AROUND THE OFFICE:
Improve Office Efficiency with New Technology:
- Office laptops provide optimal efficiency by using five times less energy than a desktop computer. You can also take them home, which means working from home at least part of the week and saving fossil fuels on a reduced commute.
- Your best bet is a small, Energy Star-labeled laptop with built-in energy saving components so that when your laptop is in the off, idle or on position, it consumes the least amount of energy possible.
- The same goes for copiers, fax machines and computer printers. All of this equipment should abide byEnergy Star standards. Looking for the Energy Star label on copying machines and fax machines means saving 40 percent on overall efficiency.
- Many offices are also installing smart technology that turns off lighting and power when employees aren't in the room. Some offices have lights that turn off if they don't sense movement for an extended period of time. Office refreshment machines can even be controlled by smart technology. But easy upgrades like switching to energy-efficient lighting and turning off lights when leaving the office, meeting rooms, lounge or bathroom make a significant difference.
- Your best bet is a small, Energy Star-labeled laptop with built-in energy saving components so that when your laptop is in the off, idle or on position, it consumes the least amount of energy possible.
- The same goes for copiers, fax machines and computer printers. All of this equipment should abide byEnergy Star standards. Looking for the Energy Star label on copying machines and fax machines means saving 40 percent on overall efficiency.
- Many offices are also installing smart technology that turns off lighting and power when employees aren't in the room. Some offices have lights that turn off if they don't sense movement for an extended period of time. Office refreshment machines can even be controlled by smart technology. But easy upgrades like switching to energy-efficient lighting and turning off lights when leaving the office, meeting rooms, lounge or bathroom make a significant difference.
Go Paper-free at the Office
- Not only do we waste tons of trees by printing unnecessarily, we also waste the energy in processing and manufacturing immense amounts of printer paper. This is true even if you use recycled paper because therecycling process also uses energy. The best policy is to reduce paper consumption.
- You can avoid printing out notes at meetings by putting them up on an overhead projector or PowerPoint display and encourage employee note-taking. That way you don't waste countless sheets of paper on a book of notes that will likely get thrown in the trash.
- Use an e-mail signature that advocates an office policy against e-mail printing. It could read "please print e-mails responsibly" or "please take the planet into account when printing e-mails." Avoiding e-mail printouts translates into inter-office paper conservation while also reminding anyone you e-mail to think twice before pressing print.
- Instead of making copies in the office, scan files into your computer. Scanning papers is actually safer than having paper copies because paper copies can get lost or damaged more easily. Backing up files in various places on your computer, as well as encrypting very important data is safer than backing up with paper copies. Encrypting office files with simple PC software changes the format so that they can't be read. Locking confidential paper files becomes unnecessary.
- You can avoid printing out notes at meetings by putting them up on an overhead projector or PowerPoint display and encourage employee note-taking. That way you don't waste countless sheets of paper on a book of notes that will likely get thrown in the trash.
- Use an e-mail signature that advocates an office policy against e-mail printing. It could read "please print e-mails responsibly" or "please take the planet into account when printing e-mails." Avoiding e-mail printouts translates into inter-office paper conservation while also reminding anyone you e-mail to think twice before pressing print.
- Instead of making copies in the office, scan files into your computer. Scanning papers is actually safer than having paper copies because paper copies can get lost or damaged more easily. Backing up files in various places on your computer, as well as encrypting very important data is safer than backing up with paper copies. Encrypting office files with simple PC software changes the format so that they can't be read. Locking confidential paper files becomes unnecessary.
Furnish a Green Office
- Furnishings are as important to a sustainable office as technology and overall conservation. Office furnishings can release toxins and ruin indoor air quality. We spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors and much of that time is spent at the office. Responsibly produced office furniture not only affords cleaner air, it's gentler on the planet.
- We spent $11.9 billion on office furniture in 2005, so buying the good stuff is increasingly important. Take, for example, your desk; choose a desk made of sustainable materials like bamboo, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood or reclaimed materials. FSC wood comes from managed forests that replace harvested trees with new growth. Choose furniture that doesn't give off Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde and benzene.
- Guard against bad indoor air quality by choosing plants that remove toxins. Certain indoor plants not only liven up your office but absorb poisonous toxins from the air. Gerbera daisies, chrysanthemums, spider plants and golden pothos are believed to be the most effective at toxin absorption. Just as planting trees improves the quality of life outdoors, so, too, does greenery indoors.
- We spent $11.9 billion on office furniture in 2005, so buying the good stuff is increasingly important. Take, for example, your desk; choose a desk made of sustainable materials like bamboo, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) wood or reclaimed materials. FSC wood comes from managed forests that replace harvested trees with new growth. Choose furniture that doesn't give off Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde and benzene.
- Guard against bad indoor air quality by choosing plants that remove toxins. Certain indoor plants not only liven up your office but absorb poisonous toxins from the air. Gerbera daisies, chrysanthemums, spider plants and golden pothos are believed to be the most effective at toxin absorption. Just as planting trees improves the quality of life outdoors, so, too, does greenery indoors.
Telecommute Whenever Possible
- Commuting often uses a large chunk of your carbon footprint. That's why telecommuting is possibly the most significant way to reduce environmental impact. In the quest to reduce office overhead, more workplaces are going virtual. New technology makes working from home easier than ever. You can have full access to your office by logging onto your PC at home.
- Business air travel is the least sustainable mode of transportation. In fact, a typical cross-country flight releases 2,200 pounds (997.9 kg) of carbon per passenger. That's the equivalent of more than a quarter of your allotted annual carbon footprint if you’re working toward a responsible goal of 4 tons. Teleconferencing makes business travel and needless in-person meetings outdated.
- Today, thanks to modern phone and online conferencing technology, virtual meetings are simple. Follow a PowerPoint presentation remotely online. Ask questions in real time and follow along as a supervisor updates you via video conferencing. Modern technology equals less lag time, minimized sound distortion and better overall picture on your PC.
- Teleconferencing services are less expensive than ever; in many cases, they're free of charge. You can receive constant company updates via video chatting, which enables person-to-person employee communication from anywhere.
- Business air travel is the least sustainable mode of transportation. In fact, a typical cross-country flight releases 2,200 pounds (997.9 kg) of carbon per passenger. That's the equivalent of more than a quarter of your allotted annual carbon footprint if you’re working toward a responsible goal of 4 tons. Teleconferencing makes business travel and needless in-person meetings outdated.
- Today, thanks to modern phone and online conferencing technology, virtual meetings are simple. Follow a PowerPoint presentation remotely online. Ask questions in real time and follow along as a supervisor updates you via video conferencing. Modern technology equals less lag time, minimized sound distortion and better overall picture on your PC.
- Teleconferencing services are less expensive than ever; in many cases, they're free of charge. You can receive constant company updates via video chatting, which enables person-to-person employee communication from anywhere.