Dental Office Green Guide

8/9/2019 Dental Office Green Guide

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By Dr. Jason and Rebecca McMillan

A Room-by-Room

Guide or Creating a


2/8Your Henry Schein Dental Sales Consultants can provide further information and assistance. For details, call 800-645-6594.

This trend is beginning to

surace in the dental ofce

as well. Many patients are

seeking to align themselves

with practitioners who

show a commitment to

improving both their

patients health and the

health o the environment.

Businesses that haveincorporated sustainable

eatures cite numerous

benefts including:

n Recognition by their

patients and community

as an environmental leader

n Strengthened bottom line

through operating efciencies

n Improved employee healthand morale

n Marketing edge over their

competition

n More opportunities to

urther increase productivity

and reduce costs

Whether you are renovating, planning

ground-up construction or simplyconsidering ways to be greener in

your day to day operations, there are

many approaches or creating an ofce

that is more efcient and healthier or

you, your sta, your patients and your

community. Take a stroll with us through

the rooms that populate a typical dental

practice and learn both the big and

the small steps you can take to reduce

your environmental impact and join the

growing number o practitioners who areseeing green!

Front OfceSave paper, space and time by investing

in practice management sotware to

handle billing, treatment plan tracking,

and process insurance claims, patient

inormation and consent orms,

appointment reminders, and optimize

scheduling.

Purchase Energy Star rated computers,monitors, copy/ax machines, printers

and mailing machines or your oce.

Equipment with this designation saves

you money by using less energy and

will last longer because they run at a

cooler temperature. Many states also

have incentive programs with rebates or

selecting these appliances.

n Set your computers to enter system

standby or hibernate ater 30 to 60minutes o inactivity and set monitors

to enter sleep mode ater ve to 20

minutes o inactivity.

Utilize recycled or Forest Stewardship

Council (FSC) certied paper products

or your oce business cards,

letterhead, envelopes, brochures, bags

and copy/ax paper.

n Ask at your print shop about using

healthier soy-based inks or printing your

business identity materials instead o

the standard petroleum-based ink.

n Designate and clearly label recycling

containers in accessible areas or both

patients and sta to encourage resource

reuse and recycling.

n Buy recycled/remanuactured toner

and ink-jet cartridges or your oce

machines.

n Communicate with electronic les

rather than paper ones. Use e-mail to

correspond with doctors and patients

and to send digital X-rays.

n Have notepads and message pads

made rom the unused side o scratch

paper, outdated orms or old letterhead.

Simply staple stacks together or sta

use or have larger quantities padded by

a copy center.

As Americans become increasinglyconcerned about the environment,the demand for sustainable products and services has grown exponentially.

From organic produce to hybrid automobiles and green contractors

consumers are demonstrating their commitment to lightening their

ecological ootprint with their checkbooks.


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n Make a commitment to reduce your

junk mail by writing to or calling

senders directly and requesting removal

rom their mailing list. You can also:

n Reduce pre-approved credit card

and insurance oers by calling

888-567-8688 (888-5-OPT-OUT)

or visit optoutprescreen.com.

n Register or the do not mail me list

at the Direct Marketing Associations

Mail Preerence Service Site:

dmaconsumers.org/cgi/omailing.

n Reduce the amount o paper used in

your oce by utilizing your printers

duplex printing capabilities.

n Sending axes electronically. I you are

not already sending axes electronically,

try to eliminate ax cover sheetswhenever possible.

Restroomsn Install low-fow aucets and toilets,

which provide the same unctionality

as conventional xtures, and save

substantial amounts o water.

n Purchase dual-fush toilets which

save water by providing two fush

options.

n Conserve water by using sensoredaucets which also stop the spread

o germs and bacteria, avoid water

overfow and prevent scalding injury.

n Reduce paper waste and improve

restroom upkeep with an energy

ecient hand dryer.

Stock recycled tissue and toilet paper

that are whitened without chlorine

bleach and ree o dyes, inks, and

ragrances. Buying products made rom

recycled paper helps reduce the need

or virgin wood pulp.

n Encourage your team to walk or bicycle to

work by providing a shower for staff use.

