5 sustainability resolutions for 2015

We say goodbye to 2014 and hello to a fresh start in 2015. If you are like the VCH Energy and Environmental Sustainability team, you’re excited about the coming year and all that can be accomplished and/or changed personally and within your health care work.

To help you with this, here are five resolutions for all of you over active, over achieving, or simply busy health care professionals to make going into 2015.

1. I will join a SUSTAINABILITY GROUP in 2015.
a. Despite a movie in 2013, the Lone Ranger was popular back in the 40’s and 50’s. In 2015 it’s about community. It not only takes a village to raise a child but a community to create change. If you want to start the wheels of change in your work area or personally, join a group. Concerning VCH Sustainability, join the GreenCare Community and one of its specific groups. And take your group commitment one step further and join the Green+Leaders or Recycling Champions .

2. I will take greater ENERGY responsibility in 2015.
a. Seriously! It’s 2015. Who still leaves the lights on? Who doesn’t turn off their computer monitor when not in use? According to our recent survey, a lot more staff than you’d expect. It’s time to take responsibility for turning off the lights, monitor, and other equipment when not in use. More here.

3. I will reduce my FOOD WASTE in 2015.
a. This topic area was #1 in 2014. With new bylaws coming into effect, it looks like it’ll be #1 for another year. So now is a good time to look at your food waste, view our food waste tips here , and realize that it can be composted or diverted to a compost in order to create healthy soil for our gardens.

4. I will get more ACTIVE in 2015.
a. I routinely get studies in my inbox about how unhealthy sitting at a desk all-day or driving a single occupancy vehicle is. This year you could join the VCH Clean Commuter Challenge for 3 weeks in June/July. Or you could simply resolve to make a change today. It’s easier than you might think to walk, bike, carpool, or work from home. We have many stories of staff members who have done this and happily not looked back.

5. I will be better at RECYCLING in 2015.
a. Recycling is great. Especially if we have NO contamination in our recycling bins. Since health care contamination (even in recycle bins) is seen as BAD and thus discarded, take some time to slow down, learn about health care’s recycling program and take some time to become familiar with what can and cannot be recycled: https://bcgreencare.ca/resource/rrp-recycling-guide-march-2014

We on VCH’s Energy and Environmental Sustainability team are excited about 2015. We would love to have you partner with us in improving the work environments and processes to make them more environmentally sustainable. Any questions/comments, please feel free to drop me an email.

Glen Garrick
glen.garrick@fraserhealth.ca