Top 10 Ways To Green Your Office.

Top 10 Ways TO Green Your Office

In my previous life working in an office building, I saw first hand the amount of paper and waste thrown out every day. Once used paper, coffee cups, toner cartridges, shipping boxes…you name it, we threw it out. Los Angeles is notorious for not having a comprehensive recycling program, with most apartments not having recycling bins AT ALL. People are told to bring their recyclables to drop off points, which not too many people do. But back to offices, which are kind of the same here in L.A.. The building I used to work in had no recycling program at all…everything went in the trash. It was a huge building, and at the end of every day the bins would be full. I talked to the building manager and tried to implement a recycling program, but they wanted nothing to do with it. I figured with my experience trying to deal with them, I would put together a small list of things you can do to try to “green” your office building.

1. Start small.By talking with the boss of your company, or the person in charge of such things, maybe it would be possible to at least get recycling bins put around the office to collect all the paper scraps and aluminum or glass containers in the kitchen. If your city does not have recycling pick-up, there are companies out there that specialize in setting up programs where they come to your office on a weekly basis to pick up any and all recycling.

2. Try to make it office policy that everyone at least turns off their monitors, if not their computers, before they head out for the day. I know in some offices it is not possible to turn off the computers for network reasons, but there is no reason the monitor has to be on. When I was ready to leave for the day, I used to walk around turning off all the computer monitors. People wondered for years how their monitors were turned off at night and I just kept my mouth shut. Seems having to press the “on” button in the morning was really a bother.

3. A lot of companies provide bottled water to their employees, but often this is in individual bottles that are kept in the refrigerator. Try to talk to the person in charge of buying food and supplies for the office to see if it would be possible to put in a water cooler and some plastic or glass cups that everyone can use. That way, paper cups and plastic water bottles do not have to be put in the trash or recycling bin every day.

4. Make sure that the paper that is used in copiers and printers is 100% post consumer recycled paper.All the big box stores like Staples and Office Max carry this, and there is absolutely no reason that paper should not be of the recycled kind. Offices use fifteen million sheets of office paper every FIVE minutes, so imagine how many trees are being destroyed so you can print out your TPS reports. (If you do not know what a TPS report is, you missed an incredible movie)

5. If possible, change habits in the kitchen.Try to get the company to buy real forks and knives and stop buying plastic ones that are only used once. This can save a landfill from getting filled up with even more plastic then it already is.

6. Sure, it might be a difficult sell, but see if your company would be interested in participating in a mass transit program.Most transit lines in the U.S. offer discounts and other perks to companies that subsidize or pay for their employees to take the bus or subway. Think of the saving not only on your wallet, but also the air we all breathe.

7. Contact the people you lease (yes, most companies lease, they do not own) your copiers and fax machines from to see if they have models that will print on both sides of the paper.Most of them will have them, and presenting the idea to your boss as a money saver and not an environmental move would probably be more influential.

8. If you happen to work in the shipping department, reuse those boxes!Just because it says something on the side of the box does not mean that it is no good. Sure, you might not want to send something to a paying customer in a box with some other company’s name on the side, but there are plenty of times you can reuse boxes no matter what they say on the side!

9. When the need for a meeting comes up that entails travel outside your area, think about if you could accomplish the same goals by teleconferencing.With today’s technology, you can instant message, VOIP, create forums or discussion groups, and even have face to face meetings via web cams. If you don’t NEED to be there in person, save the company some money and the environment some damage by not traveling.

10. If you have windows in your office, be sure to use the free light that is outside!
Turn off those overhead lights and work by natural light; its better for your eyes and the environment.

Going Green at Work

Going Green at Work: Top Tips

1. More Work, Less Energy
   For many people, a computer is the central tool at work. Optimizing the energy settings for computers and other devices can be more than a modest energy saver. Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day (“standby” settings will continue to draw power even when not in use). By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch (or a smart power strip), the whole desktop setup can be turned off at once (make sure to power down inkjet printers before killing the power—they need to seal their cartridges). Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed. And of course, turn off lights in spaces that are unoccupied.
   
