Green Office Tips

Whether you own your own business or just want to make a difference at your workplace, saving energy and using resources wisely can produce big benefits. Here are some green office tips courtesy of West Tennessee Clean Cities Coalition.

Energy: A 30 percent reduction in energy consumption can lower operating costs by $25,000 per year for every 50,000 square feet of office space.

Conduct an energy audit. (Call MLGW's Commercial Resources Department 528-4541 or use our online tools.)

Hibernate/turn off all computers and peripherals when not in use.

Adopt the use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Install lighting sensors to turn lights out in rooms not in use.

Optimize heating and A/C usage by using a digital programmable thermostat.

When purchasing new equipment look for energy efficient models.

Paper: The average office worker discards more than 175lbs. of high-grade paper per year. Businesses use 2 million tons of paper in copiers each year!

Print in double-sided/duplex mode.

Encourage paperless meetings.

Distribute interoffice memos electronically rather than in hard copy, or post a single copy to a bulletin board.

Eliminate the use of paper plates in your employee lunch area.

Eliminate fax cover sheets by using “sticky” fax directory notes.

Design marketing materials that require no envelope, simply fold and mail.

Reduce junkmail: Visit Stop Junkmail for guidance. (Reduce catalogs at Catalog Choice.)

Plastic: Americans alone use and dispose of enough paper and plastic cups, forks, and spoons every year to circle the equator 300 times.

Discourage or eliminate the use of plastic bottled beverages.

Replace disposable plastic utensils in break rooms with permanent items (mugs, silverware, cloth towels, etc).

Purchase reusable office items such as refillable pens or dry erase boards.

Develop a recycling program to include specialty recycling as well as standard recycling.

CO2 Emissions: The U.S. produces about 25 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Encourage employees to use alternative modes of transportation such as bus, bike, or walking when possible.

Encourage ridesharing by designating premium parking spaces nearer the entrance for those who carpool.

Purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), units of renewable energy made from wind or biomass, solar power, water power, biofuels, or geothermal energy. (Make the Green Power switch!)