10 ways to make your office green

By   Kukil Bora, SiliconIndia

Wednesday, 12 January 2011, 05:24 IST  

Bangalore: Everyone loves to be in an eco-friendly environment and with this spirit of going green;
most of us have taken various environment-friendly steps at home. But what about doing the
same at work? Taking the steps to greening your office doesn't have to cost you much. There are
very simple changes that can make your work-place a better to place to be in. Check out 10 easy
steps to green your office.

Use recyclable office papers

Wastage paper in offices is one of the main issues which need to be eradicated. Recycled versions
of paper, envelopes, pads, post-it notes are available these days. You can buy recycled paper
made from a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content.

Use of soy-based ink

Ink made from soybeans is better for the environment. It has lower levels of volatile organic
compounds than ink made from petroleum. Apart from this, it makes paper easier to recycle
because it's easier to remove in the de-inking process. Another key aspect of soy-based ink is that
it produces brighter and sharper colors.

Use laptops instead of desktops

Compared to desktops, laptops consume less energy. Laptops run on just a third of the energy
used by a desktop PC. Compared to desktop computers the components in laptops are smaller and
more efficient - requiring less electricity to run and are therefore responsible for less CO2
emissions.

Monitor lighting usage

It's very important to cut down on unnecessary use of lighting in order to save electricity. Here
replacing tungsten bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps can be a better option as they consume
20 percent less energy. It can also make an immediate cost savings of between 50-80 percent as
well.

Put your computer and equipment on a power strip

There are many devices that consume electricity even when they are not in use. Putting a power
strip between the outlet and your equipment can be very useful here as it helps you fully shut off
anything that doesn't need to be running.

Turn off devices

Turn off the lights and all electrical appliances when not in use or when you are leaving office. You
must set computers and other equipment to go to sleep after a period of inactivity or turn them
completely off. IBM estimates it saved $17.8 million worldwide in 1991 alone by encouraging
employees to turn off equipment and lights when not needed.
Go for green power
There are many utility companies that offer a renewable power option for a small increase in price.
If you can make a much larger investment, you can go for installing solar panels or solar hot water
at your office.

Ditch the bottled water habit

The longer you have that bottle, the more likely it is to leach gross chemicals into your water.
Moreover, offices are major offenders in terms of throwing plastic water bottles. A good way out is
to get a filter, and have everyone use a ceramic or glass cup.

Do away with vending machine waste

No matter how useful a coffee-making vending machine is, it is not at all good for the
environment. It produces a lot of waste. If the office vending machine dispenses its own cups, it is
essential to make sure they are recyclable. Apart from this, these machines use more energy than
is needed to perform the task.

A green office coordinator

Assigning someone whose sole job is to keep track of office recycling and energy use would be
very helpful for the attempt to make the office environment-friendly. Paying somebody to look into
such matters may sound irrelevant to many, but it will worth it when you get your utility bill.