   
2. Digitize
   It does seem a bit strange that in the “digital age” we still consume enormous amounts of mashed up, bleached tree pulp, most of which gets used once or twice and then tossed or recycled (“downcycled,” as McDonough and Braungart would call it). The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital and dematerialized whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets (this also makes it easier to make offsite backup copies or take them with you when you move to a new office). Review documents onscreen rather than printing them out. Send emails instead of paper letters. New software like Greenprint helps eliminate blank pages from documents before printing and can also convert to PDF for paperless document sharing.
   
   
3. Don’t Be a Paper Pusher
   When buying printer paper, look for recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and the minimum of chlorine bleaching. Even recycled paper gobbles up a great deal of energy, water, and chemical resources in its processing (toxic pulp slurry is the paper recycling industry’s dirty secret). When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material.
   
   
4. Greening the Commute
   American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. This adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. We can ease some of this strain by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination thereof. If there’s no good way to phase out your car, consider getting a hybrid, electric vehicle, motorcycle, scooter, or using a car sharing service like Flexcar or Zipcar. See How to Green Your Car for more depth on the subject. Some employers are even giving a bonus to bike and carpool commuters and special perks to hybrid drivers. For those who think bike riding is for kids and tattooed couriers, consider a high-tech folding bike or an electrically assisted one (see below for more).
   
   
5. Green Sleeves
   You might be amazed how sharp work clothes from thrift stores can look. If you buy new, get clothes made with organic or recycled fibers. Avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned, and if they so demand it, seek out your local "green" dry cleaner. See How to Go Green: Wardrobe for more tactics on greening those work duds.
   
   
6. Work From Home
   Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative workflow tools make effective telecommuting a reality. If you can telecommute, hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home, give it a try. It'll save you the time you would have spent on the trip as well as sparing the air. As a bonus, you get to work in your pajamas. Telecommuting works for 44 million Americans (not to mention the TreeHugger staff). Also, consider the possibility of working four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days (a consolidated workweek), cutting the energy and time spent on commuting by 20% and giving you some lovely three-day weekends.
   
   
7. Use Green Materials
   Some paper use can't be avoided, so use recycled paper and envelopes that have been processed and colored using eco-friendly methods. Pens and pencils can also be made of recycled materials, and refillable pens and markers are preferable to disposable ones. Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and kitchen, and provide biodegradable cleaners for the custodial staff. Buy in bulk so that shipping and packaging waste are reduced, and reuse the shipping boxes. Recycling printer cartridges is often free, and recycled replacements are cheaper than new ones.
   
   
8. Redesign the Workspace
   Greening the space in which you work has almost limitless possibilities. Start with good furniture, good lighting, and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials as well as recyclable. Herman-Miller and Steelcase are two groundbreaking companies that have adopted the Cradle-to-Cradle protocol for many of their office chairs. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lamps that use miniscule amounts of energy (see How to Green Your Lighting). Not only is natural daylight a free source of lighting for the office, it has been proven to improve worker productivity and satisfaction (as well as boost sales in retail settings). Workspace air quality is also crucial. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints and materials (such as furniture and carpet) will keep employees healthy (look for How to Green Your Furniture coming soon).
   
   
9. Lunch Time
   Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost inevitably ends with a miniature mountain of packaging waste. But if you do order delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order (more efficient than many separate ones). Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of driving.
   
   
10. Get Others in on the Act
    Share these tips with your colleagues. Ask your boss to purchase carbon offsets for corporate travel by car and plane. Arrange an office carpool or group bike commute. Trade shifts and job duties so that you can work four long days instead of five short ones. Ask the office manager to get fair trade coffee for the break room and make sure everyone has a small recycling bin so that recycling is just as easy as throwing paper away. Ask everyone to bring in a mug or glass from home and keep some handy for visitors so that you reduce or eliminate use of paper cups.
    

How to "Green" Your Office: Create an Eco-Friendly Office

Remember the days when green was just a color and notebooks were 3-ring binders? Today, "green" isn't just a color -- it means "earth-friendly" -- and "notebooks" are among the most energy efficient computers available. Whether you run a home office or a 1,000-employee company, here are some tips to "green" your office.

