NC State Archives and Records

ACTIVITY TYPE

CURRENT PRACTICES

PROPOSED PRACTICES

Recycling

  • Currently recycle: paper, plastic bottles, cans, metal shelving & scrap metal & all printer cartridges
  • Undertake specific steps to get rid of conservation, photo, and microfilming chemicals—dangerous chemicals are disposed of according to EPA standards; silver from film is recovered and NCR receives a check for the silver from our vendor
  • When processing collections, folders and boxes are reused until the material is moved to archival containers (WRA)
  • Reuse binder clips, sleeves, and notebooks to avoid purchasing new supplies (WRA)
  • Recycled paper is used as scrap paper  
  • Records destroyed according to general statutes; FY 2017-18, 7,326 cubic feet of paper destroyed
  • Add more recycling bins to kitchen and common areas
  • Post signs about types of materials to be and not to be recycled
  • Add to signs details about the condition of containers before placement in bins. For example, do plastic containers need to be clean and free of food residue, such as peanut butter? Should tops and caps be removed from plastic bottles?
  • Set aside a special area and marked bin to recycle flattened cardboard boxes
  • Add outside recycling bins at the back door of the main building

Building

  • Tighten up leaking windows/doors
  • Consider “smart thermostats in all buildings to automatically reduce temperatures at night, holidays and weekends when areas are not in use (OBHC)
  • Conduct an energy audit at all State Archives facilities; the USI program at DEQ can help with this.

Lighting/Energy
  • Stack lights are controlled by a motion sensor so they are not running all day. (WRA)
  • Hallway, search room, locker area, and break area lights are turned off regularly at 2:00 p.m. or when no patrons are here. If it is a sunny day, we have enough ambient light that we often leave lights off until someone comes in. (WRA)
  • Changing out the current fluorescent bulbs to LED would save an immense amount of energy (OBHC).
  • Having a fully functioning HVAC system in the stack room (OBHC); currently a lot of energy is wasted because the HVAC system doesn’t work properly (a new system will soon be purchased through capital projects)

ater
  • Any dripping faucets or constantly running HVAC units are reported immediately. (WRA)
  • Reported constantly running toilets in the women’s restroom on the second floor after the water had been turned off.
  • Place gaskets on all external water hoses (OBHC).
  • Survey all facilities for leaky faucets, toilets, etc.

Transportation

IT/Computers
  • Division has developed and rewritten policies and guidelines that prescribe how digital space is used
  • Configure all printers to easily print back and front
  • Designate vendor, or location to recycle parts of computers like old drives or non-working electronics

General Suggestions

  • Set up website to disseminate information about conservation
  • Mandatory webinars and other educational efforts
  • Set up system for reporting leaky faucets, trouble toilets, etc. and post the outcome
  • Access to water coolers to encourage staff to use reusable water bottles
  • Hold recycle contests between sections in the building – challenging us all to do better in our efforts
  • Create a department-wide spreadsheet or database of travel to encourage carpooling. 
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