There have been a huge number of "Green Office" guides
issued in the past couple of years, all of which make every
attempt to cover the most important actions every
individual can take to reduce the impact of daily business
activities on the environment. Here is a list of the 9 most
obvious and yet too often ignored simple, cost-free actions
which can form part of all office discipline:
1. Turn off your PC This is simple.
Research shows that approx £35 per annum is spend and
1,000lbs of carbon dioxide is created for each PC left
switched on continuously. Imagine the savings for overnight
and weekends - and switch off.
2. Turn off other people's PCs
If the IT facilities management team is not doing
maintenance work out of office hours there is no reason why
anyone's PC should be left on. So encouraging any colleague
to switch off is a good idea. You might get a straight
look, but there again; your intervention might be
appreciated.
3. Turn off the printer, the scanner, the fax machine
Wherever there is a glowing red light, there is electricity
being used. This is the case, of course, even if machines
are on standby. For all communal machines such as printers,
scanners etc, it is a good idea to ensure everyone knows
how to switch them on and off - and indeed to create a rota
of responsibility so that everyone knows who is looking
after the systems each day.
4. Put used paper back in the printer
If you have printed out something and realised you no
longer need it, just turn the sheet of paper over and put
it back in the printer. If this is set down as a regular
practice, then individuals can check if they need the paper
to be fresh - this is not the case if the document id just
for their own use, but of course it is important otherwise.
5. Email footer
Add an environmental message to the bottom of your email
signature - it might help to prevent just a few less
unnecessary email printouts.
6. Get rid of your bin
Although 70 per cent of office waste is recyclable only
eight per cent ever makes it as far as a recycling bin.
Take away that convenient waste-bin right by each desk and
this will help encourage less waste at source, and
encourage people to get up and use the recycling bin.
7. Open the blinds
It is extraordinary how some office keep the blinds closed
in the same position constantly - summer or winter. Open
the blinds on sunny day, and surely fewer lights will need
to be kept on during the day.
8. Move your plants and furniture
Having pot plants in the office is great - but having them
where they block the natural light is not so great.
Similarly, badly-placed furniture in front of radiators or
other heating sources is not a good idea. Anything that
blocks natural light and interferes with cooling or heating
circulation should be dealt with.
9. Encourage thermostat adjustment
Even if you do not have access or the authority to change
the thermostat settings in your office or building, there
is no harm in reminding your company's facilities team that
a reduction of 1 degree in the temperature can save up to
10% per year in heating costs.
By reviewing and implementing these 9 simple steps, your
office can make its own practical contribution to the
debate of environmental responsibility.
----------------------------------------------------
Jimi St. Pierre writes for several Office Equipment
suppliers in the UK, including Principal IT systems
consultants. The impact of Office Equipment on the
environment are discussed further at ==>>
http://www.principalcorp.co.uk
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