Green Your PC

• Always turn off your monitor and computer when not in use.
• If you need a new computer, consider a notebook or one of the new breed of energy-efficient desktops. Several PCs on the market meet the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new Energy Star program, which requires all federal PC procurements to use no more than 30 watts of power when inactive (notebooks already do this to conserve battery power).
• Don't throw away your old computer -- recycle the parts, give it away, trade it in at a used computer store toward the purchase of a new one, donate it to a school, church, or charity.
• To increase your own ecological awareness and network with others about issues of concern to you, subscribe to such online services as Econet, Bitnet, CompuServe, America Online, and the WELL. For more information, see Don Rittner's book Ecolinking (Peachpit Press).
• For more information on computers, read Steve Anzovin's The Green PC: Making Choices that Make a Difference (McGraw-Hill). Also, be sure to read the American Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy's Guide to Energy-Efficient Office Equipment to learn more about green alternatives.

Office Supplies

• Try environmentally friendly pencils, such as those made from recycled paper, available from Earth Share (800-875-3863). Alternatives for correction fluid, pens, and other supplies are found in many environmental product guides as well as In Business: The Magazine for Environmental Entrepreneuring (Emmaus, PA).
• Use recycled fiber padded envelopes, popcorn, and shredded newspaper for shipping. Some vendors will take back bubble wrap or whatever packing materials that you cannot use. Ask them.
• Choose office furniture that is nontoxic and that is used or made from sustainably harvested wood or other renewable resources.
• Use mugs rather than styrofoam cups.

Paper: What's Hot, What's Not

• Switch to using the "greenest" paper available. Made of 100% post-consumer waste, recycled, never-bleached paper, it is attractive enough for professional use and is becoming increasingly available.
• Try plain paper fax machines rather than those that rely on non-recyclable, chemically treated thermal paper.
• Use electronic mail rather than paper whenever possible. "E-Mail" is faster, cheaper, and less resource intensive than overnight mail.
• Keep a scrap box for all of your junk mail/papers with one blank side. You'll never need to buy scratch paper again.
• Use both sides of paper before you recycle it, and be sure that your photocopying is two-sided when possible.

Recycle -- Everything

• Recycle everything possible. Toner cartridges, aluminum, glass, all types of paper, cardboard, telephone books, even food. Some companies make compost from their lunch scraps and use it for their plants.

The Safe Office

• Beware of electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) and radiation coming from computers, cellular phones, and other equipment. The EPA has reported on the dangers of EMFs, which are thought to emit fields high enough to cause cancer for those within very close proximity to machines and appliances.
• Avoid materials that are highly toxic, heavily packaged, not recycled, or not recyclable. Cleansers and other everyday materials (insulation, paints, plastics, glues, carpets, fabrics) often contain dangerous chemicals. Alternatives to harsh chemical cleansers (carpet, window, wall, etc.) may be found in environmental directories such as Enviro Clean: Sourcebook of Environmentally Responsible Cleaning Products (800-466-1425) or in many natural food stores.

Lighting

• Retro-fit lights with fixtures using much less energy. Generally, energy-efficient lighting upgrades increase lighting quality and yield 20% to 30% annual rates of return.
• Turn off lights whenever you leave the room. According to the EPA's Green Lights Program, the common belief that turning a light off and on wastes energy is a myth.

Transportation

• Walk, bike, or take public transportation whenever possible. If you need to take a taxi, look for an innovative firm such as Clean Air Cab Company, a Washington D.C.-based business whose cabs run on natural gas.

Natural Options for Your Garden

Natural Options for Your Garden

If you were born in the last 50 years, it may be hard to imagine food produced completely without the use of pesticides. In fact, it is tempting to think that these insect and weed eliminators are a necessary part of creating those big, bountiful berries, or luscious, leafy greens.

However, while farmers have been using chemicals found in their environment for thousands of years to control pests — the Greeks and Romans used such materials as ashes and sulfur — man-made pesticides have only been used widely in modern agriculture since the 1940s.

Man-made pesticides may keep pests out of your garden, but they also offer two major environmental problems:

1. They are harmful to our water. When rains come, they are washed into nearby rivers and lakes. Our water treatment systems are not designed to remove pesticides.
2. Pesticides are not species-specific. Depending on the type, they can be toxic to all species (including humans), and may be harming predatory species that could have helped eliminate your pests in the first place.

One way to help prevent this is to properly dispose of your leftover pesticides. You can find a drop-off location for pesticides using Earth911.

