whitespace - space for thought

The nice people at the British Environment Partnership came by last year and pointed out a few simple low or zero cost things we could do in our bid to help the environment. Things like, setting IT equipment to energy saving mode, installing LED spotlights and light sensors, replacing the water cooler with a water filter and glamorous stuff like installing cistern volume reducers in the loos. Plus, of course, recycling our waste.

In order to cut down on the amount of paper we consume, we now use old print-outs as notepaper, print all our documents double-sided (or even 4 up) or better still, don’t print things out at all!

Hence, the redundant waste paper bins.

All-in-all we’ve made £2,300 in bottom line savings and saved over a tonne of waste per year from being put into landfill.

For information about how the BEP can help you, visit: www.thebep.org.uk.

On Sunday 25 May, braving icy winds, eight hardy Whitespacers gathered together to take part in the 2008 Hairy Haggis Edinburgh Marathon.

Running as The Wooden Spoons Relay Team – in aid of the hospice at St Margaret’s Hospital, Fife – James, Kelly, Charlie and Gordon came in just minutes ahead of The Running Cats and Dogs Team, sporting furry tails in aid of the Scottish SPCA.

Ricky (also wearing a kilt*), Carol, Lukas and Lizzie gave The Spoons a run for their money and both teams achieved that all-important sub-4 hours finish time.

The afternoon saw the normally unpredictable Scottish weather come good as the sun came out in time for the Whitespace Summer BBQ.

Husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, sisters, sons and daughters all joined the Whitespace staff at Vogrie Country Park to partake of some marvellous grub cooked up by Don and Iain. (Why is it that men always take over the cooking at a BBQ?).

Plenty of beer, wine and cider ensured that the adults were kept happy whilst a hastily arranged Treasure Hunt and Sports Day meant the children were entertained too.

Come sunset, a few tired bodies, several rosy faces and a good day had by all.

* As featured on page 5 of The Herald, Mon 26 May