5 approaches to a greener office
<p>Building a green office is an excellent way to save money and do good for the environment. Although creating a greener office does take work, it can be done by just about any business, big or small. In honor of Earth Day we are giving you a few simple tips that can help you convert your office into a greener environment.</p> <br /> <p><strong>1. Use double-sided printing whenever possible</strong></p> <p>Set your printer or copier’s default setting to double-sided printing to automatically cut down on paper use. This is a simple step and if anyone needs single-sided printing they can quickly change the settings.</p> <br /> <p><strong>2. Use a water delivery service</strong></p> <p>Bottled water is unbelievably wasteful and, unfortunately, it is a staple in most office environments. Using a water delivery service can cut down on waste and also reduce the harmful effects that can result from drinking bottled water.</p> <br /> <p><strong>3. Turn lights and machines off when they’re not being used</strong></p> <p>While this may seem like an obvious way to be greener, many people overlook its necessity. Some people believe that it’s more efficient to leave computers and other machines on overnight, but it’s far more wasteful than anything else. If you can afford to install motion sensors, they are always a great option as well.</p> <br /> <p><strong>4. Use recycled and recyclable products when you can</strong></p> <p>You can get recycled versions of nearly any paper product at popular office supply retailers. The recycled versions are often comparable in price to their non-recycled counterparts.</p> <br /> <p>Also using recyclable and compostable products when you can is a huge way to cut back on waste in your office. If you choose to use recyclable products, make sure your employees know about your recycling program and are actually utilizing it.</p> <br /> <p><strong>5. Cut down on commuting</strong></p> <p>Organizing carpools is rather easy to do. Simply match people up based on where they live. If you can, offer parking incentives to those who carpool. If your town has public transportation systems, try offering a bus or train pass to employees who can utilize those systems.</p> <br /> <p>As you can see, these are simple and inexpensive ways to make your office greener. If you’re interested in even more green ideas, take a look at this article.</p>