RSNA Goes Green
 Mark Lichtenberger RSNA Administration and Human Resources Director |  Michael Zawaski RSNA Building Manager |
Known for hosting the largest international medical meeting, RSNA is now using its sharply honed organizational skills to spread environmental awareness throughout all levels of the organization.
"We needed to get with the times," said RSNA Administration and Human Resources Director Mark Lichtenberger. "We were actually doing a lot of green things, but had never really put it out there."
Green from the Ground Up
RSNA's origins as a green organization date back to the construction of its Oak Brook headquarters in 1996. One of the architects was LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), meaning he is considered an expert in the field by the U.S. Green Building Council. As a result, the new building was designed with such environmentally friendly features as erosion and sediment control, public transportation access, storm water management, light pollution reduction and minimum energy performance.
RSNA executive staff wanted a certain look for the new building, particularly the landscaping. The resulting retention pond, fountain and pesticide-free plants not only met the aesthetic vision but also set the organization on its way to becoming green, said RSNA Building Manager Michael Zawaski, who oversees many of the Going Green efforts.
RSNA's glass building gives the organization a unique presence on the street it shares with the headquarters of the McDonald's Corp. and scores high on daylight views—studies have shown that more access to daylight not only cuts energy costs due to lighting but also positively influences employee mood.
Since moving into the building nearly a decade ago, RSNA also implemented such environmentally friendly activities as using low mercury light bulbs, optimizing the use of alternative materials and maintaining an indoor air quality management plan.
Making it Official
Though the organization was already going green, RSNA formally launched its Going Green effort last year. Making it official, said Lichtenberger, made RSNA's 168 employees aware of what had already been done and involved them in efforts going forward. He added that employees found no scarcity of ideas when Going Green was launched—if anything, they found too many.
"There are just so many different areas to explore," Lichtenberger said.
A Going Green committee was formed in August 2007 with representatives from throughout the organization. Its members immediately went to work winnowing the list, and it wasn't long before they had a list of things RSNA already was doing or could do almost immediately:
• Print RSNA News and other select publications on recycled paper.
• Switch from incandescent to compact fluorescent bulbs
• Ask vendors to become green certified or use green-certified products
• Recycle computer equipment, batteries and printer byproducts
• Offer to recycle employees' home computers
• Encourage Web-based meetings to decrease the environmental impact associated with travel and photocopying materials
• Purchase more office supplies made from recycled materials
To reduce the amount of energy consumed in the building, occupancy sensors were installed in some common areas, prompting the lights to turn off when a room is not used for a certain length of time.
Looking ahead, RSNA is considering eliminating Styrofoam cups and asking that employees instead use paper cups or bring their own reusable containers for beverages. To potentially reduce the environmental impact of employees commuting, RSNA is investigating the feasibility of installing a bike rack for employees who wish to bicycle to work.
 The retention pond, fountain and other landscaping features of RSNA headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., help make the Society a green organization. The glass building gives the organization a unique presence and scores high on daylight views—studies have shown that more access to daylight not only cuts energy costs due to lighting but also positively influences employee mood. |
Greening the Annual Meeting
RSNA 2007 provided more green opportunities. Bins were provided for badge and lanyard recycling, and the Daily Bulletin and other meeting materials were printed on recycled and/or recyclable, chlorine-free paper with a soy-based ink. RSNA also worked with the McCormick Place Convention Center and Chicago Restaurant Partners to offer paper, aluminum and plastic recycling; reduce light, power and heating usage; donate leftover food to a shelter; and use 100 percent compostable cups, flatware and packaging for boxed lunches.
Cost is a Challenge
If there is anything that would rein in RSNA's ambitious green efforts, it would be another type of green—the dollar. While things like occupancy sensors should eventually pay for themselves through saved energy costs, said Zawaski, the upfront cost isn't trivial. "Doing the basics isn't costly," he said. "It's the larger commitments that are expensive."
Lichtenberger noted that there's a tendency to believe that helping the environment is not only right but affordable too. The reality, however, is that items like recycled paper and copier toner are more expensive than non-recycled. Fortunately, RSNA has not balked at the higher price of doing green business, he said.
"RSNA takes pride in being on the cutting edge as an association," added RSNA Executive Director Dave Fellers, C.A.E. "It has been a very rewarding experience for all of us."
Employee Involvement is Key
RSNA personnel have contributed to the success of the society's Going Green movement not only by asking for more environmentally friendly practices before the project was officially launched, but also by continuing to suggest ideas as the project moves along. Many employees engage in green practices at home and want to extend those efforts into the workplace, Lichtenberger said.
"We want to encourage our employees to keep suggesting new ideas," Lichtenberger said.
RSNA considers Going Green an ongoing process, said Zawaski, rather than working toward an imaginary point when the organization has "become green."
"It is amazing to watch the green movement evolve not only with RSNA, but also on a local, national and global scale," he said. "The opportunities for organizations to show corporate responsibility just keep multiplying."
