All of us care about doing our part to help and preserve the environment. But in difficult financial times like today, other things tend to be at the forefront of our thoughts. Like keeping our jobs so we can pay our rent and live our lives. But there's no need to choose just one priority; you can do both! There are plenty of ways to be greener at work. And they're not just beneficial for the environment... they'll also help to save your company money. Which means taking a bit of green initiative at work may just impress your boss and protect your job while you're at it.
1. Go digital. Really. Everyone says that we live in a digital world. Everything is done on computers, and there's no real need for paper. But if that's true, why is so much paper used on a daily basis in your average company? The more documents and correspondence you can keep digital at your office, the more you'll be doing to help the environment. Keep your records and files on the computer instead of on paper. Don't print out documents that you can easily look over on your screen. Use the editing and notation functions in programs like Microsoft Word to prevent any need for printing. Not only will this have a huge effect on the amount of paper you use (and the number of trees you kill), it will also save your company loads of money in the long run.
2. Switch it Off. When I first got a computer, I was told that leaving the computer on would prevent my having as many problems with it. That it would make my life easier. But now I know that this simply isn't true, and that leaving my PC on standby wastes tons of energy during the course of the night... and gives me very little practical benefit.
How many people at your company leave their computer on when they leave for the day? Do you? If so, switching off any electronic equipment during the night will both hugely reduce energy consumption, and will save your company money. The best option? Get a power strip with an off switch, and turn off all power to your computer, printer, etc. before you leave at night. Really want to impress your boss? Suggest that you make this a department-wide policy.
3. Stay home. No, this doesn't mean you should call in sick (after all, this wouldn't be likely to impress your boss). But as your commute is one of the most polluting parts of your work day, working even one day from home can cut your weekly commute by 20%. And as long as you don't spend your at-home "work day" simply surfing internet dating sites, working from home should have nothing but a positive effect on your productivity.
4. Travel greener. Can't convince your boss to allow you to telecommute? Then do your best to get to work a bit greener every day. Carpooling, biking, or taking public transport will both save the Earth from massive amounts of carbon emissions and will save you a lot of money (and often time) in the process. Don't have public transport in your city, or work too far away? Invest in a greener vehicle, if you can.
5. Buy green. Even if your workplace is almost 100% digital, you're bound to use some paper and other supplies during your typical day. Look for paper, pens, etc., made using recycled materials or with environmentally friendly methods. Even things like the soap you use in the break room kitchen or the toilet paper you have in the employee bathroom can probably be made greener than it is right now.
6. Pack your lunch. When you get up early and rush to get ready in the morning, it can be pretty tempting to skip packing a lunch and simply order out. But packing a lunch isn't just cheaper and healthier than eating out, it's also greener. Whenever you have food delivered or buy something quick at your local restaurant, it will generally result with a pile of used wrappers, Styrofoam containers, and plastic forks. Reduce this waste by packing your daily lunch in washable, reusable containers.
Author Resource:-
This article was written by Shawn Wilson, a member of the customer support team at Datepad, where internet dating is always free. Datepad has a massive directory of informative dating articles along with a great list of dating site reviews on their dating blog.
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