5 cost-effective ideas to make your office go green

Did you know that there are hundreds of things you can do to make your office space more environmentally friendly? From the type of office supplies you choose to use to adjusting your office's lighting system, all you need to do is make some simple changes to help lessen your impact on earth. In addition to forwarding your ‘go green’ agenda, most of the tactics mentioned in this article will help you save money too.

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We've assembled a green office guide that consists of ideas that are easy to implement and will make a considerable difference over time.

Stationery

If carrying the soft copy of a certain document to a meeting works, there is no need to print it out as well. Following this practice can help you save thousands of rupees on printing material annually. Also, try to replace your regular paper with chlorine-free paper or paper that is made with more sustainable items like organic cotton or bamboo. However, the best option is to go digital. Whether it is printing manuals or notices for employees, circulate what you have to say via email instead.

Telecommute

Having a physical office space where all your employees gather and work under one roof might seem like the most logical route, but remote working is soon catching up and you should consider it seriously. If you allow your employees the chance to work from home, you'll not only be saving their transportation costs, but also your office electricity and other bills.

Lighting

Instead of flooding your desk with artificial lighting, open the blinds and allow natural light to fill your office space. Where artificial lighting is required, use compact fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs as they use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer. When you are smart about the lighting you use, you not only save on energy costs but also reduce unnecessary waste.

Power saving

Not many people are aware that a majority of office power is consumed by machines that are off but still plugged into a live outlet. Therefore, you should encourage your boss to make use of programs which automatically power down company computers at night. Also, encourage your colleagues to not use screen savers as they consume a whole lot of electricity.

Bathroom and kitchen

Switching to cloth napkins and towels in the kitchen and bathrooms is better than using endless rolls of toilet paper. Also, if you're repairing your toilets, look for low-flush models as toilet flushing consumes maximum water in office buildings. You should also ensure that all taps have low-flow aerators installed to reduce water wastage.

In addition to the above tips, make your office green with plants. They absorb airborne pollutants and emit oxygen into the air making the environment more comfortable for everybody.

Also read: Your startups’s ecological responsibility – it’s time to go green