How to make your office more green

Climate change has affected how most Americans live their day-to-day lives. It seems as if more Americans have began recycling routines and put more thought into making their lifestyle more 'green.' This should also apply to the home office, so here are some quick tips to get you started on your way.

1) Buy/Recycle your office products
This one is obvious as it seems. When you buy your supplies, look for the recycled symbol on the package. Keep in mind that more than paper and plastic can be recycled. Ink and electronics can be recycled as well. Some products may say specifically they were made with 100% recycled material; try to be eco-friendly and purchase these, if possible.

2) Double side your print outs and copies.
Here is another opportunity for you to purchase an eco-friendly product--computer paper. When you're out of ink, stores such as Walgreens will refill your inkjet. Furthermore, consider purchasing soy-based ink which will give your copies more vibrant colors. Try to use each side of your paper and always remove the staples before putting it into the recycling bin. Don't forget to recycle such items as notebooks, magazines and note cards as well.

3) Be conscious of the energy & lights you use
Every office needs lights, but try changing to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) for a difference. CFL are recyclable, so don't throw them in the trash. Also, be conscious of what you have plugged in but aren't using. For instance, if a cell phone charger is plugged in but not in use, it is still using energy. It should be unplugged and replugged in when it's to be used again. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lights are 29% of an office environment. They can not only save you energy, but money as well.

4) Go paperless.
Encourage your office associates email documents or save them to a flash drive. A server may also created in order to help the associates access the documents from any location. This make take time, but it can be done. In fact, your business may also find a corporation which supplies green office supplies which makes this transition easier. Encourage the office associates to use their computers more for note-taking during meetings than notebooks. There are many strategies that could make this happen.

5) Start a suggestion box.
Ask your office associates for ideas of how the office may become more eco-friendly. If everyone works together as a team, the office may find new ways to save money and save energy. For instance, someone may suggest to work with the office's suppliers in order to purchase more earth-friendly products. Another suggestion may be to organize a carpool where everyone takes turns driving throughout the week.