OperatoriesInvest in digital radiography and save

space, eliminate the need or lm

processing, and expose patients to

up to 90% less radiation than astandard X-ray system.

Consider purchasing a CAD/CAM

milling machine. This technology

reduces material use in the oce

and it reduces transportation and

uel consumption by patients and

laboratories.

Utilize comprehensive practice

management sotware to save space

and increase eciency by electronically

storing charting, progress notes,

treatment plans and X-rays.

Select cabinetry constructed with a

100% pre-consumer recycled wood

ber particleboard, which has no

urea ormaldehyde added during the

manuacturing process. This reduces

o-gassing o harmul chemicals and

improves air quality in your dental

practice.

Reduce the discharge o mercury-

containing products, such as dental

amalgam waste, into the environment

by purchasing or upgrading your

amalgam separator.

n Revisit your local dental association

chapters best practice guidelines to

make sure your practice is meeting

or exceeding guidelines or managing

hazardous and mercury-containing

waste products.

n Minimize water use by installing

medical grade hand sanitizer dispensers

in your operatories. This alternative to

hand washing is more eective than

soap and water in killing bacteria and

viruses, helps prevent dry skin, and

saves your oce time and resources.Find an alternative to latex gloves.

Latex sensitivity is a growing problem

or both patients and sta. Be mindul

o latex in other products such as

rubber dams and prophy cups.

Purchase barriers manuactured with

recycled materials.

Supply ClosetUse biodegradable, non-toxic cleaners

that have limited environmental and

health impacts.

Stock natural oral care products

or patients.

Purchase recycled or corn-based

trash bags or waste products.

Order sealants, adhesives, and other

restorative materials in package sizes

that will result in all the contents

being used in a timely manner. This will

minimize waste rom expired inventory

and save you money and product.

Consolidate your supply orders to

prevent unnecessary shipping and

packaging waste.

Laboratory/SterilizationRoom

Switch to instrument sterilization

via a steam autoclave or dry heat

oven. I medically appropriate or your

practice, switch your cold sterilant rom

a solution containing glutaraldehyde tosomething less toxic, such as one with

hydrogen peroxide.

Utilize cassettes or instrument

processing. This is saer or sta

members and reduces the use o

sterilization bags.

n Install a good ventilation system

to address chemical and airborne

particulates.

n Research laundering garments

in-house to reduce uel consumption

and overhead costs.


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Sta Loungen Provide an Energy Star rated rerigerator and microwave or

toaster oven to encourage employees to bring healthy ood

rom home.

n Purchase reusable dishes, silverware, cups, and glasses

or sta and patients and equip your lounge with anEnergy Star rated dishwasher to encourage employees

to wash and reuse dishes.

n Promote carpooling and provide special parking spaces or

those who carpool.

n Encourage alternative transportation with public transit maps

and discount passes.

n Install convenient, sae places or bike parking.

Mechanical RoomSelect an oil ree compressor. Oil lubricated compressors

can add oil to the compressed air stream and compromise

the quality o air or patients and have damaging impacts

on hand pieces.

Choose a dry, oil ree vacuum system or your practice. This

newer technology uses no water compared to a traditional

system which consumes approximately a gallon a minute.

HVAC Systemn Purchase high-eciency heating and cooling equipment which

will save money, and produce less pollution during operation.

n Integrate a heat recovery eature into your HVAC system

which can be used to pre-heat or pre-cool outside air, using

the exhaust air as the source. This will reduce energy

consumption during wintertime, and during extreme summer

conditions.

n Install programmable thermostats that automatically

adjust temperature settings based on the time o day and

day o the week.

n Regularly change your HVAC lters and tune-up your units.

n Consider installing locking devices on thermostats to maintain

desired temperature settings.

Water Heatern Install an energy ecient water heater. Consult with your

project team or visit the U.S. Department o Energys website

or their Consumer Guide to Energy Eciency and Renewable

Energy (eere.energy.gov/consumer) to determine what type o

water heater is most appropriate or your practice.

n Insulate your existing water heater tank or energy savings.

A tank thats warm to the touch needs additional insulation.

