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Everybody’s business
Here’s how you can create a greener workplace
2010 Green Team, continued ...Published: June 01, 2010
• GO EASY ON THE EQUIPMENT
Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day – even standby settings draw power. By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch, your whole desktop setup can be turned off at once. (But make sure you power down the inkjet printers first, so that the cartridges are sealed.) Printers, scanners and other equipment can be unplugged until they’re needed. And, of course, turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms.
• SAVE SOME TREES
Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets. Review documents on-screen rather than printing them out. Send e-mails instead of paper letters. And for those tasks that do require it, use recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and a minimum of chlorine bleaching, and print on both sides of the page. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material. You can even go a few steps farther and use only pens and pencils that are made of recycled materials, as well as refillable pens and markers.
• TAKE THE HIGH ROAD
American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. That’s 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. Carpooling, biking, walking or a creative combination of the three can help ease the impact. And if you must commute by car, consider buying a hybrid, electric vehicle, motorcycle or scooter, or using a car-sharing service.
• REDESIGN YOUR WORKSPACE
Start with good furniture, good lighting and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents, and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lamps that use miniscule amounts of energy. And then there’s the always-free natural daylight – it has been proven to improve worker productivity and satisfaction. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints and materials will keep employees healthy.
• ENJOY A SENSIBLE LUNCH
Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest – and healthiest – way to eat at work. But if you choose delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order – it’s more efficient than many separate ones. Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils and napkins. If you go out for lunch, try biking or walking to the restaurant instead of driving.
Source: Planet Green
OC METRO'S 2010 GREEN TEAM
Poseidon Resources | Green Foam Blanks | Alere
The Costa Mesa Green Home | e-Recycling of California
The Irvine Co. | Kaiser Permanente Irvine Medical Center
B. Braun Medical Inc. | TowerJazz Semiconductor | UPS
Waste Management of Orange County | Nova Vita Salon & Spa
Irvine Ranch Water District | OCB Reprographics | City of Irvine
Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group & the City of Huntington Beach
Stantec Consulting | Rent A Green Box | Yard House Restaurants
McCarthy Building Cos. | Miocean Foundation | NuWa Textiles
Toshiba America Business Solutions | Cox Communications
Sustainability Leadership Program, UC Irvine Extension
You can create a greener workplace
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Set computers to energy-saving settings and make sure to shut them down when you leave for the day – even standby settings draw power. By plugging hardware into a power strip with an on/off switch, your whole desktop setup can be turned off at once. (But make sure you power down the inkjet printers first, so that the cartridges are sealed.) Printers, scanners and other equipment can be unplugged until they’re needed. And, of course, turn off the lights in unoccupied rooms. • SAVE SOME TREES Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets. Review documents on-screen rather than printing them out. Send e-mails instead of paper letters. And for those tasks that do require it, use recycled paper with a high percentage of post-consumer content and a minimum of chlorine bleaching, and print on both sides of the page. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material. You can even go a few steps farther and use only pens and pencils that are made of recycled materials, as well as refillable pens and markers. • TAKE THE HIGH ROAD American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. That’s 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. Carpooling, biking, walking or a creative combination of the three can help ease the impact. And if you must commute by car, consider buying a hybrid, electric vehicle, motorcycle or scooter, or using a car-sharing service. • REDESIGN YOUR WORKSPACE Start with good furniture, good lighting and good air. Furniture can be manufactured from recycled materials. Incandescent bulbs can be replaced with compact fluorescents, and there is an ever-growing selection of high-end LED desk lamps that use miniscule amounts of energy. And then there’s the always-free natural daylight – it has been proven to improve worker productivity and satisfaction. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints and materials will keep employees healthy. • ENJOY A SENSIBLE LUNCH Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest – and healthiest – way to eat at work. But if you choose delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order – it’s more efficient than many separate ones. Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils and napkins. If you go out for lunch, try biking or walking to the restaurant instead of driving. Source: Planet Green OC METRO'S 2010 GREEN TEAM Poseidon Resources | Green Foam Blanks | Alere The Costa Mesa Green Home | e-Recycling of California The Irvine Co. | Kaiser Permanente Irvine Medical Center B. Braun Medical Inc. | TowerJazz Semiconductor | UPS
Waste Management of Orange County | Nova Vita Salon & Spa Irvine Ranch Water District | OCB Reprographics | City of Irvine Sharp Solar Energy Solutions Group & the City of Huntington Beach Stantec Consulting | Rent A Green Box | Yard House Restaurants McCarthy Building Cos. | Miocean Foundation | NuWa Textiles Toshiba America Business Solutions | Cox Communications Sustainability Leadership Program, UC Irvine Extension You can create a greener workplace <<< BACK TO MAIN PAGE <<< BACK TO MAIN PAGE |
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