A Green Workplace

Posted on 03-16-2015

St. Patrick's Day will have you seeing green at the office as co-workers show up in their green attire. Let this sea of green inspire your office to turn a shade of green, environmentally speaking.

Green Light

No, we are not talking about the third light down on a traffic light or changing installing green light bulbs around the office.  If your office hasn't turned LED by now, then we give you the green light to go ahead and make the switch.  Yes, there are energy efficient LED tubes available to replace those fluorescent tube lighting.  And, don't just rely on man-made lighting - open the shades for more natural light to brighten the office as well as lift everyone's mood.  

Green Tissue

When your co-worker on the other side of the cubicle sounds an "achoo", look to see if that box of tissue you are handing over the divider is made from recycable products.  Don't stop there - toilet paper and paper towels should also be recycable products.  Seventh Generation is a great green brand for paper products.

Unplug

Simply turning a switch to the off position on fax machines, printers, copiers, and computers does not stop electricity from being used.  Get into the habit of unplugging machines at the end of each workday to save on energy costs and reduce energy waste.  If unplugging is not a good option, make sure computers and other machines are switched to energy-saving mode.

A Green Commute

You don't have to buy a green car to make your commute green.  Carpooling is a great way to cut down on your carbon footprint.  You will also save on fuel costs, and you will reduce the wear and tear to your automobile from daily commuting.  Speaking of cars, the next time you are in the market for a new car, look for a hybrid.

Green Bins

Now we are talking about the color green, as in green recycle bins.  By making recycle bins available around the office, employees are much more likely to participate in recycling instead of tossing soda cans or newspapers into the nearest trash can.  It will do the environment good as well as allow your employees to feel good about being a part of a positive change.  And, getting into the habit of recycling at the office may very well carry over to each employee's home.  Now, that's a change we can get behind.

Coffee Break

Purchase fair trade coffee for the break room and use recycled coffee filters or a reusable filter.  Provide coffee mugs instead of paper coffee cups or encourage employees to bring their own mug.  Having an energy-efficient dishwasher will help keep the break room free of clutter.  Have cloth towels available to cut down on paper towel useage.  

Just a few changes around the office can make a difference and keep the spirit of green alive all year - not just on March 17th.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!