Green Your Work – 5 Easy Ways

In your workspace you need good furniture, good lighting and good air.

Look out for recycled furniture, or buy second-hand – often you can get gorgeous furniture  at great prices which wouldn’t be economical to buy new.

Lighting – many workspaces use either incandescent or large florescent lighting.  Swap incandescents for LEDs and save a fortune on energy costs (although the upfront purchase costs are high) and you won’t need to change them again.  LEDs don’t give off heat so you’ll save on cooling costs too.  Newer florescent lighting types offer a wider choice – the best type is generally regarded as “natural daylight”.  They do cost a little more but I keep reading rave reviews from those who have switched.  Another alternative is to use desk lamps, perhaps together with standard and pendant lamps.

Normal daylight is still the best lighting (and generates increased retail sales) so always try to use windows where possible.

Good air means eliminating toxins from sources such as paint (use low-VOC or VOC-free paint), carpets (some carpets contain PVC or other substances which off-gas) and furniture (which may contain formaldehyde).

• Buy pens and pencils made from recycled materials, and buy refillable markers instead of disposable ones.
• Buy paper with a high post-consumer waste content and minimal chlorine bleaching.
• Print on both sides of the page where possible.
• The greenest paper is no paper at all.  Many things can be stored electronically without the need for paper.
• Recycle print cartridges – this is easy to organise with most suppliers.
• If you ship products from your workplace, use shredded paper as your packing material, and re-use old boxes.
• Use green cleaning products, and green soaps in the kitchen and bathrooms.

With advances in video-conferencing, instant messaging and cloud computing, there’s now less need to be in a central office.  Even one day a week can have an impact – on you and the environment!

In addition to #3 above, take a serious look at your daily commute.  Can you use public transport – at least some of the time?  Can you car share?  Could you get a smaller car when it’s time to renew?

Instead of getting take-aways or deliveries, bring your own lunch in re-usable containers.  It’s far healthier than processed and fast foods, and much greener (no packaging waste).  Use re-usable plates, napkins and cutlery.  If you do order delivery, join up with your co-workers and place one large order, which is more efficient than many small orders.

These are all easy ways to green your workplace, no matter where you work!