Environmental Intelligence: 9 Tips for a Greener Office
Wed 09-Sep-2009 07:10 | We tend to watch costs more closely in times of economic downturns. It helps us personally, but it can also be a smart way to reduce our environmental impact. Small changes we make in daily habits can have a huge impact. Below are 9 tips from Printer.com which can be applied in many offices without much effort.
1. Use less paper
It is difficult to go completely paperless. But the next time you receive an email message with attachments, read them on the computer and then save them into a meaningful directory on your computer or the network file server. It is faster to find them later on and cheaper because you don’t have the cost of paper, ink and toner. And last but not least, there are still incredible amounts of e-mail messages being printed "to remember" things. Try filing them in a “To Do” or “To Read” folder in your email program instead.
2. Recycle cartridges
Research shows that almost all printer cartridges can be used much more than one time. By recycling and reusing cartridges, we can save 40-60% of the CO2 used in manufacturing them. Companies and individuals are increasingly buying remanufactured cartridges. We consume about 2 billion printing cartridges annually, which is a gigantic waste if they are not recycled and reused. Encourage recycling and purchasing remanufactured cartridges, and save money and the environment at the same time. Also, when you are looking at purchasing a new printer, try to evaluate the cost of ownership. Those with a lower cost of ownership will typically use fewer cartridges during its lifetime. Again, this can save you money over the long term, but also help the environment.
3. Embrace “reuse and recycle”
Too often we look for “new” when a used or “previously owned” product would do just as well. It’s considered quite normal to buy a used car. Why not extend this concept to your office, and look for good, used cabinets, tables, chair and other office furniture and equipment? Look on eBay, Craigslist, other auction sites, and at furniture liquidators. Why does something always have to be brand new? You can save your company money...and also be kinder to the environment.
4. Invest in smart and sustainable
Sustainable energy technology is increasingly accessible and affordable. Many businesses are evaluating alternative energy alternatives such as wind turbines, solar panels, and solar thermal systems. Solar photovoltaic systems are now affordable enough that school districts in California are placing solar panels across student and staff parking lots. The Fremont Union High School District in Sunnyvale, California, has determined that the solar panels being installed at five high schools over the next few years will save the district over $1,000,000 in energy costs annually. Again, consider the “green factor” when purchasing a new printer--how energy efficient are the printer cartridges?
5. Recycle office waste
At home we are becoming very accustomed to separating out recyclable materials from trash. But we still have a tendency in our offices to throw recyclable items away in the trash. Some simple things that can be done: an empty box under each desk for recyclable paper, and one empty box by the shared printer or copier to capture unwanted pages. The paper could be recycled through your trash company, or you might find a school or charity in the vicinity of the company which might have a use for the paper. Of course, it goes without saying that other office waste products can be recycled, such as empty ink and toner cartridges.
6. Power down all devices after work
It is useless to have monitors, printers, and coffee makers on all night long. Studies show that even devices in 'sleep mode' still consume non-trivial amounts of energy. Encourage discipline in your company to always turn everything off when leaving work. This is a simple measure that can yield a measureable amount of energy savings. You can ensure that you are purchasing energy efficient devices by looking for the Energy Star seal.
7. Use alternative transportation one day per week
Just one day per week using alternative transportation methods can make a world of difference. Walk or bike to work if you can, carpool with others, or take the bus, commuter or light rail. Just think—by doing this one day per week, you are reducing your impact by up to 20% by reducing the fuel you use and the emissions of greenhouse gases from your car. Besides, it might be fun to commute with others!
8. Reduce packaging
If your company ships products, evaluate the way you pack, and the materials you use. Sometimes we “over pack” to protect items in shipment. Often it is necessary, but also just as often it is a bit of overkill. Look inside your office and find out how you can be smarter about your packaging.
9. Have online meetings
It is so easy--as easy as ordinary telephone call. Online voice and video conferencing is available from many different sources today. But probably the most well known, and free, capability is offered by Skype. It can save a company an incredible amount of unnecessary vehicle and airplane miles. Managers of companies can set a good example by making maximum use of Internet calling and video conferencing. There are other more expensive and capable teleconferencing systems from companies like Cisco and HP where you really feel as if you are sitting at the same conference table with colleagues in 3 other places in the world!
back