While no one argues that wise stewardship of the environment is important, the practical application of environmentally responsible management is sometimes hard to justify. However, going green with sustainable design and construction makes sense for both the environment and the bottom line for government agencies and business enterprises.
The federal government has taken a major step in fostering environmentally responsible management with Executive Order 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management. It calls on all federal agencies to conduct their operations in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner. It also directs those agencies to reduce energy and water consumption, and to reduce fleet vehicle petroleum use.
A key element of this executive order is its direction to federal agencies to comply with the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings set forth in the Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Memorandum of Understanding (2006). These guiding principles are meant to help federal agencies utilize sustainable building design and construction techniques for new construction and major renovations, which, in turn, help those agencies to meet the objectives of environmental mandates.
Justifying Sustainable Design
What is the business case for building green using sustainable design and construction? In practice, it is supported by three practical cornerstones, known as the triple bottom line—environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity.
The goal of environmental stewardship is the protection of air, water, land and ecosystems, as well as the conservation of resources, including fossil fuels, with the objective of preserving resources for future generations. Social responsibility is aimed at improving equity and the quality of life for individuals and communities. Economic prosperity reduces costs while adding value and creating economic opportunity for individuals, organizations and communities. By meeting all three of these cornerstone objectives, governmental agencies and private businesses can build a strong, practical environmental program while improving bottom line results.
Saving Space Saves Energy
There are many ways to reach these objectives, but one proven approach is through the installation and integration of Electric Lateral File (ELF) systems. These systems can help federal agencies and business organizations meet green objectives by offering performance, ergonomics and productivity for more efficient operations, and they will provide a foundation for sustainable building design.
The Remstar MediaStation® Electric Lateral File improves space utilization, increases productivity and provides safe, ergonomic operation to help organizations support green initiatives by meeting environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity objectives.
The Remstar MediaStation ELF is a series of vertically arranged rotating shelves controlled by an electronic keypad that deliver files to the operator with the push of a button, reducing operator fatigue. Every MediaStation ELF can be easily equipped with roll out drawers for top tab files and folders or shelves for side tab file folders. With its more than 2,700 linear file inches of letter-sized filing space, the MediaStation ELF can store the equivalent of approximately 16 lateral file cabinets in significantly less space. An optional adjustable electronic work counter that activates with the push of a button for sitting position at 29.5 inches, up to standing position access at 39.3 inches or anywhere in between. The MediaStation ELF is equipped with bi-parting doors that can be closed and locked from a seated position. Its ergonomic design and operation offers complete accessibility for all employees, and it is fully compliant with the Barrier Removal Act.
Remstar ELF systems take advantage of unused overhead space to create an efficient records storage system that requires considerably less space than traditional file cabinets, drawers and shelving and rack systems. By reducing the amount of space required for storage and retrieval operations, companies can construct smaller, more energy efficient buildings, shrinking the construction footprint by up to 15% in some cases, conserving natural resources and reducing maintenance costs. In existing buildings, overhead “floor to truss” space optimization can reclaim 60% to 85% of the space used by traditional file storage systems. This improved space utilization helps reduce energy costs.
Remstar systems provide 100% accessible storage and are designed to deliver stored items at an ergonomically optimized height to eliminate bending, stretching and reaching. This design not only improves productivity, but also reduces employee stress and injury for improved quality of work life.
Stored files and records are automatically delivered to the operator, eliminating walk and search time to reduce labor requirements by up to 66%. Easy-to-use controls and software allow agencies to improve productivity through more efficient operation, reducing energy consumption, which helps reduce the overall carbon footprint.
While often not the first approach that comes to mind when considering ways to green an operation, the installation of automated records storage and retrieval systems can result in substantial energy savings, at the same time reducing overall operating costs and improving efficiency by creating a more ergonomic work environment. Using the triple bottom line—environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity—as a framework for practical implementation of sustainable building design and construction through the installation of these systems, any government agency or business enterprise can make substantial progress in meeting green initiatives.
Remstar International Inc., a company of the Kardex AG Remstar International (KRI) Group of Zurich, Switzerland, is a leading provider of automated storage and retrieval systems for manufacturing, distribution and warehousing applications. For information about the Remstar MegaStation MDM applications, call 800-639-5805 or visit the Remstar web site at www.Remstar.com.
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