Greening an office can be a difficult process, and staff can often end up feeling like their concerns don't get addressed-unless you have an organized committee to handle staff concerns. There are many benefits of having a committee to propose company-wide changes that help make your office more eco-friendly.
Going green in an office is often about reducing energy use, paper use, and carbon emissions, all of which will directly save the company money. But some changes can indirectly increase revenues. Improving indoor air quality by reducing allergens or switching to all-natural cleaners can help staff work more productively, which also increases the bottom line.
All of your company's green changes can also help the business brand itself as an eco-friendly company, which has a lot of power in today's economy.
Some companies may want management to be directly involved, with one or more managers on the committee to make the final decisions on proposals. Other companies may prefer the committee be representative of staff, with proposals being forwarded to someone in management for consideration.
If you're in a management position, take the initiative and talk to the big boss about setting up a voluntary green team. If you're a junior staff member, talk to your manager about developing a green team, making sure you point out the financial benefits of such a program.
Once you have the committee set up, make sure it's accessible to staff, so everyone in the organization can contribute ideas.
Ways to Green Your Office
Set the thermostat to a reasonable level. Your office shouldn't feel like a sauna in the winter and a meat locker in the summer. Adjusting temperature levels can save on energy bills, and comfortable staff are more productive. If the windows in your office open, consider using the cross breeze and fans instead of the air conditioner in the summer.
Assess paper use. Many companies use way too much paper. One of the simplest ways you can cut paper use in half is by printing on both sides of the page. If that's not possible with the equipment you have, another option is to collect printer paper that has only been used on one side and make company scratch notebooks.
Switch to green cleaning products to reduce indoor air pollution. This will help your staff breathe easier and work better-and anyone who has a chemical sensitivity will be hugely appreciative.
Consider a no-scent policy. While most people keep scents to a minimum when they're in the office, there are those few you can smell from clear across the room. It may seem an insignificant issue, but anyone with a scent or chemical sensitivity can become physically ill from strong perfume, deodorant, aftershave, body spray, and heavily-scented body creams. And the last thing you want is to have a staff member leaving early to nurse a migraine, or clients switching to a competitor.
Make recycling easy. Label bins well to avoid contamination of materials. Make sure the bins are adequate for the waste you create. Be sure to place bins in appropriate spaces-such as a glass, aluminum can, and paper bin in the lunchroom, paper bins beside photocopiers, and a small bin under each desk. If your company has a sales space, be sure to provide recycling options for customers.
Switch computers and servers to energy-efficient models, and set all equipment on power bars that can be turned off overnight to avoid phantom power use from things like indicator lights on electronics.
