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North Carolina Department of Environment Quality

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Sustainability - Sustainability - Greener DENR

Sustainability
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“Up One, Down Two” Program

Up One Down Two - iconMore employees are taking the stairs instead of elevators, supporting the “Up One, Down Two” program. They are saving time and electricity, as well as burning calories.

In 2001, the DENR Sustainability Team started the “Up One, Down Two” program for elevators used by DENR employees. The program is simple: Take the stairs if it’s just one floor up or two floors down. It often takes less time than waiting for the elevator. Electricity used by elevator motors equates to thousands of pounds of air pollution from coal-fired power plants.

If a 150-pound person walks up or down one flight of stairs in one minute, they burn approximately eight calories. If they walk up and down one flight, three times a day (one minute each way), they would burn:

  • In one day: 48 calories*
  • In one week: 336 calories
  • In one month: 1445 calories (~1/2 pound weight loss) 3,500 calories =1 pound weight
  • In one year: 17,340 calories (~5 pounds weight loss)

*Calories burned will vary for those weighing more or less than 150 pounds.
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DEQ Sustainability Vision

DEQ is the primary environment agency and model for sustainable actions of all North Carolina government agencies.

DEQ Sustainability Mission

To inspire a culture of sustainability within DEQ by promoting environmentally responsible actions.

 
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