5 June marks World Environment Day, a day recognised by over 143 countries who are concerned with the protection of our environment. First held in 1974, World Environment Day has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife … [Read more...]
Office recycling made easy
Corporations play a leading role in implementing more sustainable practises in South Africa. It requires staff participation at all levels and by practically involving more people there is hope for a shift towards a sustainable South Africa. What would be one of the first steps to take when becoming a more sustainable office? Green Times was recently invited to attend … [Read more...]
Greening your office
What is the first step in bringing sustainability into your office? Green Times was invited to an ‘Office Recycling made Easy’ workshop hosted by Hotel Verde. Corporations play a leading role in implementing more sustainable practices in South Africa. It requires participation by all levels of staff and by practically involving more people there is hope for a shift towards a … [Read more...]
Public Works office first to get five green stars
Nestled in Ixopo, in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) midlands, South Africa’s Department of Public Works enhanced its environmental credentials, becoming the first provincial government building to receive a 5-Star office design rating from Green Star SA. The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) congratulated the KZN Department of Public Works on the 5 Star rating for the … [Read more...]
Creating office space the green way
Running a home office can be like a virus that gradually spreads throughout your space. Yet the more travelling is avoided and time is saved, the greener and more efficiently your initiative is running. And what is better than breakaway spaces in the garden for creative meetings or huddling around a warm fire for winter discussions? Our boardroom is a green canopy covered in … [Read more...]
Planet-focused HR can help save the earth
There is a finer link than one may think between human resources and natural resources – and better HR practice could help save the planet, recent research shows. According to a statistic from the CRF Institute’s latest annual Best Employers Certification Index, if employees working flexitime for the listed companies worked from home for one day a year, South Africa would … [Read more...]
Sunlight inspires responsible copiers
Copiers and office equipment are notoriously greedy consumers of energy, even when sitting idle. Yet we cannot run a business, school or educational institution without this essential equipment. That is why we are excited today to introduce you to a leader in more environmentally responsible copiers, making it possible for all of us to get those notes out with a fraction of the … [Read more...]
New Nedbank office receives Green Star
Nedbank has received a 4-star rating for green office design from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) for its new regional head office currently underway at Menlyn Maine, Africa's first green city. Menlyn Maine not only works with the GBCSA to ensure all buildings in the precinct carry a four star rating but also use the Leadership in Energy and Environmental … [Read more...]
GreenOFFICE wins green company of the year
Proudly South African announced the winners of their 5th Annual Homegrown Awards competition at a glamorous gala dinner event celebrated at Sandton Convention Centre sponsored by PetroSA. Winning a Homegrown Award signifies enormous prestige and recognition: an award gives credit to outstanding business acumen, expertise and quality local services and goods … [Read more...]
Benefits of working in a sustainable building
Imagine an office space that uses the latest eco-friendly materials and technologies to create a completely sustainable environment; a tranquil, airy workspace filled with natural sunlight and surrounded by natural foliage. My team and I are lucky enough to occupy just such a workspace - a sustainable building in Westlake Business Park, Cape Town. Known as The Green … [Read more...]
The dilemma of office waste
The 'Waste in Business Seminar 2011', organised by Alive2green, considered the detrimental effects of current waste disposal techniques on the environment by looking at improvements to current technologies and the advancement of renewable and sustainable solutions. With the growing awareness of the detrimental environmental effects of current waste disposal methods there is … [Read more...]