Successful Ways to Go Green at Work

If you have started to go green at home, make sure that you take your green habits and values to work as well. If you are wondering what or how to achieve this, you will need recycled paper, your own mug, preferably ceramic, utensils (knife, fork and spoon) that can be reused, napkins made of cloth instead or paper, plastic containers also reusable, a power strip that can be turned off and ideally sunlight and a flow or fresh air.

Make a mental note to save paper by using mostly digital files and try to reuse paper by printing on both sides of a paper whenever it is possible and prudent. Printing at work is a necessity but try to do it only when it is necessary.

Become a leader in this movement by encouraging the company you work with to buy chlorine-free paper with high post-consumer recycled content. It is extremely green to reuse mailers and cartons as much as possible and after using paper, recycle it. Ask you HR department to promote this mindset amongst employees.

Carry your own mug so you don't have to use disposable plastic or Styrofoam cups. If possible get a ceramic mug, regardless as long as you carry your own you will make a difference by consuming less dispensable cups.

Get some of your real utensils from home and a cloth napkin and keep it at work to use for your homemade lunch. If you get takeout food, skip the napkins and plastic cutlery that they usually put in the bag.

Make it a habit to put your homemade lunch in reusable containers instead of using aluminum foil or Ziploc bags. Reusable plastic containers are made in many different shapes and sizes. You can purchase containers that have separate covered areas for dips and condiments, or even get some specifically made for sandwiches.

In your office windows allow a good amount of natural light in, open the shades when the sun is out and shining s and turn the lights off. If the temperature isn't too warm or cold, open the windows and turn off the heater or air-conditioning.

Something very feasible and that will save a lot of energy, is setting the computers to power down when they aren't being used and unplugging them over night. Office computers consume $1 billion worth of energy every year just by being on when not in use.

Offer office guests tap water in glasses (filtered off course) rather than water in bottles.

If you have a good relationship with your employer, ask your boss to consider allowing employees to work from home a few days a week, because this would cut down on commuting. This isn't always possible and depends on the employee's duties or job descriptions.