| Commissioning |
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Calibrate, improve, or replace energy-inefficient building systems with greener alternatives.
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Ensure proper function of thermostat sensors; schedule thermostat to function only during business hours and operations.
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Replace or repair malfunctioning equipment or system components that are not the appropriate size for the building.
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| Lighting modifications |
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Replace energy-inefficient conventional incandescent or fluorescent-tube lighting with compact fluorescent lamps or light emitting diode lighting
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Install light-adjustment technologies to automatically turn off lights when a room or area is empty or based on the amount of natural light present.
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| Heating and cooling |
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Activate heating and cooling systems only when rooms or building areas are populated.
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Set office thermostats to 74°F (23 °C) in the summer and 68°F (20 °C) in the winter for optimal energy consumption.
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Consider turning off water heating systems.
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| Reduce standby energy use |
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Remind clinic employees to turn off or unplug all computers, chargers, and lights at the end of the day.
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Adjust computer settings to automatically enter a hibernating or shutdown state after a set period of time of inactivity.
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| Replace appliances with energy-efficient alternatives |
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Substitute energy-inefficient machines with greener alternatives, including appliances such as computers, monitors, printers, scanners, external power adaptors, copiers, fax machines, digital duplicators, mailing machines, and water coolers.
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| Supply-side interventions |
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Purchase energy collected from wind, hydroelectric, biomass, or solar sources.
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Install photovoltaic solar cell panels to collect and use renewable energy onsite.
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| Recycling and environmentally preferable purchasing |
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Use 100% recycled paper.
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Purchase products with less packaging that are free of harmful components, such as latex, polyvinyl chloride, and di-ethylhexyl phthalate.
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| Water conservation and water-related waste |
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Replace washroom toilets and faucets with alternatives that use less water, such as those that are marked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense label.
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Replace disposable Styrofoam cups with biodegradable or recyclable cups.
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| Reduce regulated medical waste |
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Clearly indicate which materials are considered medical waste according to the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration’s bloodborne pathogens standard.
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Replace toxic cleaning products with nontoxic alternatives.
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