Green your office

Bring green efforts to the office

Many people have finally made the commitment to improve our environment and our planet. They have become ardent recyclers, waste reducers, and green warriors. Yet, studies have shown that many overlook opportunities to continue their wonderful efforts at their offices or workplaces.

The reasons for this oversight are varied. Explanations run a wide path, from simply not thinking about it to feeling they don't have the authority or power to take green action at their jobs. However, most people renew their commitment to the mission when they realize how simple it is to introduce eco-friendly results at the workplace.

Don't overlook even the smallest, seemingly insignificant opportunity to display your green commitment. Just as it was many people making their own small contributions that garnered concern for our environment's deterioration, it will be the individually minor actions of many that solve the problem. Our future as a species may depend on these positive actions.

Thinking green on a 24/7/365 basis is a habit like all others. Viewing your office as another opportunity to perform good deeds for the planet is a wonderful habit to develop. Remember, most experts confidently state that a new habit, good or bad, takes only 21 days to establish.

How to transfer green activities to your workplace

There are many opportunities to take major or minor steps to green your office. Let's look at some ideas that address a wide range of activities. Use those that fit into your authority, workplace conditions, and everyday activities. These suggestions are separated by responsibility level to make it easier to target your focus.

Significant authority level options to green your workplace:

• Write and publish policies and procedures that recommend – or mandate if possible – environmentally friendly actions for all staff. As part of green management, you have the power to introduce eco-friendly activities on a team-, department-, or company-wide scale.
  
  
• Going green in your office is easy, effective, and may make you more efficient. If you are in a position of authority, you could publish policies that make everyone's office eco-friendly.
  
  
• Purchase only assets that have green properties. For example, if the time has come to purchase office chairs, lobby furniture, or other furnishings, consider only those that are made from recycled materials or contain eco-friendly frames, upholstery, and accessories. Your staff will be comfortable, your public areas will look beautiful, and you will have made a strong, positive statement of your green efforts.
  
  
• Going green in your office is easy, effective, and may make you more efficient. If you are in a position of authority, you could publish policies that make everyone's office eco-friendly.
  
  
• Whenever possible, buy office supplies that have recycled components or are recyclable. For instance, choose recycled paper for your copy machines, invoices, and even elegant stationery. Certainly, cost control is important, and you may have to pay a little bit more for these items. However, the quality will equal your other supplies, and you'll make a definitive eco-friendly statement.
  
  
• Going green in your office is easy, effective, and may make you more efficient. If you are in a position of authority, you could publish policies that make everyone's office eco-friendly.
  
  
• Use energy efficient equipment. When purchasing equipment, from computers to copy machines, buy those approved by Energy Star for efficient use of energy. You will achieve cost efficiency and environmental gold stars.
  
  
• Going green in your office is easy, effective, and may make you more efficient. If you are in a position of authority, you could publish policies that make everyone's office eco-friendly.
  
  
• Use the Three R's at your office just as you do at home. Reduce, reuse, and recycle contributes mightily to greening your office. As usual, you can make a real difference doing simple things. Reducing the volume of paper and cardboard use is a great start. Reusing paper and other goods further reduces waste volume. Take recycling seriously at work just as you do at home and you'll make your office very green.

Low authority level green activities:

• Make one copy when you formerly made three. Extra copies of documents may make you feel more secure, but they contribute to environmentally unfriendly activities and create more waste products. Generate new paper items only when absolutely necessary.
  
  
• Going green in your office is easy, effective, and may make you more efficient. If you are in a position of authority, you could publish policies that make everyone's office eco-friendly.
  
  
• Turn off your office lights, equipment, and computers whenever possible. For example, when you're going to lunch, a meeting, or any time you'll be out of the office for more than a few minutes, turn off whatever equipment you can without disrupting the work flow of others.
  
  
• Going green in your office is easy, effective, and may make you more efficient. If you are in a position of authority, you could publish policies that make everyone's office eco-friendly.
  
  
• Use e-mail and other computer-related methods to communicate and share documents or files. Instead of printing memos, notices, notes, letters, or other documents, keep all of them in your computer files. When they need to be shared or delivered to others, use file sharing or e-mail instead of using paper. Not only does this save paper, it decreases electricity used to power copy machines and printers.

Whether you are management or staff, have high or low authority, you can green your office and workplace. Even the most modest efforts, when combined with the eco-friendly actions of co-workers, can have a positive effect.