How to Green Office Space
Offices use up a lot of energy and resources. Paper is constantly used for printing, faxing, mailing, proofing, and so much more. A majority of that paper is not recycled. Then there are all of the electronics that are used in an office: computers, printers, faxes, copy machines, phones, to name a few. You probably think you can't have an office without these items. This may be true, but you can condense, streamline and green the space and make it more energy efficient.
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How to Green Office Space
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Reduce your paper use. Paper is a big deal because many trees get cut down every year just to make paper. Trees help protect the environment, and even though they do grow back, they don't grow back fast enough to be considered a readily renewable resource. Cut your paper use by going digital as much as possible: send emails and digital faxes, don't print anything unless absolutely necessary, and always recycle your paper.
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Purchase tree-free and recycled paper products. There are many printer, fax and copier friendly paper options made from recycled paper and tree-free paper like hemp and bamboo. They may be more expensive, but once you cut down the amount of paper that you use, it will even out and be that much better for the environment. You can also purchase paper towel and toilet paper that is made from post-consumer recycled content.
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Ditch the disposables. Invest in refillable pens and ink cartridges to save money and resources. If you have a big office that has a break or lunch room, you may want to encourage employees to bring their own coffee mugs and water bottles to work so you don't have to invest in disposable cups. Keep a few reusable cups, plates, and bowls in a cupboard so employees can use them when needed.
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Consider soy or other earth friendly inks. Regular inks contain an assortment of toxic chemicals that can leach into waterways once they are disposed. Print with kinder inks and have a cleaner conscience.
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Check out earth friendly office supplies at websites such as Green Earth Office Supply or The Green Office. You can find a variety of pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, printer paper and more made from recycled materials.
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Condense products.Instead of having a copier, a printer, a scanner, and a fax machine get an all-in-one machine.
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Compute green. LCD monitors use less energy than standard monitors and laptops use far less energy than desktops. Also, use energy saving settings on the computer so it sleeps soon after it is left unattended. Shut down all appliances, including printers, copiers, computers, and screens, each night. If you plug everything into an energy saving power strip you can turn everything off at once and reduce the amount of electricity used.
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Invest in more energy efficient lighting. Compact Fluorescent Lamps, also known as CFLs, and LEDs use less energy than regular incandescent bulbs and last much longer. In the long run you'll save energy and cash by switching your light bulbs.
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Set a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature when no one is in the office. This will save on heating and cooling costs.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also add live plants to your office to help clean the air and remove toxins.
Don't forget to recycle everything you can---not just the paper. You can recycle cans, bottles, and ink cartridges.
