The modern workplace has changed significantly from the days when ash trays sat atop desks and paper memos were the primary form of office communication. New technologies and shifting philosophies have transformed the typical office into a more efficient and socially responsible workplace. Though you may believe that "going green" requires massive changes, there are many small and simple ways to make your office more environmentally-friendly.
One of the best places to start during this process is with the office personnel themselves. By encouraging employees to recycle their paper, cardboard and plastics, you can greatly reduce how much rubbish your office sends to the land fill. You can take this process a step further by keeping a compost bin in the office kitchen and encouraging staff to dispose of their compostable rubbish (tea bags, orange peels, apple cores, etc.) there. In addition to recycling and composting, businesses can incentivise their employees to bike or walk to work as a way of cutting back on harmful carbon emissions.
Another major area to look at when "going green" is your office's energy consumption. It is very likely that you are using up more electricity and gas than you actually need. You can make sure that you aren't lighting and heating unused rooms and hallways. Additionally, you can invest in loft insulation and draft-proofing so that heat isn't wasted. Offices that have windows and skylights can rely on natural light during the summer months and keep the artificial lighting off all together. You can also ensure that all employees shut down their computers at the day's end so that no electricity is unnecessarily consumed during non-working hours.
Finally, you can look to reduce your office's paper usage by relying more on digital technologies for communication. Email, instant messaging, slideshow presentations and video chatting are all greener alternatives to paper-based reports and memos. If the Internet in your office is slow or unreliable, it is wise to invest in high speed broadband, perhaps via a leased line, so that employees are encouraged to use paperless methods to communicate.
As you can see, it is possible to give your office a "green" upgrade without making too many intrusive changes. By encouraging green office practices, reducing energy consumption and moving toward a paperless workplace, you can drastically reduce the carbon footprint of your workplace. Aside from being more socially responsible, businesses can actually benefit financially from a "green" workplace, as sustainable energy practices lead to cheaper energy bills.
Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
