If you’re working at home, undoubtedly you’ve at least started the process of putting together your home office. There is a special challenge when it comes to creating the perfect eco-friendly home office that will meet all of your needs, not break the bank and still be convenient. This is especially important when first starting up. Make no mistake, I am not telling you to go home and throw out everything that you have and go out and spend a bundle of money, that you should be saving or putting into your new business, on environmentally sound office equipment. If you’ve already got a computer, a desk, office equipment and so on, there are still things you can do to help. However, if you’re looking to buy equipment, I’ve got some tips for you too.
Think twice before you print. Not every email or document that comes across your inbox needs to be printed out for posterity. Just imagine that for a second. How much paper would you be using if you did that? Also, try to print double sided whenever possible. Instead of getting paper bills, contact your bank or the company and ask for electronic billing instead. Instead of getting magazines or newsletters in the mail, see if you can get them electronically. Investigate electronic signing software so that you can sign documents in your email as opposed to printing and faxing documents.
Hold on to your scraps. If you do have one-sided printouts that you no longer need to hold on to, use them as notepaper. I kept one of my stacking file trays empty for just that reason. I throw any paper in there that I don’t need anymore. This way, I can grab it and make notes on it any time. Also, putting a clip on some paper and leave it hanging by your phone for messages or staple some sheets together to give to your kids for coloring on long trips or appointments can be a great way to reuse extra paper. Make sure that you’re not using anything with sensitive information on the other side. And always remember that the more convenient it is, the more likely you are to use it. If you do have magazines that are important to your business or you just can’t live without, thinking about donating them to your local library, salon or doctor’s office when you’ve finished with them. If you’re worried about identity theft, just cut out the part of the magazine with your name and address on it and voila, you’ve got a great donation.
Recycle. This one seems so obvious, but can sometimes be the most difficult. To keep with our mantra of convenience, put a box or recycling bin directly next to your desk. This way, there is no excuse or extra step for you. You can also check into finding a company that picks up and recycles shredded material if your local recycling plant won’t take it after it’s been shredded. Also, keep up the recycling effort by purchasing recycled content office materials. Most office supply stores now have store brand recycled products such as paper, envelopes and packing materials at competitive prices.
Save energy. If you do need to purchase new office equipment, look into buying equipment with the Energy Star label. They use a lot less energy than products without the label. Keep in mind that buying a laptop can save you a lot more energy than using a desktop CPU and can also be more convenient when traveling. Also, instead of just locking your computer and letting the screen saver run, turn off your monitor. Remember that saving energy can mean big savings too.
Lighting. When thinking about how to best light your office, choose compact fluorescents instead of incandescent bulbs. They can use up to 75% less energy and can last up to 10 years. A good light on or just next to your desk can also allow you to keep an overhead lighting off, often using less electricity.
Go around the block. If you do need a desk or other office furniture, thinking about going to a Goodwill or other secondhand store. It can often be a lot cheaper and it’s one less thing that will probably end up in a landfill. Also, think out of the box when it comes to office furniture. If you’ve got the room a table may be a better fit for you than an actual desk with drawers. Look around and find something that fits your needs, budget and your personality.
When you take a moment, you can usually find ways to help out Mother Earth just a little without being too hard on your wallet or even causing yourself any inconvenience!