Another option is to consider farming without the use of pesticides. Here are a few tips:

Maintain Healthy Plants

Young and sickly plants are most susceptible to a pest infestation, and unwanted insects are often a harbinger of an unhealthy plant and less than ideal growing conditions. By keeping soil healthy through crop rotation, sufficient space and ventilation, and the use of such natural fertilizers as organic compost, a healthy environment for plants can easily be maintained.

Crop Rotation

Often, pests will feed on one type of plant but not on another. Growing different types of plants in the same space breaks the lifecycle of these types of pests. It will also keep your soil fertile because growing the same crop throughout will deplete your soil of specific nutrients.

Symbiotic Plants and Animals

Mutually beneficial flowers and herbs (such as chrysanthemums) act as natural pest repellents when planted among other flowers and crops.

In addition, the introduction of certain types of insects is another effective form of pest control. For example, the introduction of ladybugs effectively controls aphid populations.

Physical Barriers

Whether in your home or garden, pests need a point of entry. Eliminating this opportunity will discourage pests from making their home in yours.

Biopesticides

These deterrents are naturally occurring and can be made from animals, plants, bacteria and minerals. However, precautions should still be used with these types of pesticides.

Properly Dispose of Yard Waste

Yard and grass clippings can reach our local waterways by washing into storm drains. Keep green waste out of storm drains. Try grasscycling, composting or participating in your local green waste program.

Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. The clippings quickly decompose, returning nutrients to the soil. Some grasscycling benefits:

• It makes caring for your lawn easier, and will not cause thatch
• You can reduce mowing time by as much as 50 percent
• Leaving clippings on the lawn also reduces the lawn’s water loss and need for fertilizer.

To grasscycle, it is best to cut grass when the surface is dry (no drops of moisture on the grass), and to keep mower blades sharp. Follow the “1/3 rule”: Mow the lawn often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade is removed in any one mowing.

Proper mowing will produce short clippings that will not cover up the grass surface. You may have to cut the lawn more frequently, or double cut, when the lawn is growing quickly.

Backyard composting is the process of allowing nature to break down your green waste. When you mix your grass clippings, weeds, trimmings and water in a bin, beneficial insects and microorganisms decompose the mixture into finished compost.

You may have finished compost in as early as six weeks. Finished compost can be placed over the soil as mulch, or mixed into the soil as a wonderful soil amendment.

Metal Recycling

Metal Recycling

Scrap metal makes up one of the two largest exports that the U.S. sends to China. In fact, according to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) there are “150 million metric tons of scrap materials recycled annually including: 81.6 million tons of iron and steel, 5 million tons of aluminum, 1.8 million tons of copper and 2 million tons of stainless steel.” In addition to these metals, others metals can also be recycled including:

• Brass and Bronze
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Tin
• Lead

The amount of energy saved in using recycled metals is extensive. The ISRI reports an energy use reduction of 95 percent for aluminum, 85 percent for copper and 74 percent for iron and steel. As far as conservation goes, using recycled goods for metal products can make a big impact. Steel conserves 2500 lbs. of iron ore, 1400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone, while aluminum conserves up to 8 tons bauxite ore and 14 megawatt hours of electricity.

How to Recycle Metal

Scrap metal includes ferrous metals (iron and steel) and nonferrous materials (aluminum, copper, tin, brass). Many of our home appliances are made of metals. This includes our washers & dryers, refrigerators, ovens & stoves and water heaters. Waste from unwanted appliances can be categorized in two main types: refrigerants (Freon) and non-refrigerants.

The Process

The recycling process for metal is similar to those of other materials. It is best described in four stages:

1. Collection
2. Processing
3. Shredding
4. Selling

After collection and proper sorting, the scrap is compacted. It is then sold to minimills, which process them to steel. According to RecycleMetal.org, “processing scrap metal to steel instead of virgin ore require about 74 percent less energy.”

