It’s easy to transform your office and fulfill your earth-friendly lifestyle.  Just follow these guidelines:

• Look for green products, like Safe White correction fluid, staple-less staplers, and refillable pens- anything that won’t be sent to a landfill after you’re through with it.

• Look for products made from post-consumer content (materials collected from previous products to make new ones,) like paper and plastic items.  Even paper clips with post-consumer metals are now available.

•  Recycle used office supplies whenever possible.

For Printers

Besides the obvious fixes, (like buying and using recycled paper, not printing whenever possible to save paper…) here are some great ways to print smart:

• Put a sign up in the office to remind everyone to print only when necessary.
• Also, printing on both sides of a sheet of paper can save paper tremendously.
• Use your printer’s eco-mode setting, if it has one.  Also, use software such as GreenPrint or EcoPrint2 to save ink, toner, and paper.
• Do not keep your printer set to turn on whenever your computer or network is switched on.  Turn on your printer only when necessary.
• When buying a printer, choose an Energy Star compliant printer.  Make sure your new printer has an energy saving feature.
• Recycle your used ink and toner cartridges.

• Turning off your computer when it’s not in use greatly helps the environment and really gives your files a rest.
• Replace your Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors with flat screen monitors.  Flat screen displays consume only about 1/3 of the energy used by a CRT monitor, and they look more stylish!
• Consider replacing a few desktop computers with laptops.  Laptops are the most energy-efficient computer/monitor combinations.
• Keep computer equipment updated.  New monitors and computers are more energy efficient than those even two years old.  When choosing new equipment, look for Energy Star compliant computers and monitors.
• Recycle your used computers.  See Where to Recycle Computers in Canada and Computer Recycling in the U.S. about PC Hardware/Reviews on about.com.

• The Obvious Tip: Turn off lights when not in use.  You’d be surprised to know how many office staff rooms and wash rooms keep their lights on all day.  (*It will save you money on your energy bill too!)
• Blow-Your-Mind Tips:  
• Replace standard incandescent bulbs with compact florescent lamps (CFLs).  They use 75% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, while delivering the same light output.
• Use light wall colors.  Light paint colors and higher gloss sheens reflect daylight, which means your space will need less overhead lighting.  BC Hydro has a great guide for naturally lighting your space.

Heating and Cooling

• If you can access your office thermostat, heat your office to twenty-one degrees celsius when the space is unoccupied.  Heating and cooling set points must be set 2 to 3 degrees C apart so that the air conditioner does not cycle (turn on and off) frequently (BC Hydro.)
• Use weather stripping and caulking to minimize heat loss from windows and doors.