Many Corporations are making the move to green lately.Not only can a company do good for the environment by greening their operations, but they can save some money and help their bottom line, too. In fact, IBM estimates it saved $17.8 million worldwide in 1991 alone just by encouraging employees to turn off equipment and lights when not needed! This fact, along with many others, are motivation for some of us to take the initiative to “green our office.” If you are one to move in this direction, below are some simple ideas to take action.
Computers
Computers are good for minimizing paper waste, but they are energy guzzlers.
*Always turn off and unplug your computer and monitor when you leave for the day.
*Put your computer to sleep and avoid screen savers when not in use.
*Use a smaller monitor or consider a laptop.
*If you are purchasing a new computer, ask for an energy efficient model.
Equipment and Supplies
Manufacturing materials that we would typically see in our office can waste energy, reduce our air quality, and contribute to landfill waste.
*Buy used furniture or furniture that is nontoxic, made from sustainable wood or other renewable resources.
*Buy used computers, copiers, etc and recycle your old ones.
*Reduce vending machine waste or bring your own food in recyclable containers.
*Do not use styrofome. Instead try mugs or biodegradable products.
*Unplug all equipment at the end of the day or when not in use for extended periods of time.
Paper and Printing Products
In the U.S., over 40 percent of municipal solid waste is paper – about 71.8 million tons each year. Reducing paper product waste is very important and very easy.
*Always use both sides of the paper and reduce your margins when printing.
*Shred and/or reuse any unwanted paper and boxes.
*Buy chlorine free paper with the highest post-consumer recycled content available.
*Provide paper recycling everywhere-by every printer, on every floor, etc.
*Send memos and other distributed documents over email.
*Store manuals, policies and other documents online or in PDF format.
Electricity
Small changes in your air conditioning, lighting, fixtures, etc can make a huge difference on your energy consumption.
*Make it a habit to turn off lights and utilize natural light when possible.
*Buy Energy Star rated light bulbs and fixtures. (www.energystar.gov)
*Replace all light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
*Consider using solar power, solar panels, and solar shading.
*Turn your thermostat down a few degrees lower and create and after hours and weekend setting.
*Check to see if you can get your energy through an energy efficient company.
Transportation
American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. This adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year.1 Commuting to work can have a major impact at your office and on our environment.
*Consider carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a mix of these.
*If you can not give up a car, consider buying a hybrid or another high-efficiency vehicle.
*Work from home whenever possible.
*Allow alternative hours like working longer but less days.
*Maximize teleconferencing, email, or conference call gatherings.
