How to Make Your Office More Eco-Friendly

As climate continues to lead to more extreme weather conditions and governments around the world enact stricter pollution laws, many companies are looking for ways to contribute to preserving our planet's health.

If you don't have a large budget for renovating your office into a modern eco-friendly technology center, don't worry! You can take several affordable steps that can completely transform your office into a more sustainable and healthy operation. Read on to learn everything about making your workplace eco-friendly!

Turn Off Equipment at Night

The production of electricity to support the city and its residents and businesses within it is a significant source of pollution and waste. When your office isn't in use, turn off unnecessary equipment. This should include copiers, monitors, lighting, coffee makers and other devices. If you operate 24/7 but have fewer staff in the evening, turn off electronics in unused areas.

Create an Eco-Friendly Team

Many of us have plans to live and work in a more sustainable environment, but implementing and adhering to this new approach requires teamwork. Therefore, create a 'Green Team' that not only informs your workplace about current efforts toward greater eco-friendliness but also develops an action plan so everyone is involved.

This team can also help with purchasing equipment, prioritizing energy efficiency whenever possible.

Generate Enthusiasm Through Engaging Goals

Another way to create a culture of an eco-friendly workplace is to introduce friendly competitions between departments related to sustainability. For example, host a workplace or cubicle cleanup event where the department with the most recyclable materials gets a pizza party.

Use Renewable Energy Sources in Your Work Environment

Some companies don't invest in green energy sources due to unfamiliarity with these new technologies. Start small: install solar lighting on the parking lot and gradually transition to installing solar panels on the roof to power devices in the break area. Consider creating plug-free charging stations where laptops and smartphones are charged using solar panels through windows with USB ports.

Minimize Paper Usage

A significant source of waste in the world is paper. Transitioning to a paperless office has its challenges, but benefits extend beyond environmental gains and operational costs. Imagine how much money your company could save on equipment and printing supplies if it fully (or nearly fully) went digital.

Also consider how much space your office takes up for storing traditional files and papers. Can these elements be digitized and used for more useful purposes? While this may seem impossible, dedicating time each day to scan this information into an online database makes this task extremely achievable.

Finally, ensure your break area is completely paper-free! It's more efficient to wash reusable cups and utensils than recycle paper cups and plastic utensils.

Increase Natural Lighting in the Building

Natural light affects not only mood and alertness but also saves electricity. If your office has many windows, consider rearranging workstations so they are within 20 feet. You can also replace some interior lighting with LED bulbs, which are more reliable than traditional light bulbs and consume less energy.

Review Office Supplies Used

Reducing costs on office supplies is a common goal for any company. However, at what environmental cost does this economic gain come? Try purchasing eco-friendly brands when possible, or at least the products you use most often. Supporting environmental awareness outside of your company's own interests is always a good idea.

Be More Economical with Climate Control

We all have that colleague who is always too hot or cold and constantly adjusts the thermostat. The reality is there are cheaper ways to manage climate control so you don't have to wear a sweater at your desk in summer.

Consider setting the thermostat to 75 or 76 degrees when using air conditioning in summer and between 68 and 70 degrees in winter. This will make it easier for the system to maintain a consistent temperature. Also consider changing windows that receive the most sunlight. Glass acts like a magnifying glass and can quickly raise room temperature by several degrees in just an hour. Commercial window film in Charleston, North Carolina is cheaper than constantly running the AC.

Invest in Several Plants

Commercial buildings often face air quality issues due to their size and difficulties with efficient fresh air circulation. Plants at your workplace are a great way to solve this issue and remind everyone of your organization's commitment to sustainability. You might want to avoid flowering varieties so people with allergies on your team don't suffer.

Encourage Eco-Friendly Commuting

Another way to make your office more eco-friendly is to encourage the team to use carpooling, public transportation or other forms of travel. Consider combining delivery and regular vehicle maintenance if you have a commercial fleet. Transmission fluid or motor oil leaks can cause devastating damage to drinking water sources.

In addition to more eco-friendly commuting habits, minimize unnecessary trips by holding meetings online when possible.

Conclusion

The biggest challenge for any office to become eco-friendly is engaging the entire team and overcoming bad habits. You can set up new recycling bins in the break area, but they won't help if employees don't separate plastic from paper or metal. If you truly want to create an eco-friendly workplace, provide regular support and guidance so everyone is on the same page.