Environmental Policy Statement

Pallant Orthodontics is committed to providing a quality service in a manner that ensures a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and minimises our potential impact on the environment. We operate in compliance with all relevant environmental legislation and strive to use the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly best practices in all we do.

Alastair Smith is responsible for ensuring that the policy is implemented.  All members of the team, however, have a responsibility to ensure it is complied with.   This environmental sustainability policy applies to all of our work activities. 

We will ensure good housekeeping with regard to energy efficiency, water efficiency and to waste reduction by segregating, reusing and recycling wherever possible.  We will incorporate this training into the induction programme for new members of the team.

We will regularly review this policy.

Energy efficiency

Heating and cooling

• We have reduced the overall temperature in the practice by 1oC to reduce consumption.
• In areas that are not in use routinely, including stock storage areas, the heating is further reduced.
• The timers are set to ensure that heating system are not operational for long periods outside working hours when the practice is not in use.
• Radiators are not covered and are routinely checked to ensure that they are free from obstruction.
• We have set thermostats, timers and radiator valves correctly and have ensured that radiators are not obstructed. 
• When the heating is on, we avoid opening windows where possible. Outside doors are kept closed and self-closing mechanisms are fitted to internal doors where appropriate.
• Cooling and heating systems do not run at the same time. If it is too warm, we turn down the heating rather than opening windows.
• The central heating boiler is serviced regularly and the system checked for leaks at intervals recommended by the service engineers.
• We use natural ventilation where possible.
• We have insulated the lofts, boilers and pipes, where appropriate.

Practice equipment

• We turn off equipment when it is not in use and avoid leaving it in ‘stand-by’ mode. Equipment with a ‘power-down’ function have this aspect activated.
• Computers, lights, copiers, printers, and water coolers are turned off overnight. 
• We only purchase equipment when necessary and will consider the most energy efficient option that meets our needs.  Energy consumption can vary greatly depending on equipment age, maintenance, model and manufacturer. 

Lighting

• We switch off lights when they are not needed and clean light coverings regularly to increase brightness. 
• To maximise natural lighting, we ensuring windows are clean and window ledges are not cluttered. Where possible, the practice layout makes best use of natural and artificial lighting.
• Modern slim line fluorescent tubes and energy efficient light bulbs are used routinely; they last longer than ordinary bulbs and use less energy.  

Water efficiency 

• We check the water meter regularly to monitor our water usage and to identify any sudden or unexplained increase, which might indicate a leak.
• We repair any dripping taps as soon as possible and fit flow restrictors to taps in washrooms.
• When purchasing new equipment, we consider the most water-efficient option that meets our needs. 
• We reduce the quantity of water in our older toilet cisterns by fitted a water-saving device where possible.

Reducing waste

• We segregate the waste from our practice to allow for recycling of paper, magazines, cardboard, cans and glass, for example.
• We monitor local recycling schemes to ensure that we recycle as much waste as possible.
• When purchasing stock and other sundry items for the practice, we opt for refills rather than a new product wherever possible.

Purchasing products 

We aim to purchase and use environmentally friendly products that are

• Non-toxic or have low toxicity and do not pose an environmental hazard
• Durable
• Made of recycled materials
• Able to be recycled, refilled or refurbished
• Low or reduced energy and/or water consumption
• Packaged responsibly (using a reduced amount of packaging that can be recycled).