Today offices and office buildings are everywhere – from large corporations with many staff to the millions of small home offices used for business, study or juggling the numerous tasks of running a household.   With the number of offices in the world even small changes can lead to huge environmental savings.  Check out these four areas where you can make your office green.

Reduce Energy Use

A green office uses less energy not only to reduce their carbon emissions but also to save money.   Any office appliances that are constantly plugged in are using electricity including computers and printers.  Even the cell phone charger constantly plugged in by your desk is draining small amounts of electricity.  Switching off appliances when they are not use, shutting down computers at night and unplugging phone chargers will reduce the energy used by the office.  With an estimated 4.6 billion cell phone users in the world the energy savings will add up.

Improve the Environmental Performance of the Building

Making your physical office space green  will reduce the energy the office uses.   Make sure your heating and cooling temperatures are set to the right temperature as even one degree makes a difference to your energy consumption.   Check that the office is draft proof and ensure doors are closed so the air you are spending money to heat or cool does not escape.  Replacing your lights with energy efficient options will also reduce your energy consumption.

Save Paper

The office can reduce the paper it uses choosing a printer that prints on both sides and by making the most of electronic communication.  This not only reduces stationery costs but also the number of trees required to create new paper.  Always choose recycled paper products for your green office and if  your area supports paper recycling, make sure the office has a system to recycle the paper it uses.   Here are some more great ideas for saving paper in your office.

Check Your Suppliers

The suppliers you use are an important part of your green office.  Choosing energy efficient appliances reduces the energy used and printers that accept recycled cartridges will reduce the waste the office generates.  As well as purchasing recycled paper, you can also choose mechanical pens that allow refills or pens made from recycled content both of which have reduced environmental impacts.

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