How to Go Green in the Office - By: blakemitchell

“Going green” is becoming the way to do things in many aspects of people’s lives. The office is no exception. Many individuals spend time in the workplace more than they do at home. As such, the office is one place where the peoples’ actions can have huge environmental impacts. A greener workplace leaves a lighter ecological footprint, a healthier and more productive workplace, and just overall good news.

Digitize. It is quite ironic that in the Digital Age the average American office worker goes through about 10,000 pages of paper a year, most of which gets used once or twice and then tossed. Paper manufacturing contributes to worldwide deforestation and continuous carbon dioxide emission. You can contribute to this reduction by printing on both sides of the paper, or better yet, keep digital backups of all your documents.

Choose eco-friendly supplies. You can find greener and more energy efficient versions of common office supplies such as light bulbs and air conditioning systems. Artificial lighting accounts for about 44 percent of the electricity use in office buildings. Make it a habit to turn off office equipment when not in use and let in as much natural light as you can.

Optimize energy use. For many office workers, a computer is the central tool at work. Optimizing the energy settings of computers and other devices can also be a modest power- and money-saver. Enable your computer’s energy-saving feature in your office space in Ballston VA and make sure to shut them down complete at the end of the day. Placing them on “Standby” mode will still make them draw power even when not in use.

Commute smarter. American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting in rush hour traffic to their office space in Ballston VA. This adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic jams. Many people are turning to public transportation, but there are other options as well. Walking or biking is a good exercise and leaves no carbon footprint. Carpooling is also a great way to reduce fuel consumption.

Redesign the Workspace. Redesigning an office space in Ballston VA offers unlimited possibilities. You can start with good furniture, good lighting, and even good air circulation. Choose office equipment made from recycled materials. Incandescent light bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents. Recently, there has been a growing demand for LED lighting that uses minute amounts of energy.

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