Enviro Companies Take on Green Office Challenge

Some of the province's leading environment companies met on the lawn of Province House today to take up the Department of the Environment's green office challenge.

One of the participants, Tom Austin from ABL Environmental Consultants, said lending support to this effort comes naturally.

"We have to be environmentally conscious in our workplace, just as we ask others to do in their workplaces," Mr. Austin said.

Gerry Eisner from Porter Dillon, Rebbekah Cluett from Jacques Whitford, Dwight Whynot from Scotia Recycling and Minas Basin Pulp and Power, Rick Joseph from the Nova Scotia Environmental Industries Association, Rob Spencer from Trihedral Engineering, and Brian Lowe from Phase Remediation were also present to accept the challenge.

Acting Environment Minister Michael Baker congratulated the participants for pledging to pursue the 50 green initiatives outlined in the Green Office Checklist.

"I know a lot of these companies can already teach us a thing or two about recycling, reusing and reducing," Mr. Baker said. "But filling out this checklist will really put their feet to the fire."

The checklist was developed by an in-house team at the Department of the Environment. It was introduced today as part of Environment Week activities.

Other offices are also welcome to participate by picking up one of the Green Office Checklist brochures from Department of the Environment offices across Nova Scotia or off the government website at www.gov.ns.ca/envi/ .

Among the challenges are using less paper by photocopying on both sides of a sheet, conserving energy by turning the office lights off at the end of the day and choosing reusables like drinking morning coffee from a mug.

Mr. Baker encouraged everyone to become green-collar workers.

"Remember, together we can make a difference," he said.