Tips For Greening Your Office

Ten+ Tips for

Greening Your Offices

Pick up more practical solutions at: www.CaliforniaGreenSolutions.com

1. Optimize LIGHTING for productivity and savings:

a. Replace bulbs with high efficiency alternatives (CFLs or LEDs)

b. Replace switches with dimmers or timers

c. Use low ambient light (dimmer) and task lights at each workstation

d. Turn lights off when not in use. Behaviors can save 50%...immediately!

2. Green your PAPER choice and use:

a. Request higher recycled content in printing and office papers

b. Set printers for two-sided printing (immediate 50% savings!)

c. Print less – use email, CDs, audio, etc. instead.

3. Greenify your TRANSPORTATION choices

a. Keep your tires properly aired.

b. Encourage carpools and use of public transportation

c. Make spaces for bikes and alternative fuel vehicles

4. Reduce PACKAGING

a. Buy in bulk, request less packaging from suppliers

b. Use reusable bags or containers to carry purchases

c. Consider reducing your own product packaging - size, layers, printing

5. Reduce WATER use

a. Provide filtered water pitchers/tanks to replace bottled water

b. Use easily carried, reusable cups/tumblers

c. Install dual flush stools, waterless urinals

d. Reduce irrigation – most landscaping is over-watered

6. Go ORGANIC and LOCAL

a. Locally grown organic food is usually fresher and healthier because of less pesticides

b. Local farming supports your local economy, and your local schools, roads and neighbors

c. Organic production reduces water pollution, uses less water, and improves soil fertility.

7. Use SUNSHINE

a. Solar Thermal and Solar Photovoltaic are becoming very cost effective for energy savings

b. Light is free – open your windows for daylighting! It's healthier, too!

c. Enjoy the dark, too. We have lit up the globe – turn off lights at night and enjoy sleep!

8. Grow PLANTS for oxygen

a. Indoor plants filter pollutants out of your air and improve oxygen, which gives energy!

b. Green is relaxing and reduces stress in an office.

c. Seeing even a bit of scenery out of a window gives a sense of reality, which we need these days!

9. OUTDOOR AIR is better than indoor air

a. We spend an average of 90-95% of our time indoors. Get outdoors and enjoy fresh air!

b. Cleaners, plastics, finishes, etc. degrade air quality, bring in outdoor air that's filtered by nature

c. Open windows or vents for ventilation – our lungs need fresh air for alertness and energy

10. SMILE!

a. Make work congenial and respectful – positive teamwork wastes less!

b. Health improves when you smile!

c. Community is more sustainable when you share hope and care