30 Ways to Go Green at Work RIGHT NOW - FlexJobs

30 Ways to Go Green at Work RIGHT NOW - FlexJobs30 Ways to Go Green at Work RIGHT NOW -Happy Earth Day All month, has been going green, both on our blog and in our business practices. Today, we want to encourage members, employers, and readers to do the saatkorn Weve compiled a complete list from our previous blog posts, as well as added a bunch of new tips, to show everyone the huge number of ways you can go green at work and at home RIGHT NOW. (Updated April 2014)Here are 30 ideas for how to go green at work.Reduce or eliminate your paper usage. Print on both sides of paper. Recycle every scrap that you might otherwise throw away.Increase other recycling efforts with glass, plastic, aluminum. If your garbage collection company limits what you can recycle, find a recycling organization in your area to give your other less common recyclables.Use CFL or LED light bulbs and opt for natural light when possible. Artificial lighting accounts for 44 percent of the electricity use in office buildings according to the Sierra Club.Purchase or grow office plants to offset VOCs and CO2 emissions.Turn off all electrical appliances (computers, lights, etc.) when not in use.Use ceiling fans and natural ventilation instead of air conditioning.Use recycled paper and toner cartridges when printing is necessary.Keep used coffee grounds and later use them to feed your indoor and outdoor plants. They add nutrients to the soil. Theyre also a great addition to your compost pile.Donate books and manuals to local workforce development groups and charity organizations. This also applies to old laptops, printers and other office equipment.Cut used paper into fourths and use the blank sides for phone messages, reminders, and lists, rather than tossing it in the trash.Dont pack with peanuts. If youre shipping from your home office, utilize alternative methods of securing items for transport. Air-filled bags work wonderfully. Also, use appropriately-sized boxes rather than boxes that are m uch larger than the items being shipped.Ask your boss if you can telecommute to work even for one day each week to cut down on gas waste and carbon emissions.Change the way you commute to work opt to carpool, bike, or walk (if possible) rather than driving your car all by yourself.Utilize file-sharing websites like DropBox or Google Docs rather than printing and sharing or maintaining paper files. Or use your companys network, cd-roms, zip drives, and external hard-drives to store documents that youd otherwise print and file.Switch to non-toxic cleaning products.Switch to recycled office supplies whenever possible like high post-consumer recycled content (PCR) paper.Plug all of your electronics into power strips which you can easily turn off at the end of the day.Recycle empty ink and toner cartridges. Office supply companies like Staples and Office Depot will take your old cartridges and give cash incentives for recycling themTurn off the lights when you leave a conference room or any other shared space. Make it a habit to be the last person out and flick the switch.Stop it with the bottled water, already Use a reusable water bottle or bring a regular old glass to work and fill up at the water cooler.Bring your lunch to work in reusable containers rather than plastic bags or aluminum foil. Dont forget regular silverware and reusable napkins.Reuse old file folders. If you flip them inside out, youve got a fresh folder and tab to use, rather than trashing them for new ones.Make it a point to be taken off paper mailing lists from conferences, trade publications, etc Give them a call or send them an email and ask to be removed from their mailings. If you totenstill want to hear from them, opt for electronic delivery instead.Layer your clothing instead of turning the heat up in your office.Put your computer to sleep when you walk away during the day. Most keyboards have a button that allows users to quickly put the computer to sleep. Its a cinch to turn off and on , and itll help conserve energy.Instead of traveling for meetings, whenever possible try to use video or web conferencing services instead. Bonus This is green for the environment AND your budget.Save and reuse packaging materials rather than tossing them.Opt for online media rather than paper version, including magazines, newspapers, trade journals, and other publications.For the holidays, forgo the traditional business holiday card and send e-cards instead. They can be animated, include music and video, and be more lively (and more green) than their traditional paper counterparts.Turn off the tap water while you wash your hands.We know youve got them, so feel free to add your great tips to go green at work in the comments section