Need to Help Your Office Go Green? Use These 10 Tips

Share/Bookmark

by PatrickMMoore

Article by Jeff McRitchie

Are you interested in saving the planet while at work? If so, check out these 10 tips to help your office go green:

Make recycling easy for yourself and your colleagues. Place recycling bins around the office so people can properly dispose of their paper, pop cans, plastic containers, and so on. The more bins there are, the more likely it is people will use them.

Invest in energy-saving office machines. There are now a lot of machines on the market that are designed to be energy-efficient. These include paper shredders, photocopiers, computers, etc. Some of these devices will shut down on their own so not only will they save power, they’ll help you save money on your utility bills.

Use eco-friendly supplies. Many of the supplies that you and your colleagues use on a regular basis can be substituted with items made from recycled or biodegradable material. You can use recycled printer/copier paper, folders, and so on. You can stock your break room and bathrooms with environmentally friendly soap and use green cleaning supplies. Whatever supplies you need for your workplace, chances are there’s an earth-friendly equivalent.

Use public transportation. No matter how many or how few employees there are in your company, if everyone drives to work that’s going to do some major damage to the environment. Encourage people to use public transit in your area so your company can reduce its carbon footprint.

Embrace telecommuting. Another way to keep people out of their cars is by having them telecommute. Technology has made it easier than ever for people to keep in touch, so you and your colleagues can get a full day’s work done from the comfort of home.

Encourage people to carpool. If using public transportation isn’t an option, you can encourage your co-workers to carpool. This cuts down on the number of cars on the road, fights pollution, and can help people save money on gas, which is always getting more expensive.

Do away with paper. Many of today’s offices are going paperless thanks to the Internet, etc. Storing your files on a hard drive or a secure server will greatly cut down on how much paper you use, which will have a sizeable impact on the planet.

Use a paper shredder. One of the best ways to prepare paper for recycling is by shredding it. After the machine’s waste bag is full, just tie it off, and put it out for recycling. Also, shredding your documents will help reduce the possibility of identity theft and lawsuits because your company’s information will stay private.

Recycle your old computers. There are many organizations that recycle old computers. Be sure to look up the one in your area so you can get rid of those old dinosaurs without banishing them to the landfill.

Shop at local businesses. Finally, if you can get some of your office staples from local businesses, make sure to do so. This cuts down on pollution, will save you money on shipping costs, and can help keep a local business from going under during this rough economic time.

These 10 tips can help your office go green. Be sure to give them a try today so you can do your part to save the planet.