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April 27, 2009 Going green: step by step Categories to consider when creating a more eco-friendly practice. It is difficult for any dental office to be 100% “green.” However, just as there are many small steps we can take at home, the same common sense approach can be carried over to the office. The goal is not to get it perfect over night. Rather, the goal should be to reduce the impact on our health and our natural environment. These are just a few areas where you can makes changes quickly and easily. Energy Do as much as you can electronically and save resources and money. Turn your computers off at night or place them in “sleep mode.” Also, you can unplug televisions when not in use. Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs; they last longer and produce less heat. Remember, when light bulbs are burned out they should be treated as hazardous waste and disposed of in the same manner as other harmful waste products. Motion detectors for room lighting are another efficient use of energy. Paper Dental offices should strive to be paper-free, using digital charts, digital radiographs, as well as low-energy computers and monitors. Switching from film to digital radiographs prevents harsh chemicals from reentering our water system. Look outside the operatory as well. The reams supporting your fax machine is another huge waste of paper. Call businesses that send faxes about items that don’t concern you and ask them to stop sending those faxes. Reuse paper from faxes as scrap paper or reuse the blank side. What about your patient outreach for recall? Consider asking patients for their e-mail addresses and offer them the opportunity to receive reminders electronically. Reducing postage and the cost of reminder cards will help bring down your overhead. If you do need to print things out, place your printer in draft mode to save ink and use double-sided copies when possible. Don’t forget to recycle paper and buy recycled paper goods for office use. Water Reduce your dependency on water, soap and paper towels. For example, low-flow or dual flush toilet models use less water. Aerators restrict the flow of water and can easily be installed in any sink. Motion detectors also help reduce water flow. When cleaning the office, try to choose products with non-toxic chemicals. Purchases Look for “green” products when purchasing office items. Reducing your dependence on the environment can also go a long way in reducing your operating costs.
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