Earth Day at Work

From the U.S. government's Earthday.gov site, here are some tips on how to take action at work.

Commute for the environment

• Start a carpool or walk, bike, or use mass transportation instead of driving.


• Encourage your employer to be a "Best Workplace for Commuters".


• Learn how every trip you take can affect air quality.

Green your building

• Apply green building principles to your office buildings. They affect natural resources, land use, energy use, worker and public health, and community well being. With sustainable design - or green building - tools, the federal government can protect human health and worker productivity, reduce costs and risks, and build with greater responsibility towards future generations. Green Building principles lead to building in greater harmony with the environment, consciously sustaining and renewing natural resources.


• Go Green with GSA. The U.S. Government Services Administration has many environmental initiatives to help federal agencies Go Green. These initiatives range from green products to constructing and leasing green buildings.


• Clean Green. Using environmentally preferable cleaning supplies helps reduce pollution.

Reduce energy use

• Use Energy Star's energy-efficient office products. Make sure that you turn on the energy saving features.


• Turn off your computer monitor, printers, copy machines, and the lights when they are not being used.


• If possible, take the stairs instead of using the elevator.


• Use the consumer's guide to energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle office products

• Buy recycled content, remanufactured, and recyclable office products, and recycle them when appropriate (including e-cycling electronics). At a minimum, buy recycled paper and recycle it again. See the small business guide to pollution prevention for more information: http://www.epa.gov/ecycling/index.htm.


• Clean Out Your Files and recycle papers you no longer need. Many organizations sponsor cleaning weeks; check with your office management staff.


• Use spell check and proofread before you print or copy. Print double sided whenever possible. Minimize the amount of paper you use.


• Buy reusable office supplies instead of disposable supplies.


• Set up an area to store and exchange reusable office supplies, such as binders


• Recycle fluorescent bulbs properly to prevent hazardous mercury from entering the environment.
  

In addition to these items, check the Environmental Protection Agency's "At the Workplace" page.