You may have taken on the green movement in your home doing everything from green home remodeling to buying green cleaning products. Perhaps now you are gearing up to work in a sustainable office and wondering how you can reduce the carbon footprint in your working environment, as well.

You may be feeling, however, that it is not your jurisdiction to take this on or that you would not know where to even start. Reducing the carbon footprint in your office is most certainly something that you can take a little responsibility for and watch how others catch on, as well.

1. Lighting – If you have desktop lamps as many employees do, request some funds from petty cash and take on the task of purchasing LED light bulbs and replacing the old-fashioned type with them.
2. Recycle and Reuse – If your company does not have a recycle and reuse system, then it is time to volunteer to incorporate one. Ask for funds to go out and purchase bins or even better, ask the local community to deliver them. Designate separate bins for separate items. When it is time to deliver the recycling to a certain designated area outside, create a list for everyone to take turn and take part.
3. As to replace paper and plastic goods and trade them in for dishes and utensils. If your company kitchen has a dishwasher, make sure that it is loaded up to the max before running it and have a schedule for who runs it and empties it when.
4. Shut the lights – if you leave the room and know you will not be back for hours as you will be in a meeting, shut your office lights off and get in the habit of encouraging everyone else to do the same.
5. Air Quality – try opening windows before having the air conditioning system run. Most all offices run the air conditioning way too early in the season. Use fans for desktops rather than rely on the air conditioning system too early.
6. Cleaning Products – Incorporate green cleaning products in your office just like you do at home.
7. Conserve paper – If you can email everyone rather than send out duplicate copies of the same memo, that is the best way to save paper. Also, look into recycled paper products.

So, as you can see, there are many ways to reduce the carbon footprint in your office. Of course, you do not want to go it alone so try to have a meeting letting everyone know that you are implementing going green into the office environment.

Also, don’t be afraid to host an event where you invite someone to speak at a seminar on behalf of the green movement. Some individuals still do not get that even one person can have a tremendous impact.

Have you discovered new ways to reduce the carbon footprint in your office. Drop us a line here to let us know your thoughts or comments.