It’s no secret that the growing impact of climate change are concerning. Now, more than ever, we understand that disregarding sustainability is highly detrimental to our planet and may make it an uninhabitable place for future generations.
Are you looking for ways you can be more environmentally friendly in your everyday life? Your office is a great place to start. In this post, we’re sharing easy changes and upgrades for a greener workplace. Let’s dive in.
1. Improve Insulation
Poor insulation leads to unnecessary energy loss. Overworking heating or cooling units also increases your energy bills. Make sure every area of your office is properly insulated; in particular, weather-stripping doors and windows are important to retain energy.
2. Minimise Paper Waste
In today’s digital age, printing documents is such a waste of paper as well as ink. Embrace digitalisation by adopting relevant software and tools. Eliminating paper waste is not only better for the environment but will also reduce your expenses.
3. Switch to Renewable Electricity
Non-renewable energy is generated by burning fossil fuels, which is harmful to the environment. So what’s stopping you from switching to renewable energy? You can considerably lower your carbon footprint by using green energy at work. Head over to a comparison website to compare electricity prices on various green supported plans available in your area.
4. Maximise Natural Light
Utilising natural light is another way to reduce your overall energy consumption. Choose an office space with large windows to lower your dependence on electricity.
5. Recycled Paper
If you have to print documents, make sure your office is stocked with recycled printing paper. You can further reduce paper waste by printing double-sided.
6. Install Motion Sensors
Turning off lights when they are not in use is necessary to keep electricity bills in check and to avoid wasteful consumption. While employees should be conscious of their energy consumption, you can further prevent over-consumption by installing motion-sensor lights.
7. Replace Inefficient Lights
Incandescent and halogen lights might be doing a good job of illuminating your workspace, but they are not the most energy-efficient options available. Replace these sorts of lighting fixtures with LED lights. Although LEDs are slightly pricier than regular bulbs, they pay for themselves in the form of long-term energy savings. Moreover, they are also a lot more durable.
8. Replace Single-Use Coffee Pods
Coffee is a must for many people to keep up their productivity; however, single-use coffee pods are extremely wasteful. Instead, you should purchase sustainable alternatives such as reusable or compostable coffee pods. You should also buy eco-friendly and responsibly sourced coffee.
9. Introduce Telecommuting
The pandemic has proved that nearly every organisation is capable of incorporating telecommuting. Working from home offers advantages to the organisation as well as the employees. As a business owner, you can save on rent, utility bills, and more. On the other hand, working from home enables employees to travel less, which lowers their fuel costs and carbon emissions.
10. Purchase Second-Hand Furniture & Tech
Did you rent a new office space? Furnishing a new office space can be quite expensive. Rather than buying everything brand new, explore purchasing pre-owned furniture and decor. It’s not only eco-friendly but also much more affordable. Buying slightly used tech is also a great option.
11. Minimise Disposable Cups
Often office break rooms have plastic or Styrofoam cups for coffee and water. All of these non-biodegradable cups will end up in landfill. Replace single-use cups with reusable cups or refillable bottles.
12. Low-Flow Bathroom Fixtures
Your office space is probably wasting water without even realising it. Install low-flow flush and faucets to conserve water.
13. Encourage Green Practices
Encourage your employees to make the most of public transport or carpooling to lower carbon emission levels.
