It’s clear that summertime is drawing near. The school year is coming to an end, the temperature is continuing to rise and nature is in full bloom. But for many people who have managed to stay employed during the rough economic weather, the responsibility of going to work doesn’t end when the warm weather starts. So, to keep your time in the office interesting this summer, there are a number of things you can do to save on energy, help the environment and do something to prevent climate change this season in five easy steps.
1. Use less paper.
- Instead of printing documents, employ electronic methods of distribution by sending things as email attachments.
- As an alternative to wasting paper by faxing documents, there are companies such as Fax Michigan that provide “fax to email” services to help avoid the excessive use of paper.
2. Purchase recycled furniture.
- By using recycled furniture, you can receive LEED points for your effort in helping the environment.
- Companies such as Herman Miller make it a point to not only be energy efficient at their facilities but also to use recycled materials in the making of their products.
3. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
- CFLs provide an easy way to reduce energy consumption. They use 75 percent less energy than other light bulbs and are perfect for the office.
- To read more about CFLs, see our Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Environmental Solution or Hazard? article.
4. Buy Energy Star office equipment.
- Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps consumers to save money while protecting the environment by providing energy efficient products.
5. Make use of recycled office supplies.
- Purchasing recycled paper supplies and ink cartridges is an easy way to help the environment.
- Nationally-known retailers like Target and Staples offer an array of paper products made from recycled materials.
For more helpful hints on how to make your home or workplace green, visit our Green Homes and Commercial & Industrial Buildings sections of our Web site.
Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer and Public Relations, GreeningDetroit.com
Jennifer is pursuing a degree in Journalism and English from Wayne State University, and she is also a Contributing Writer for The South End.