Green Office
When turfing the trash at home, we've been sorting our holey boxers from our egg boxes for longer than we can remember, but how far have these good-and-green habits transferred to the workplace? As it’s where we spend over a third of our time, surely it would make sense to invest some of our environmental efforts in making our offices efficient and cost-effective? There’s no need to wait for serviced office management to take action; the small changes you make can contribute to massive reduction in our collective carbon footprint and here is where to start.
When ordering those cartridges, spare parts or office supplies, we recommend turning to EBay, Amazon or Gumtree. Not only can you find incredible deals on new and nearly new products, you can select your seller and go local, reducing transport energy expenditure. Another tip is to request minimal packaging, which private sellers are usually more than happy to comply with. Then, when your pack of permanent markers arrives, dispose of the wrapping considerately. Your office should supply a means by which to separate your waste – make sure that you do so correctly.
With regards to the environment, and almost everything else, one of the most inefficient aspects of the professional life is the commute. For some, driving distances alone is unavoidable, we understand, but even in the most inflexible of circumstances, improvements can be made. A study by the AA shows that simply by following eco driving tips, you can save between 10 and 33% on your weekly fuel bill. And for those of us closer to transport links or even the office itself, there is no excuse: lace the trainers; don the helmets, season tickets at the ready. Who knows, you might even succeed on that New Year’s resolution to shape up after all.
There are a dozen-and-one other small tips for reducing your carbon footprint in the workplace. Don’t boil more water than you need for that Monday morning brew. Boiling one litre of water uses exactly double the energy that it takes to boil half a litre. Refilling the kettle with a single cup for the next boil immediately after the first can cut energy usage by 25%, with residual heat from the kettle warming the water, not wasting away. Lights contribute one quarter of our electricity bills and the simplest way to cut back the costs is to turn them off. Get yourself into the habit of hitting the switch whenever you leave the room. Going paperless not only reduces the use of natural resources from your banking and billing systems, but also de-clutters the office, making your time and environment more conducive to work: energy saving in more ways than one.
