Going Green In Your Office The Easy Way
Many of us want to be responsible citizens of the Earth. We think about the effects our lifestyles have on the environment. We are concerned about global warming. We want to ensure our children's future on this planet is one that still has clean air to breathe, an abundance of trees and wildlife, and clean water to drink. However, many of us also think that the sacrifices might be too great to "go green" in our own office. Good news. It's not as difficult as you think.
There are 3 areas where you can make a significant impact without significant expense or inconvenience: paper, lights, and electronics.
The average American office worker throws out about 150 pounds of paper per year. Paper manufacturing contributes to the deforestation of the planet and in America is responsible for 35 million tons of CO2 a year. So what can you do? Buy recycled paper. Make full use of that paper by printing on both sides and/or using paper that is only printed on one side for scratch paper. Do your proofreading and edits on your computer before printing to reduce the number of prints you make. Re-use file folders by placing new labels over the old ones. All of these changes are easy to make but have a big impact. Pretty painless, right?
Another way you can go green in your office is as easy as changing a light bulb. In fact, it is changing a light bulb. Incandescent bulbs use 4 times more energy than is necessary to produce light. Halogen lights can get as hot as 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to cook an egg! Alternately, Energy Star certified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use 75% less energy to produce the same amount of light, last 10 times longer and produce less heat. If you feel like you need even more reason to switch to CFLs, consider that you will also save money over the lifetime of the bulb. Once you have made the switch to energy efficient bulbs, make sure lights are turned off when they are not needed. A great way to ensure that this happens is with motion sensors that will turn the lights off when everyone has left the room.
38% of all of the carbon dioxide emissions come from the electricity we generate. That electricity is used to power all sorts of things. A major drain on our electricity is all of our office equipment such as computers, copiers, printers, and fax machines. When going green with your electronics, you need to look at 3 factors. You need to consider the waste that is created in the manufacturing of the products, the effects on the environment when you use the products, and the waste that is created when you are done with the products. That may seem like a lot to think about but if you follow these simple guidelines, you will be able to minimize the negative impact your office equipment has on the environment.
The manufacturing of electronics uses a lot of resources including electricity, raw materials, and water. Electronics also account for billions of pounds of municipal waste each year. Just a few of the contaminants that electronics create are toxic heavy metals, lead, PCBs, mercury, and various acids. To lessen your office's affect on the number of new pieces of equipment that are manufactured, as well as end up in land fills, buy all-in-one machines that combine multiple functions into one. Whenever possible, get rid of machines completely by using services such as Internet fax. With an Internet fax service you get rid of the fax machine completely, as well as reduce the amount of paper and ink that gets consumed. Another way to decrease waste is to recycle machines that are no longer working and donate those that do to charities where they will stay in use.
25% of the total electricity used by all commercial buildings in the US is consumed by office buildings. When buying any new office equipment, look for Energy Star certified machines. This will make a huge difference in the amount of electricity that is used to run your office. For example, an Energy Star certified computer is going to be 52% more efficient than a standard one. Laptops also use a lot less energy than desktops, so consider whether this is a viable option for your office. Energy efficient machines are also going to have stand by options that will power down or go into sleep mode to conserve energy when not in use. Once the office is closing for the day, make sure that all equipment is powered off.
Taking these steps will get you on your way to going green in your office. And as I promised, they will help you make a significant impact without significant cost or inconvenience to you and your employees. And you thought going green was going to be hard.
(ArticlesBase SC #197420)
Small Business Solutions - Green Furniture
It's no longer enough to have a business space or office that is attractive and conducive to productivity. Often furnishings need to meet a higher standard of being environmentally correct; especially in the construction and renovation process. (07:44)
How To Save Paper in the Office
The digital revolution was supposed to help the workplace go green, but despite having powerful, digital devices to help us with all sorts of communications and other daily tasks, we still use tons of office paper each year. How can you really make a difference and save paper in the office? Watch and learn. Rate, comment, subscribe to Real World Green and join us at http://www.green-house.tv for more! Distributed by Tubemogul. (03:49)
How to Green Interior Design
Green interior design should be a focal point for all offices today as the business world begins to critically examine its effect on the environment. http://www.spaceinc.net (03:21)
How HP is Providing Green Printing
GetConnected TV gives you up to date tech news and reviews on products to help you at home and in the office,this video will focus on how HP is providing green printing. (04:51)
How to Conserve Energy in your Office
Comprehensive tech news and reviews from GetConnected. This video focuses on how to conserve energy in your office. (04:55)
Sustainable office design specialist Lara Conaway is a guest speaker at easyFairs Interior Fit Out event later this month.