Tips for Recycling

• Have the delivery company for your new appliance, take the old with them. These companies can either recycle the unit or properly dispose of it
• Have a professional disassemble your appliance and take the appropriate materials to recyclers in your area
• If the appliance is still working, sell it on online, donate it to ta charity or give it to a friend

Facts About Glass Recycling

Facts About Glass Recycling

• Glass containers are 100 percent recyclable, can be recycled endlessly and recovered glass is used as the majority ingredient in new glass containers.
• An estimated 80 percent of recovered glass containers are made into new glass bottles.
• According to the EPA, 34.5 percent of glass beer and soft drink bottles and 28.1 percent of all glass containers were recycled in 2007.
• In some states, like California, glass bottle recycling nears 79 percent.
• Americans recycle nearly 13 million glass jars and bottles every day.
• The glass container industry has an annual revenue of $5.5. billion, with almost 50 manufacturing plants located throughout the U.S.
• The typical glass processing facility can recycle up to 20 tons of glass per hour.
• Glass containers produced today are 40 percent lighter than when they were 20 years ago, making them much easier to recycle.
• Every ton of glass that is recycled results in one ton of raw materials saved to process new glass, including: 1,300 pounds of sand, 410 pounds of soda ash and 380 pounds of limestone.
• Glass containers come in four different colors: clear, blue, brown and green; glass must be separated by color to ensure that new glass is not created from a mix of colors.
• Most recycling programs will only accept glass containers, because other glass products such as drinking glasses, lightbulbs, mirrors and Pyrex are treated with contaminants when manufactured.
• A 2005 study by the Beverage Packaging Environmental Council found that 18 percent of glass bottles are consumed at bars or restaurants.

8 Ways to Green Your Office

8 Ways to Green Your Office

With all the hype about “going green,” you may have already started replacing household cleaners with organic ones or maybe you’ve even traded in that gas-guzzling car for a hybrid, but why stop there? Check out some office-greening opportunities below. The possibilities are endless!

1.Check Out Soy-Based Ink

Ink made from soybeans is not only better for the environment but better for your company’s bottom line, as well. Soy-based ink benefits:

1. Lower levels of volatile organic compounds than ink made from petroleum meaning less harmful toxins emitted
2. Produces brighter and sharper colors because of the innate clearness of the soybean oil
3. Makes paper easier to recycle because it’s easier to remove in the de-inking process
4. Prices are comparable to those for petroleum-based ink, but less soy-based ink is needed per print job and it reduces paper waste, so you are actually saving money
5. Soy-based ink supports American crops

Soy-based ink is currently only available for commercial printers, not your office printers or ballpoint pens.

Quick Stats

• Soybeans only use about 0.5 percent of the total energy that is needed to create the ink.
• About 90 percent of the country’s daily newspapers with circulations of more than 1500 use soy ink.
• About one quarter of commercial printers in the United States operate using soy ink.
• When soy ink reaches its full potential, it will consume 457 million pounds of soybean oil a year.

2. Eliminate Vending Machine Waste

Coffee-making vending machines may save you from caffeine-withdrawal headaches in the morning, but they don’t help out the environment. If your office vending machine dispenses its own cups, make sure they are recyclable or see if the machine allows you to use your own reusable mug instead of dispensing a plastic cup each time it makes a beverage.

Other options:

1. Provide machines that allow employees to make their own beverages.
2. Ask the machine provider to de-lamp the machine.
3. Add an occupancy sensor on the machine that reduces the vending machine’s power requirements during periods of inactivity.

Quick Stats

• A typical refrigerated vending machine consumes 400 Watts—at a rate of 6.39 cents per kWh, that’s an annual operating cost of $225.
• De-lamping vending machines can save $100 every year.

3. Cut Down on Office Transportation

Carpools and public transportation benefit both the environment and your employees. Here’s some ideas:

1. Offer carpool-matching services that allow employees to find co-workers that live near them.
2. Encourage biking and walking to work by providing bike racks outside of the office.
3. Provide parking incentives such as closer/shaded parking spots for carpoolers.
4. Consider telecommuting to allow employees to work from home one day a week work.
5. What about a workweek with four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days?

Quick Stats

• Driving 10 percent less, by walking, cycling, carpooling, or taking public transit, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.2 to 0.8 tonnes per year, depending on the vehicle.
• According to AAA, the cost for owning and operating an average size car is 52.2 cents per mile, when driven 15,000 miles per year.
• Carbon dioxide is the number one contributor to the greenhouse effect, and cars produce about 30 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions.

4. Monitoring Lighting Usage

We obviously can’t work without lighting, but we can do our best to cut down on unnecessary use of lighting. Lighting reduction options:

1. Light exit signs with lower energy bulbs like compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), light emitting diodes (LEDs), neon lighting or electroluminescent lighting technology.
2. Replace old fluorescent lighting fixtures using T-12 lamps with T-8 fluorescent lamps for better color, less flickering and 20 percent less energy use.
3. Check out occupancy sensors for areas of the office that aren’t used as much, such as the break or conference room.

