Green at Work
How To Go Green In Your Office
With ever increasing environmental awareness concentrated around climate change, carbon footprints, pollution, recycling, and even the imminent demise of the high street carrier bag, it is little wonder that when you look round your office you may not think that much you do is going to make a difference.
Well every little bit helps and you’ll be amazed when you discover just how much you can do to turn your office green– and how easy it is to do it!
To help you go Green at Work there are a whole range of Green office products available. Gone are the days when the only options you had were re-cycled paper and envelopes.
If you know where to look then there are ‘Greener’ alternatives to almost every product you regularly use in your office.
If you are wondering how to go green at work then the next time you go to order your office supplies why not try a part-recycled stapler or a part-recycled hole punch? How about some part-recycled marker pens?
When your current supplies run out consider replacing them with Greener products.
If you really want to go Green at work then whilst you’re taking a moment to consider the products you use why not take a moment to consider your behavior in the office? A few minor changes to how you and your colleagues do things can have a big impact!
If you are puzzled as to how to turn your office green then why not try the following?
Did you know if the temperature in your office increases by only 2°C you will create enough CO2 in a year to fill a hot air balloon? Try turning the heating down, you won’t feel so sluggish and aside from saving energy for everyone else you may even have more energy yourself.
Remember to turn your computer off when you leave work at night. If you leave it on then after a year you will have created enough C02 to fill a double-decker bus.
Don’t forget the photocopier. Leaving it on standby overnight will waste enough energy to make 30 cups of tea. Why not put a notice by the photocopier or on the office door reminding the last person to leave to check the photocopier has been turned off.
Talking of cups of Tea – If you leave your office lights on overnight then you could be wasting enough energy to make 1,000 cups of tea
Leave the lights on overnight in your office for a year and you could be wasting enough energy to heat a home for almost 5 months. Remind everyone to turn the lights off when they go home!
Is your office air conditioned? Try to turn it off for one hour a day and after a month you will be able to power a TV for over a year. Suggest it to your boss who will probably be grateful as you will be saving money as well as energy.
IF YOU ARE FEELING HOT TRY OPENING A WINDOW OR HAVING A COOL DRINK – BUT REMEMBER
Leave the fridge door open for 30 minutes a day and you will waste enough energy in a year to power a lighthouse for nearly 4 days!
SO CLOSE THE FRIDGE DOOR AND YOU WILL BE DOING YOUR BIT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO PROTECT LOCAL SHIPPING
On average offices waste £6,000 each year by leaving equipment on over weekends and bank holidays. Simply turning off your PC when you go home – and reminding your colleagues to do the same - can make a big difference.
You need to lead by example, but it’s also important to make it a team effort. Ask your colleagues and friends where they think energy is being wasted, and encourage them to think about how they can all use less.
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