Green Your Environment

With minimal effort, you can make eco-friendly changes in your workspace which will result in a healthier work environment.

Use Green Seal Certified Cleaning Products

Green Seal is a non-profit certifier of sustainable goods and services. Products carrying the Green Seal logo have gone through 3rd party testing and are proven to have a minimized impact on the environment and human health.

Give Your Air Conditioner a Break

Electrical devices, everything from cell phones to computers and lights, generate heat when in use. By turning your devices off when not in use, your air conditioner won't have to work as hard to cool your space, and you'll be saving money, too!

Turn Down the Heat

Turning down the thermostat just one degree in cooler months reduces heating costs 3 to 5 percent.

Avoid Disposable Goods

Americans throw away about 25 billion polystyrene cups every year, along with billions of paper plates and plastic forks. Minimize your impact on the landfill by keeping a set of washable dishes and a mug or two in your office. If you must buy disposable products, use ones made from sugarcane, cornstarch or potatoes -- these products have been developed to biodegrade within 180 days. Visit http://www.biodegradablestore.com or http://www.worldcentric.org.

Light Up Your Life

Switch from traditional incandescent light bulbs to LED alternatives. Although the initial cost is higher, LED bulbs only use about 10% of the energy to produce the same amount of light and last up to 40 times longer.

Seeing Double

American businesses throw away 21 million tons of paper every year. When you must print paper copies of your work, set the printer to double sided, and make sure to always use "print preview" mode to minimize reprints due to page setup errors and ensure you're printing only the pages you need. Other ways to reduce paper consumption include using single or 1.5 spacing instead of double and reducing your page margins. Whenever possible, distribute electronic copies and save the paper altogether.

Have a Cup of Shade-Grown Joe

Due to an increasing demand for cheap office coffee, traditional "shade" coffee plantations are being replaced by modern full-sun plantations, causing an alarming decline in bird populations and rainforest land. Shade-grown coffee requires little or no chemical fertilizers or pesticides and tastes much better.

 

 

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