Making Your Office A Little Greener: 5 Ways To Do Your Part

A few days ago, NASA launched a rocket to Mars. In that rocket was an SUV sized rover whose job it is to see if there is or ever was the possibility of life on Mars. I know. It’s quite freaky, isn’t it? While I do have a handful of close friends who work at NASA, I must admit that I don’t know the specific reason NASA sent the rover to Mars, unless it’s to find out if maybe, we can live up there on The Red Planet one day.

In the meantime, we have a pretty good hunk of rock right now, one that would last a lot longer if we all took the time to be a little nicer to it. So, in the spirit of saving the world, here are a few things you can do to make your workspace a greener, cleaner place.

Refillable Pens

Here’s an out-of-the-box way to lower the amount of trash your office produces. Instead of the trusty old bag of Bic pens that you buy from Amazon every few months, invest in some refillable ink pens. What’s that? What if you lose your pen? You’d be surprised how well people take care of something when they know it’s not easily replaced. If you need ideas, Parker makes some very affordable refillable pens and who doesn’t like writing with a fountain pen?

Look Into The Future

While company trips can be enjoyable, traveling across the country for a meeting, or even across town can leave a sizable carbon footprint. Instead, put both feet into the 21st century and start video chatting. These days you can use Skype or Apple’s Facetime on your computer, tablet — even your phone. The technology is around and it’s even free. That means there’s no reason not to use it.

Related: Don’t Like Networking Meetings? Network Online Instead. Part Two

Think Small

I may have ripped that slogan off. I seem to remember seeing a magazine add that featured those same words, but I can’t place it so it stays. When I say think small, I’m referring to your computer size. Using laptops is a great way to save money and help the environment. Laptops use up to 5 times less energy than desktop computers.

Breathe Easy

When was the last time you changed the filter in your air conditioner? Dirty filters lead to dust filled air which leads to sore throats, head colds and sick days. Not to mention the fact that your HVAC system has to work harder when it’s being choked up by dirty filters which costs you more money.

Work From Home

One of the best things you can do to make your office a greener place is to get rid of it all together. I don’t mean stop working, obviously, although I wouldn’t mind taking a year or two off. What I mean is working from home. Think about it. Working from home means no commute, no extra rent or utilities. If you have employees, take a look at the second tip. These days everything can be done via telecommuting, conference calls and video conferencing.

Related: Time Management Tips for Working From Home

These are just a few of the ways you can make your office more environmentally friendly. Remember, no one’s asking you to join Greenpeace. All it takes to make a difference is a few small changes, you’ll be happy you did your part.

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Image: “Eco City Concept/Shutterstock“