"Green Office" Practices & Policies

Why the quotes around "green office"? As of this writing, we could find no organization offering credentialed standards for maintaing an ecologically sensitive business (if you know of one, please drop us a line), so we don't want to misrepresent ourselves. That there isn't such a certification body makes some sense, given the wide variety of business needs among different industries. For instance, you can't be a full-time home inspector without using a private vehicle. You just can't. What we can do is make a commitment to drive vehicles that statistically average at least 30 mpg. Below are some of the other measures City Living Inspections takes to reduce waste and conserve resources (which, by the way, also helps us to stay competitive with our fees):

Reporting System
There are many different types of reporting systems available to home inspectors: online systems, pre-printed carbonless copy forms, custom pre-printed forms, laptop or PDA systems (with or without the assistance of a portable printer). We believe we have developed the most versatile, yet secure, reporting system available, while maintaining an eco-friendly stance. We use single-copy paper forms that are printed on demand just prior to the inspection. If we make adjustments to our system at any time, there's little or no stock that needs to be destroyed. There are no laptops, PDA's or printers to be dropped or stolen or to malfunction. State law requires that we leave the premises of the inspection with a copy of the report. Clients have the option of taking the bound original with them at the end of the inspection, in which case we make a copy on site with an EnergyStar-compliant portable copier (copies can be made for attorneys and agents at that time as well). Clients also have the option of receiving the report later in the day via email or fax. If that option is chosen, we take the original with us and it is processed with a high-speed document scanner upon arriving at the office. The report binder is then re-used. Whichever option is chosen, all reports are digitized at the office and those portions of the physical report which do not contain personal data are re-purposed or recycled after 3 months (digital files are kept for 5 years, as required by State Law).

Office Measures
We use compact fluorescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes in office fixtures and lamps. We have a minimal number of electronic devices which must be continually powered on. Direct mail marketing is researched and narrowly focused. Post-consumer recycled paper is used when feasible. Toner and ink cartridges are recycled. We use an internet fax service (no automatic paper printout). Most recurring bills are paid electronically.