Greening OfficesGreening offices is another environmentally friendly exercise. There are a number of things we can do to reduce our impact on the environment. First of all we can change from inefficient lighting to energy saving florescent or compact florescent lights. We can use Energy Star computers and equipment which will also significantly reduce the electrical energy used. Use computers in energy saving mode and shut them down when not being used. Programmable thermostats can save energy and thus money. When the office is not being used the setting can be lowered and be brought back up to comfort level prior to it being occupied again. The same can apply in reverse during the cooling months. Using products made from recycled materials, such as recycled paper, reduces the impact on the environment in a few ways. In the example of paper, more trees are not being cut down. The number of chemicals used in the production of new paper is reduced. Land-fill sites have been spared at least the amount of paper that was recycled. Recycling ink cartridges is another excellent option. This keeps a multitude of empty or almost empty cartridges out of land-fill sites. Reduce transportation costs and thus pollution costs. Car pooling is probably the greatest saving. Where possible, working the same number of hours over four days instead of five will of course reduce cost by twenty percent. Many computer based tasks can be accomplished at home as well as at the office. Public transit, bicycling, and walking can be excellent choices when appropriate and available. Of course, let’s not forget the obvious; provide for recycling of discarded paper and containers. Even provide for composting where appropriate. If we think about it, there will be many more greening office ideas.
|