High profile sustainable workplace specialist Lara Conaway is taking to the stage at a special event in Surrey aimed at helping businesses go greener and at the same time cut costs.
With the growing concerns over the environment it should be firmly set in everyone's mind that we all need to do our bit to help save the planet. There are numerous things which can be done including reducing co2 emissions, recycling waste and using recycled products. Here we take a look at green and recycled office products.
Companies looking to create a ‘green’ office without breaking the bank are invited to a breakfast seminar in the West Midlands.
Pioneering work to create a sustainable workplace of the future – developed in the unlikely setting of a 1960s London office block – has been recognised by the facilities management industry.
Many companies have already began various environmentally friendly initiatives in efforts to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint.
Not only is green office durable and attractive, one who buys this type of furniture is doing their part to protect the environment. So, what is green office furniture? This kind of furniture is functional furniture made from refurbished or recycled material, or products that do not contain volatile organic...
A sustainable workplace of the future – developed in the unlikely setting of a 1960s London office block – has secured a national environmental accolade.
Learn how to increase your homes efficiency by turning it into a solar energy home. Make the sun's energy work to your advantage.
Hard water is common throughout many regions within the UK, however many people do not realise what this can imply to our health and lifestyle.
A Permanent Magnetic Generator is something that we can all use to reduce our energy costs and eventually power our homes for minimal costs compared to what we pay today. With the energy crisis deepening and the cost of fuel rising all the time it is becoming increasingly important that we begin to depend less and less on non-renewable energy sources.
How to build electric fence requires the use of and electric fencer to generate and send electric shock down the line. It is sometimes the only resort to teach a bad fence crawling animal to respect a fence.
Thee is so much more to be known about our universe, our planet, and our energy bodies that we have no time for messing with all the junk that seems to occupy our days- and nights.
Very few of us can live without a mobile device that keeps us connected while on the go, but our cell phones and PDAs contribute to toxic waste and lost resources, especially at the rate with which we upgrade
The recent researches proved the benefic effect of the negative ions over the human health. The negative ions are oxygen molecules that are carrying an excessive negative charge responsible for creating inside the human organism a general state of wellness.
The world is currently passing through a crisis. It is facing serious threats from international terrorism, natural disasters including earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, economic meltdown, ethnic conflicts, and the threat of cancer and AIDS.
Savvy real estate agents use call capture hotlines to generate leads and convert leads to sales all over North America. They are a powerful tool. But like any other tool, if you don't know how to use it you will not get the results you want. Here are 3 secrets successful users of call capture know that will increase your lead generation and conversions.
The phone system is the back bone of any business and shouldn't be overlooked just because the business is being done in a home office. When looking for your home office telephone answer make sure to consider how you will maintain a professional image, keep the essential functionality a business needs, while enjoying the flexibility the home office has to offer.
There is a dirty little secret within the telecom industry - something they don't want small business owners to know. Before you decide on your next phone system, find out what telecom providers have been keeping from you.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If you find that you are going insane using the same marketing over and over again with the same poor results, take a few minutes to learn a few different things you can do to stop the insanity now.
Choosing a virtual phone service provider can be a confusing and stressful decision. Afterall, they all appear to be the same. However, by asking these 7 questions you can uncover the differences and choose the right provider for you.
With eCommerce growing 20% or more each year, fraud protection for merchants and customers becomes an ever increasingly vital issue for the entire online community. Billions of dollars are lost every year due to online fraud. The next generation of fraud protection allows online merchants the opportunity to stop fraudulent orders from ever being placed.
When the only constant thing in your market is change, your ability to adapt and use the newest marketing tools available will help you stay ahead. Video is one of those new marketing tools that savvy real estate agents are employing to get massive exposure for their listings and generate leads. Here are 6 tips for your video marketing success.
Much of today's business is done without ever meeting anyone. How do you earn the trust of your customers without that human contact? Here are 8 ways to develop trust using your website and a variety of forms of communication between you and your customers.
Add new Comment
Comments on this article
0