How to Green an Office Routine

As the environmental movement continues to expand, greening one's workplace is the next logical step. With the amount of waste and excess energy usage that originates from most offices, it's important to take the time to make smarter, eco-friendly choices in one's professional life. Read on to learn how to green an office routine.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Invest in a reusable coffee mug. Whether it's the disposable cups and stirrers at the local coffee shop or in the office, the amount of garbage that stems from America's coffee habit is overwhelming. By using a reusable mug and stirrer on a daily basis, waste is reduced dramatically. Take it even farther by purchasing organic, fair trade coffee or tea from a local vendor for added greenness.

2. Embrace alternative transportation. One of the most effective methods of improving the environment is cutting back on driving. With the exception of airplanes, cars cause the most pollution out of any other form of transportation. Start taking the bus, train, or subway to get to work every morning, or better yet, ride a bike. If public transportation is not an option, consider carpooling with coworkers to save resources and gas money.

3. Limit paper use. Email is the best way to cut back on paper usage and conserve resources, so consider sending memos, meeting agenda items, and to-do lists in digital form to save trees from an unnecessary death. If paper use is unavoidable in some cases, make sure to have multiple recycling containers around the office to make recycling a breeze.

4. Flip the switch. If someone isn't in a room, make sure the lights and/or television are turned off. There's no point wasting electricity by keeping appliances running when they're not in use. It's also wise to set all printers, copiers and scanners to sleep mode so they automatically turn off after periods of inactivity. Take it even farther by investing in LED (light emitting diodes) or compact fluorescent light bulbs for added greenness.

5. Adjust the thermostat. Almost 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States stem from offices, and they also consume more than 70 percent of total electricity usage. By investing in automatic setback thermostats for evenings and weekends, no extra energy will be wasted when no one is in the office. Even altering the thermostat a few degrees higher or lower than normal can do a world of difference.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy recycled paper instead of regular to keep waste to a minimum.
• Use soy milk and creamers instead of traditional dairy ones for a healthier option.
• Set up all printers and copiers to print on both sides of the paper.
• Avoid using the vending machine to decrease garbage output. Instead, bring snacks in reusable containers.
• Don't use a whole piece of paper for a cover sheet when faxing. Opt for a stick-on label instead.
• Never leave a computer or other work machine turned on at night.

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