appointment reminders on recycled paper or through email or text message
- Consider installation of linoleum for flooring
- Purchase organic or eco-friendly scrubs
- Carpool to work with colleagues
- Request to be removed from receiving office junk mail
- Put indoor plants around the office
- Bring your meals to work in reusable containers
- Convert heating and cooling return-air vents from ceiling return-air vents in the summer to floor return-air vents during the winter
- Hand out patient giveaways in degradable plastic bags
Install energy-efficient products
- Add a dimmer lighting system, which saves electricity and only uses as much light as needed depending on the office's natural light
- Save on your heating bill with a programmable thermostat
- Purchase reflective glass (low-E) windows
- Install mini-fluorescent fixtures
- Invest in a central vacuum that uses no water and has an amalgam trap
- Switch to water-saving toilets
- Use sensor-operated faucets and/or low-flow faucets and fixtures
- Install energy-efficient appliances (washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc.)
- Invest in solar electric panels and water heaters
- Hook up motion detectors and timers for lights
- Hang hot air dryers in washrooms instead of paper towels
- Plug in smart power strips for electronics
- Cover chairs with organic bamboo and organic cotton
- Ensure you’re using environmentally friendly cabinetry (no added urea-formaldehyde)
- Use biodegradable ceiling and/or wall panels
- Add a trash compactor
- Caulk your office windows, apply weather-stripping or replace them with energy-efficient models
- Replace your old 30-gallon hot water heater with an efficient 10-gallon model
Switch to green products
- Buy paint that does not contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Purchase office furniture made from recycled or reclaimed wood
- Choose reusable stainless steel high- and low-volume, surgical/endodontic suction tips as an alternative to disposable plastic
- Stock reusable glass irrigation syringes as a substitute for disposable plastic
- Order biodegradable disposable cups instead of regular paper cups
- Use only chlorine-free, high post-consumer recycled paper products instead of traditional paper products
- Make it a mandate that disposable, plastic or paper barriers are only used when necessary
- Switch to stainless steel prophy heads with disposable prophy-containing cups
- Buy LCD computer screens instead of CRT screens
- Place water-free hand disinfectant around the office
- Drink tap water, not bottled water
- Use shredded paper for packaging material
- Purchase recyclable letterhead stationery, envelopes, fax paper and business cards
- Hang LED or electroluminescent (LEC) exit signs to improve energy efficiency
- Use ceiling fans to promote air circulation and reduce the need for air conditioning
- Choose less harmful surface disinfectants to clean and sterilize
- Purchase sealants, adhesives and other restorative materials in package sizes that allow all of the contents to be used during the procedure
Reuse and recycle
- Recycle the big five: aluminum, glass, plastic, paper and steel
- If traditional x-rays are taken, recycle lead foil, fixer and developer solutions
- Recycle or refill toner cartridges
- Clearly label recycling containers in accessible areas for patients and staff to encourage recycling and reuse
- Recycle computer parts and electronics
- Change and recycle vacuum pump filter screens at least once per month or as directed by the manufacturer
- Have a licensed recycling contractor or hazardous waste hauler remove your amalgam wastes
- Reuse rechargeable batteries
- Consider using recycled sheetrock and denim for acoustical insulation
- Clean or replace heater/air conditioner filters
Conserve energy and other resources
- Replace high-energy consuming office lights with energy-efficient fluorescent lighting
- Research local, state and federal tax incentives for earning Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification
- Turn off lights when you leave the room
- Turn off your computer when you leave the office for the day
- Go paperless: Use a virtual office system for patient charting, billing and radiography
- Consider using windmill-generated electricity for power consumption
- Run the dishwasher only when it’s full
- Pay practice bills online
- Cut back on the number of printers in the practice and print double-sided, when possible
- Run a practice energy audit
- Remove TVs from the waiting room
- Use digital versions of journals and publications
- Eliminate electronics that sleep on a standby setting; they continue to pull a current even when "turned off"
- When you wash your hands, turn the water off while you lather
- Consider solar chargers for charging cellular phones, PDAs, laptops, etc.
Educate your staff and patients
- Teach your patients to turn off the faucet when they brush
- Provide brochures to patients that contain green tips in the waiting room
- Post signs in practice restrooms and break areas encouraging water conservation
Check out these examples of carbon neutral dental practices: