10 ways to go green at the workplace

Greener business process and energy-efficient office or workplaces motivate employees more, which can increase productivity. Not sure where to start when it comes to going green? Here are 10 ways to go green at the workplace:

Energy-efficient printing

Invest in a modern energy-efficient office printer to save on energy, paper, & other costs. Install specialized software to detect and identify empty areas, like pages left with nothing but a single line containing a web address or something else not-so-important. This will reduce excess paper usage and save up to 17% of paper and over 50 pounds in expenses per user annually.

Go for recycled paper

The recycling of paper is the process by which used or waste paper is turned into new paper products. Printable paper can be fully recycled, and it’s better for the environment than virgin paper. So, try to go with options that are 100% recycled. They will not affect the quality of the print or be any less readable than other non-recycled paper but will require up to 70% less energy, in comparison to creating paper from pulp.

Corporate Wellness App

CircleCare

CircleCare employee engagement platform provides companies with a platform and tools to motivate their employees via positive reinforcements and rewards to establish and maintain healthy lifestyle choices.

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“Remanufactured” Ink and Toner Cartridges

If you’ve ever run out of ink (and who hasn’t?) you know that printer ink and toner cartridges can get very expensive, very fast. An option for many people is to buy remanufactured or refilled cartridges to cut down on the cost of a new replacement. Not only do they cost about 15% less than new ones, but reused cartridges also save roughly 2.5 pounds of plastic and metal, plus half a gallon oil used in manufacturing a new one.

Utilize Natural Light

Almost 40% of the electricity consumption of the average office building comes from artificial lighting. Often times, natural light is available and does a better job than artificial lighting. Designing the window to allow more light in can save a great deal of electricity.

Switch to LED bulbs

CFLs use 25-35% of the energy used by incandescent bulbs, but if you really want to make the biggest environmental impact on the environment, choosing LEDs is the way to go. They use more than 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. As they are much more efficient than CFL or incandescent bulbs, by implementing this, you save on energy costs, reduce waste, and this will lead to less bulb replacement expenses.

Portable air conditioners save on cooling costs

One of the easiest ways to cut back on your energy costs is to utilize a portable air conditioning unit instead of Central cooling. Central cooling is not as effective, as it often cools empty rooms and unoccupied areas. A portable air conditioner allows setting comfortable temperatures at areas that are used only.

Green commute to work

The average person in a big city spends almost 45 hours every year commuting through heavy traffic during rush hours. Instead of wasting time in traffic, you can opt for a greener alternative to driving alone in your car and choose to cycle or walk, use public transport, bike or carpool with coworkers who are headed your direction. It will not only help reduce the greenhouse effect but help you to be healthier.

Opt for smaller screens

Reducing the size of the screen by 4 cm can reduce energy consumption by up to 30%. It is a well-known fact that smaller screens drain less energy.

Skip the lift

A lift or elevator consumes a lot of electricity. Taking the stairs is suitable for both you and the environment.

Set computers to sleep

Eliminating energy drain from computers and other hardware that is not in use can notably decrease energy consumption. A computer that is set to sleep after a short period of non-usage will reduce consumption by up to 70%.