Quick Stats

• Replacing tungsten bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps typically makes an immediate cost savings of between 50-80 percent, and CFLs last up to 10 times longer. When they do burn out, make sure you recycle CFLs using Earth 911.
• Over its life span, a fluorescent tube will save 640 kWh of electricity compared with the equivalent 100-watt standard bulb. This reduces the production of carbon dioxide, a green house gas, by half a ton and sulphur dioxide, which causes acid rain, by 3 kg.
• According to a US Department of Energy (DOE) end use study from 1995, lighting accounts for about 29 percent of the energy use in a typical office.

5. Make the Most of Office Equipment

According to the Department of Energy, office equipment accounts for 16 percent of an office’s energy use. The use of computers, printers, copiers and fax machines adds up, but simply turning your computer’s sleep mode on when you’re not using it can save energy (screen savers are energy wasters, not savers).

In addition to putting your computer to sleep when you are away:

1. Turn the machine off when you leave the office for the night
2. Activate sleep mode for printers, copiers and fax machines so they’ll sense inactive periods
3. Consider consolidating these machines by purchasing a machine that performs multiple office functions.

If you’re looking to purchase new office equipment, look for ENERGY STAR qualified products to cut down energy use and pollution.

Quick Stats

• A Lawrence Berkeley Lab study from 1999 estimated that one workstation (computer and monitor) left on after business hours is responsible for power plants emitting nearly one ton of CO2 per year.
• If every U.S. computer and monitor were turned off at night, the nation could shut down eight large power stations and avoid emitting 7 million tons of CO2 every year.
• IBM estimates it saved $17.8 million worldwide in 1991 alone by encouraging employees to turn off equipment and lights when not needed.

6. Monitor Paper Usage

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each employee in a typical business office generates 1.5 pounds of waste paper per day. There are several ways to cut down on how much paper you use, including:

1. Make hard copies only when necessary.
2. View documents on your computer instead of printing them out.
3. Use a stick-on label on the first page of a fax instead of a full cover sheet.
4. Reuse paper that only has printed material on one side.
5. Make sure all printers and copiers are set up to print on both sides of paper.

When buying paper:

1. Buy recycled paper made from a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content.
2. Look for paper that is processed chlorine free (PCF) instead of totally chlorine-free (TCF) because its produced without elemental chlorine or chlorine derivatives.
3. Use unbleached and uncolored paper. If you need to use colored paper, use pastel colors.
4. Buy products in bulk to minimize packaging.

Make sure employees have bins to recycle paper at their desk.

Quick Stats

• A single-sided 10-page letter costs $0.55 to mail; that same letter, copied onto both sides of the paper, uses only five sheets and $0.34 in postage.
• A ton of 100 percent recycled paper saves the equivalent of 4,100 kWh of energy, 7,000 gallons of water, 60 pounds of air emissions, and three cubic yards of landfill space.
• In the U.S., over 40 percent of municipal solid waste is paper—about 71.8 million tons each year.

7. Keep Your Cool . . . and Warmth

According to a TIME magazine article, heating, cooling and powering office space are responsible for almost 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and eat more than 70 percent of total electricity usage. You can save about 10 percent on your electricity bill by just adjusting that thermostat by one or two degrees. Other ideas:

1. Use automatic setback thermostats to adjust the temperature for weekends and evenings.
2. Consider outside air economizers that use outside air to cool down buildings when the air outside is cooler than the air inside.
3. Think about solar shading to reduce the amount of heat from the sun that penetrates your office building.
4. Keep the blinds closed to conserve heat in winter and keep it out during summer.

Quick Stats

• Heating, cooling and ventilation accounts for 39 percent of the energy use in a typical office.
• An adjustment of only a degree or two can cut heating or cooling bills by two to three percent. Extending that to three or four degrees can produce savings of 10 percent or more.

8. Put Someone in Charge

Hire an energy manager or transportation coordinator. It may be beneficial to have someone in the office whose sole job is to set up carpooling or keep track of office recycling and energy use. The money spent on paying somebody to hold this position will be well worth it when you get your utility bill and help save our planet.