As you’ve no doubt noticed, today is Earth Day. Everybody is trying to tell you what you can do for the environment. I’m sure you’ve read many brilliant suggestions already, so I’m not going to chime in with some more. Instead, I’d like to report that I’m lucky enough to work for a company that cares about the environment. We just got an e-mail from our boss that the company looked at last years use of paper cups, and decided to switch to ceramic cups instead.
We’re also replacing any old light bulbs that burn out with CFL bulbs for quite some time now. All this makes me very happy that I decided to join Pandemic Studios almost three years ago. (I can’t believe it’s already that long!)
Now here’s the part where I need your help - the e-mail also contained a request for more ideas what out company can do better. I’ve come up with a few (recycled paper, anyone?), but I’d really like to hear your suggestions how companies can become greener without spending a fortune.
Thanks for your help!
Maybe you can cut the paper usage by using e-mails and just storing electronic copies of some stuff?
Cool post! Here are some ideas off the top of my head:
• Implement telecommuting days and car-pooling if you haven’t done so already. Also, try to encourage people to not drive during lunchtime.
• Save electricity by turning off lights and computers that are not needed when employees are gone for the day.
• Ensure that the building maintenance crew is doing their part in changing out AC filters, sealing air leaks around windows and doors, et cetera. If possible, lower the AC temp during the winter and raise it during the summer to save on energy for heating and cooling. Also, have building maintenance look into UV films or sunscreens for the windows to cut down on cooling bills.
• Participate on freecycle.org to avoid adding used office supplies to landfills.
• Reuse as much as possible in terms of folders, cardboard boxes, et cetera.
• Also, check out the guys over at T.S. Designs for some inspiration and ideas (their video has some pretty cool ideas too - just be aware that’s it’s 17mb in size).
Hi Tomas!
Thanks for all of the suggestions. A lot of them are already implemented, but I’ll try and push for the telecommuting. That would make a lot of sense, given that we’re a high-tech firm…
Also, thanks to imbusy. We store pretty much everything electronically, thankfully. It’s only print time when we have to annotate things. (If anybody knows good annotation software, I’d be happy to hear it!)
composting your food wastes, people take turns taking the worms home. Long story but you can google it.
everyone order lunch from the same place… it’s a stretch, but you’d eliminate all but one delivery driver… and the related packaging. (alternatively, one person cooks enough for the office, everyone takes turns… or you just hire me to cook for you, LOL…)
encourage the companies who provide you with products to reduce their packaging.
when color coding, use markers and pens, NOT dyed papers and folders and cardstock. All that dye has gotta come from somewhere, and when it get recycled, it’s gotta get bleached back to white.
You probably already do this, but casual clothing doesn’t need to be dry-cleaned, and that saves resources.
Don’t use cellophane-window envelopes, they dont’ recycle properly
and my personal favorite: “don’t replace, repair!”