English | Français

Felcom Data Services Inc. views being environmentally responsible as a corporate and social obligation.

  Green Globes Eco-Rating Program

When we moved our operations to a new building we made a conscious decision to ensure our offices would be green and healthy for our staff, and this was one of the primary goals in the planning process. We accomplished our goal of a '3 Green Globes' rating through a number of measures:

All paint used in the new space was VOC (volatile organic compounds) reduced, resulting in significantly improved air quality. Regular paint continues to release harmful toxins for many years after it is applied. All carpet is in tile form and made from materials not chemically treated in any way, which eliminates the release of toxins and enhances the air quality in the office. All floor tiles are 80% biodegradable. The physical move to our building was done in an environmentally-responsible way as the distance from our previous address to our new location was less than 1 km, resulting in less carbon emissions. Use of natural lighting is maximized through floor plan spacing and an open concept. This also creates optimal ventilation and air-flow to minimize HVAC utilization. Light fixtures are low-energy, have local switches and are spaced to achieve maximum efficiency.

Through effective planning, FDS has reduced our impact on the environment as a whole, and produced a superior, healthier work environment for our staff.

  Evergreen Partnership

FDS, together with our affiliates, is a proud supporter of and building a symbiotic relationship with Evergreen (www.evergreen.ca). Evergreen is a National charity that promotes the planting of trees in public places, with emphasis on native species, eradication of invasive foreign species, green building initiatives and corporate responsibility to the community and the environment.

FDS is dedicated to giving back to the community, and to taking seriously the role it has to play in the conscientious stewardship over our environment, a stewardship it shares with other companies and with each of us as individuals.

  Everyday Changes

FDS and our affiliates have also made many changes to our everyday behavior and office culture to promote a sustainable environment. These initiatives are employee driven and management sponsored and include:

Office lighting has been converted to Ecologic bulbs featuring reduced or eliminated toxic materials, 6-12% energy savings, 20% longer life, and packaged in 100% recycled materials. The net result is an energy savings of over 100 kilowatt hours per year and reduced carbon footprint of 35 tons per year. Paper usage is being reduced through a default duplex (2-sided) setting for all network printers and copiers. Responsible printing is also a priority with our 'think before you print' philosophy. Also, we have switched to 100% recycled FSC (Forest Stewardship Council of Canada) approved paper for all printers & copiers as well as for all bulk mailings. Individual bottled water is no longer made available to staff or for meeting rooms. These have been replaced with built-in filtered water in all kitchen areas, and re-useable glassware for serving. Additionally, all Styrofoam, paper or other non re-useable cups have been phased out, and all staff were provided a re-useable water bottle for their daily use. Purchases of all items from office supplies to furniture are made with the environment in mind. Chemical free hand and dish soaps, recycled paper towels, reusable binders, previously used workstations; all these small things make a cumulative big difference. From an Information Technology perspective we have re-deployed our data servers and achieved a 30% power savings. We also consider the EnergyStar rating of any new equipment purchases. To further employee education on our environmental initiatives we have introduced the 'Green Room', an internal website providing current information to staff. It provides Green Facts and statistics about what can be done at home, reminds them to shut down computers and machines in the evenings or when otherwise not in use, lists items that can be recycled within our offices and provides a forum for them to submit ideas and suggestions about what more we can do.