Outside Your Buildingn Implement storm water management strategies to help reduce

the discharge o sediment, oil and chemicals into storm

drains, surace water and groundwater.

n Select a light color or your building and roong material,

which will refect light and reduce your energy use.n Landscape with drought-resistant and native plants to

minimize irrigation needs.

n Look into the easibility o using gray water, which is water

rom sinks, showers, or clothes washers that is recycled or

irrigation, to water plants and land.

n Consider a rainwater collection system to provide an alternate

water source or garden irrigation while reducing run-o.

n Ask your landscape maintenance team to compost clippings

to reduce waste.

n Limit the amount o synthetic ertilizers and pesticides used

or landscaping.

OVERALL OFFICE STRATEGIES

Design & Constructionn Select an architect and builder that are LEED (Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited or have

experience working on green projects. A good place to start

is by visiting usgbc.org or contact inormation or your local

U.S. Green Building Council chapter.

n Evaluate the easibility o pursuing LEED certication or

new practice construction and tenant improvements.

n Ask your contractor to develop a waste management plan

to acilitate recycling, and insure proper disposal o non-

recyclable materials during construction and/or renovation

o your practice.

n Select a location that ully utilizes your regions existing

characteristics. Work with your design team to weigh the

benets and drawbacks o a potential sites sun, soil, water

and wind conditions.

n Consider a high density location when constructing a new

practice. Density reduces automobile use and creates

healthier communities. Look or nearby access to public

transportation and other vital services.

n Renovate an existing building or your new practice to

preserves more resources than ground-up construction.


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Materials & Furnishingsn Use products and materials that are durable. A product that lasts longer usually

requires less maintenance and saves energy.

n Select building materials that will require little maintenance (painting, retreatment,

waterproong, etc.), or whose maintenance will have minimal environmental impact.

n Choose construction materials that are salvaged, have a high-recycled content, arecertied wood products, and/or are rapidly renewable resources such as bamboo.

n Give preerence to materials manuactured locally to oset the adverse impacts o

transportation.

n Create a custom look and conserve resources by urnishing your space with

second-hand nds, such as tables and chairs or your waiting room.

n When purchasing new oce urniture and xtures, look or products that ollow

the cradle to cradle design philosophy. These products use environmentally

healthy materials and production methods and are designed or the product to be

easily recycled at the end o the products useul lie.

n Look or carpet that has no PVC (polyvinyl chloride) in the backing. Consider

using carpet tiles which will allow soiled areas to easily be removed and laundered

or switched with tiles rom other low trac areas i necessary. I possible, select

a product that has been certied as Green Label Plus, which means it has been

tested by an independent, certied laboratory and meets stringent criteria or

low chemical emissions.

n Select materials or your space that do not emit harmul chemicals so that there

arent any issues with o-gassing. Use low VOC (volatile organic compounds)

paints, laminates and adhesives.

Lightingn Design your oce to maximize natural light and minimize energy use with careully

placed windows and/or skylights.

n Install occupancy sensors in rooms that are inrequently used. These sensors will

save energy by automatically turning lights on when someone enters a room and

turning lights o when they leave.

n Save money and energy by swapping out your incandescent bulbs or compact

fuorescents which are our times more ecient and last up to 10 times longer.

n Use daylight dimmers that turn o lights automatically when there is sucient

natural light.

n Control direct sunlight through windows with screens or lm.

n Install LED exit signs that last 20 times longer than conventional signs.

Energy Usen Use high-perormance windows, high levels o insulation and tight construction

to conserve energy.

n Design your space to utilize renewable energy such as passive solar heating,

daylighting and natural cooling.

n Purchase renewable energy through your local utility company.

The goodnews: Goinggreen is a smart moveor the environment

and or your bottom

line! I you eel

daunted by the

undertaking, start

by implementingthe easiest strategies

frst and as time

and fnances permit,

commit your ofce

to doing more.

Not only will yourpractice beneft rom

your environmental

stewardship, but

you will have the

personal gratifcation

o knowing you aredoing your part to

protect the planet or

generations to come.

Dental Office Green Guide

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Transcript of Dental Office Green Guide