Take Simple Steps to Live Green

If you spend most of your day in the office, there are plenty of opportunities to save energy.  Here are a few tips to get you started.

Lights

• Use daylight and turn off unneeded office lights.
• Turn off your office lights when leaving.
• Avoid excessive lighting levels. Turn off lights in meeting and conference rooms.
• If needed, use an Energy Star Labeled desk lamp or floor lamp.

Paper, printing, and copying

• Recycle your discarded paper.
• Reduce printing and photocopying.
• Print double-sided (duplex) copies.
• Purchase 100% post-consumer waste, non-chlorinated paper stock.
• Use black-and-white Econo-mode computer printing settings.
• Press the EnergySaver (or PowerSaver) button after photocopying.
• In fax machines, use the other side of already-used, single-sided paper.

Electronics

• Use your computer's power saver options and shut down your computer, printer and peripherals when leaving the office.
• If you use a laptop computer, eliminate the need for a large monitor.
• Use a power strip to plug in all your computer equipment, and turn the power strip off when you leave.
• Recycle all batteries.

Junk and recycling

• Only discard into waste trash that is not recyclable.
• Request your name be removed from all junk mailing lists.
• Recycle or reuse aluminum cans, glass and plastic containers and utensils.

Improve the environment and your health

• Keep a pitcher of drinking water at your desk.
• Purchase environmentally-friendly office supplies, equipment, and furniture.
• Walk between office floors.
• Use a combination of walking, biking, and transit-commuting to and from work.

Get involved in shrinking your organization's ecological footprint

There are many options and opportunities for greening and shrinking your company’s ecological footprint. Set up a cross-departmental committee to assess areas where individual and company practices can be improved to produce more eco-friendly results. Then come up with a list of suggestions, and work with company administrative staff and leadership to implement the ideas.

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