Make Your Office Greener: Five Ways to an Eco-Friendlier Workplace

Making your office a little friendlier to the planet is healthy for you, the environment, and your wallet. Don’t let the wealth of information out there overwhelm you into doing nothing – by following a few simple tips, you can make your office a whole lot more eco-friendly.

- Be a Power Saver! Too many offices turn a blind eye to their electric bills. And lights are only a small part of the problem: computers, monitors, and personal appliances are often left running all night. Curing this bad habit may take some work, but it could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Develop an Energy-Saver task force, add a reminder to every meeting agenda, and send regular emails until saving power becomes automatic.

- Protect the Trees! Reducing your office’s paper consumption can significantly decrease the amount of garbage you need collected. One of the best ways to do this is to go as electronic as possible. Find out which paper-intensive files are printed out, and discuss ways to distribute, backup, and store documents without printing.

- Breathe Easier! Taking more sick time than you expected? It might be your building’s fault. Bad indoor air quality is all too common in today’s sealed-in workplaces. A simple thing like a dirty air conditioning air filter could be kicking all kinds of dirt, dust, and other allergens into your office’s air. Make sure they’re cleaned regularly. Airing out your office is also a great idea – over time, many kinds of furniture and carpet may let out gasses as they break down. Clean up the air quality, and you could save a lot of time and money in productivity.

- Recycle! Paper is a great place to start, but most offices have a lot of other recyclables. Looking into recycling programs could even net your company tax incentives. Many counties and cities already have programs. Most offices can recycle white paper (printer paper), newspaper, soda cans, printer and toner cartridges, and computer equipment.

- Work Smarter! You can’t get greener than running at maximum efficiency. If your office does things because ‘that’s the way they’ve always been done’, maybe it’s time to rethink your procedures. Can work flow in a more efficient way? Can procedures be streamlined? Listen to the input of your employees or coworkers - from simple touches like a mail delivery cart, to more complex programs like letting employees telecommute part-time, they're sure to have some good ideas. Giving out a prize for the best efficiency ideas can spur employees into thinking of new and better ways to streamline and improve.

Eco-Friendly Office Chairs
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