ENVIRONMENTAL

GOOD
PRACTICE
A factsheet for UNHCR
personnel and offices.1

1 ThisFactsheet represents basic environmental good practice that can be applied to UNHCR offices globally. It complements
the Policy on Environment for Buildings, Facilities, Fleet and Travel. Contact greening@unhcr.org with any queries.
 CONSERVE
ENERGY
RESOURCES
What you can do
Switch off your computer or laptop
when you finish working for the day.
Switch lights off when not in use.
Use natural light as much as possible.
What your office can do
Install an energy meter
for your office, a Green Box.2
Replace old light bulbs with Light-emitting
Diode (LED) lights as they expire.
Use natural ventilation over fans and air
conditioning systems as much as possible.
Maintain air conditioning systems
within an eco-friendly temperature range.3
Replace old air conditioning systems with
smart air conditioning whenever possible.
Replace old office appliances with energy
efficient appliances as they expire.
Transition to renewable energy sources
wherever possible.4
CONSERVE
WATER
RESOURCES
What you can do
Turn off water taps when not in use.
If your office has a dishwasher,
wait for it to fill up before starting it.
What your office can do
Install water meters where possible.5
Eliminate water leakage.
Install automatic (sensor) water taps
where practical and possible.
Investigate the feasibility of using
rainwater tanks for water supply.
Replace old office appliances and
fixtures with water efficient appliances
and fixtures.
2 Contact hqgreenbox@unhcr.org to install a Green Box for your office.
3 Refer to local regulations and practice to define the eco-friendly
temperature range.
4 All new buildings or significant new builds are required to adopt
renewable energy sources in line with UNHCRs Policy on Environment
for Buildings, Facilities, Fleet and Travel.
5 Contact greening@unhcr.org for guidance on installing water meters.
 REDUCE
AND MANAGE
WASTE
What you can do
Stop using single-use plastic products
wherever you can. This includes
disposable water bottles, cutlery,
plates and carry bags.
If you can, invest in a reusable water
bottle and reusable coffee mug.
Share information and documents
electronically - avoid printing.
Dispose of waste according to waste
separation bins where provided.
What your office can do
Encourage suppliers to avoid single-use
plastic products and packaging.6
Install a water dispenser
and provide water glasses.
Adopt a paperless (no printing) office policy.
Investigate waste collection and processing
facilities in your local context and provide
waste separation bins accordingly.7
Use eco-friendly cleaning products
wherever possible.
ADOPT
GREEN
MEETINGS
What you can do
What you can do
Host meetings online
when possible if this does not compromise
the objectives of the meeting.
Keep and re-use identification tags
and encourage others to do the same.
Carpool with colleagues when travelling
to common locations.
Choose to walk, cycle, or take public
transport when this is safe and practical.
What your office can do
Provide teleconferencing meeting
facilities where possible.
Adopt electric vehicles from the UNHCR
fleet catalogue where grid electricity
is not fossil-fuel based.
Help to coordinate carpooling
or ridesharing support for personnel.
Ensure all travel bookings are in line
with UNHCRs Travel Policy.
6 Note that this should be done in line with UNHCR/HCP/2021/01, Policy on
Procurement.
7 Waste separation categories include Paper/Cardboard, Plastics, Aluminum
Cans/Metals, Organic Waste, Glass, Electronic Waste and Hazardous Waste.