Green at work - Part 1

Not everyone has the ability to control their work surroundings, but many of us can change a few things to be more sustainable.  I’ll break the list of ideas into two posts so it doesn’t get so long.  Some of these seem pretty obvious, but I only see a few people doing them.  

• Turn off the lights in areas that are not occupied.  This includes conference rooms, offices, and common areas at the end of the day.  If you are in charge of the office, consider adding motion sensors to the light switches.
• Set electronic items such as copiers, printers, computers to hibernate after short periods of inactivity.  Some can be put on timers or power strips to save even the small amount of power used during hibernation.  Most large electronic items have energy saver settings.  
• One of the people in my office collects the coffee grounds and filters for use in his home garden.  Used coffee grounds are excellent fertilizer.
• Start or participate in an office recycling program.  Learn what things can be recycled in your area and how they need to be collected and managed.  
• Bring your own plates, silverware, and cups instead of using disposables.  Keep a dishtowel at your desk to dry your dishes instead of using the paper towels at the common kitchen area sinks.  ​