Lately, there have been more and more efforts to become more environmentally friendly, or "go green." Just last month, Los Angeles became the largest city in the nation to approve a ban on plastic bags at supermarket checkout lines. For those that wish to be a more eco-friendly individual in the workplace, check out these tips:
Be a Green commuter
The morning commute to the workplace is more than likely to be a hassle, especially when dealing with traffic jams. American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. This pretty much adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. What can be done to ease this strain is by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, or walking. If a car is absolutely necessary, consider investing in a hybrid or electric vehicle. Not only would this vehicle contribute to the health of the Earth, but you'd essentially be saving gas money too!
Change your paper habits
Although digital has seemed like it's taken over, paper hasn't been eradicated completely. It's still needed, but there are definitely green ways to make the use of paper less wasteful. Recycled paper seems like the best way to go, but even that uses a great deal of energy, water, and chemical resources in its processing. Purchase printer paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. Paper made with more sustainable substances like bamboo, hemp, or organic cotton are great too.
Use Green Materials
Other than environmentally friendly paper, how about using "green" utensils as well? Pens and pencils can be made of recycled materials also, and refillable pens and markers help reduce waste buildup. Recycling printer cartridges is often free and recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones.
Green your lunch
Probably the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work is by bringing lunch in reusable containers. If you decide to get deliver and takeout, join co-workers in placing a large order. Reusable plates, utensils, and napkins are also a good way to "green" your lunch time.
Use less energy
The computer is often the central tool at work, so adjusting the energy settings for computers and other devices is an excellent way to save energy. Plugging hardware into a [smart] power strip and turning it off at the end of the day will ensure that all appliances aren't consuming energy throughout the night while on [the unnecessary] standby power. Eliminate the screen savers; instead, set monitors to power off after the same amount of time.
Another way to save energy is to simply remember to turn off the lights in spaces that are unoccupied. Remember, artificial lighting represents 40% of electricity consumption in a typical office building, and almost a quarter of all electricity in the United States. So throughout the day, open the blinds and make use of natural light
Go Green... Literally
How about making your office green with plants! Plants not only make the area look nicer, but they absorb airborne pollutants and emit healthy negative ions and oxygen into the atmosphere.
