Office Environmental Policies
CarbonBalanced Business
The office is a signatory to the AIA's 2030 Commitment. The goal of this
commitment is to design buildings with verifiable CO2 reductions of 60% below
existing equivalent regional buildings, and reduce CO2 emissions by an
additional 10% every five years until buildings are carbon neutral in 2030.
Additionally, the commitment requires the firm itself to reduce its impact.
The actions being taken by the firm are listed below.
Carbon
Offset
- KAP has balanced its carbon emissions by purchasing carbon offsets through the Evanston Climate Action Fund and/or TerraPass and, as of 2012, using 100% green electric power.
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Transportation
- Our full time
employee corporate fleet average for vehicles is 38 mpg. Those who do not
drive use public transportation, which is partially funded for by KAP.
- Carpooling is
highly encouraged when the office goes on corporate outings.
- The office offers a $250 rebate to those purchasing hybrid cars or other alternative vehicles.
Energy
Use
- 85% of office
lighting is fluorescent fixtures. The remaining lights are planned on being
converted by 2011.
- Energy Star
rated computer and printing equipment is used, which are on energy saving
setbacks.
- All of the computer
monitors are LCD screens.
- The HVAC
system is on a calibrated setback system.
Products
- The vast
majority of our paper products such as copier paper, letterhead, business
cards, etc. are printed on recycled content chlorine free paper with 20% FSC
certified fibers and 80% post-consumer waste.
- Preprinted
materials use soy-based inks.
- The use of
digital media is favored over printed material where possible.
- Eco-friendly cleaning
supplies are used.
- Paper products
such as napkins, toilet paper, and paper towels are all fabricated from
unbleached recycled paper.
- The use of
disposal cups, plates, etc. is discouraged.
- NKAI recycles
all of the office-generated paper along with various plastics and aluminum
cans.
- Old computer
and electronic equipment is periodically brought down to the state of the art
Chicago Recycling Center.
- The office has
begun to obtain office furniture that is recyclable. One chair in the office
made by Contessa is nearly 100% recyclable.
- Carpeting, by
FLOR, is modular, made of low-VOC and recycled materials and is easily
recycled.
