Throughout the world, people are taking a more active role in the preservation of our environment.
With warnings of global warming and the outcry arising from misuse of natural resources, many are taking a more eco friendly approach.
There are ways that you can turn your home office into an eco friendly space through supplies, furnishings, recycling efforts and energy conservation.
Turn Office Supplies Green
A great place to start greening your office is by purchasing environmentally-conscious office supplies. You can purchase pens, pencils and other general office supplies that are recycled. You can find many of these products through online environmental product guides.
There are also a number of online office supply stores that specialize in eco friendly products. The Green Office offers thousands of products that are made with sustainable or recyclable materials.
When purchasing paper for your printer and copier, use recycled paper. Save the amount of paper you use by photocopying two-sided when possible and using both sides of other paper before recycling. Instead of writing a letter, sending a paper copy of invoices or reports, use email. In addition to saving resources, it is faster and less expensive.
Recycle your used printer and copier toner cartridges. Many local office supply stores offer recycling programs that will give you benefits, such as coupons and savings certificates. For convenience, when you shop for new cartridges take your old ones in for recycling. Purchase remanufactured ink cartridges and toner refills. These are made of post-consumer products and are often slightly less expensive.
Recyclable, Sustainable Furnishings
The use of natural fibers, such as organic cotton and linen can be used in upholstery to bolster your eco friendly home office. Select furniture made from sustainable wood, such as pine. Search for furniture that is made from lumber that has been harvested from well-managed forestry practices. Check for those pieces that have been manufactured in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which guarantees environmentally responsible harvesting.
You may also consider fiberboard and veneer instead of solid wood furniture. With the level of manufacturing today, veneers are stronger than solid wood and are of very high quality. For your own health, consider furniture that uses finishes and sealants that are free from volatile organic compounds (VOC), which can pollute the air with harmful vapors.
Use wood laminate or bamboo flooring. If you want to add carpeting or rugs, select those that contain low toxic dies and are recyclable. There are companies now that provide carpet tiles that are made of recycled materials and you can trade them in for new ones when you tire of them.
Recycling and Energy Conservation
Set up your office for easy recycling. Place bins in your office for different recycling categories, such as paper and ink cartridges. Instead of purchasing brand-new office equipment, purchase reconditioned items. These are generally warranted as well. Donate or trade in your old equipment when upgrading.
Conserve energy by installing lined window treatments or use lined bamboo shades. Replace tungsten light bulbs with LED lighting, which not only conserve energy but last much longer. Consider positioning your desk to maximize the light from windows during the day without having to turn on lights.
Turn off your computer when you are finished for the day. It does continue to draw power when in screensaver mode. Also turn off printers, faxes and copiers. You may want to invest in a power strip so that you merely turn off one switch for all equipment power. Replace your CRT monitor for an energy-saving LCD flat screen. This will save you in energy cost and in space.
An eco-friendly home office will leave you feeling good about doing your part for the environment and will actually save you money in the long run. By taking small steps now, you are paving the way for future environmentally conscious practices for your business. So, take a look at your supply, furnishing and energy needs to determine where you can make changes.