Simple steps in making your office more eco-friendly

Cutting overhead costs is so important for a business navigating the recession. One great way you can do this, and improve your reputation as a company, is to go green in the office. Small changes amount to massive savings and carbon reductions. These approaches won’t necessarily require a total revamp involving an office refurbishment for example, but here’s what you can do to make a difference:

Lighting

If your bulbs aren’t energy efficient yet, what have you been playing at? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, they use 75% less energy (which saves you a lot of money). Always switch off lights in uninhabited rooms and maybe even consider installing light sensors, which will automatically switch off the power if nobody is present.

Turn It Down

In winter, everyone will want the thermostat turned up high. However, turning it down just a few degrees can save so much energy. Encourage staff to wear jumpers and fleeces to work, rather than parading around the building in t-shirts during the winter months.

Print Less

Unless you drastically need a document, share files online. Offices are notorious for wasting mounds of paper. Always double-side, if you do print, and use old documents as note-taking paper.

Turn It Off

Make sure that employees switch off their computers when they are finished for the day. You can cut back 50% of wasted energy this way and save yourself a lot of money off your energy bill.

Recycle

Do the environment a solid and set up a variety of bins around the office. Make recycling easy for staff and they are more likely to do it.

Pioneer Carpooling

Transport is a massive cost for most of your workers, so encourage carpooling. Establish a program and provide incentives for people who join, such as a half-day off once a month, or priority parking. Other than taking cars off the road, it also encourages friendship and co-operation between employees, which improves team work.

Where car-sharing fails, encourage people to use public transport, or even bike to work – that might mean installing a changing room and shower in the building, for employees who want to hose down after pedaling to the office.

Change the Kitchen

Instead of offering the cheapest coffee and tea products you can get your hands on, buy organic and fair-trade products. This means you’re supporting fair wages for workers in developing countries, as well as supporting product production without the use of pesticides, which damage the environment.

Provide everyone with their own special mug and glass, so no-one uses disposable cups or bottles. This can be fun! People could write their names and draw pictures on their own, plain mug.

Education

The best way to get employees on board with environmental issues is to educate them. Show them why it’s important to be as eco-friendly as possible around the office. Create a collection of staff, specifically there to brainstorm green ideas for the future of the company. Encourage leaders to be good role models and motivate their teams.