Spring is upon us. This means that if there was ever a time to be thinking about "going green", this is probably the time to do it. Trees are getting their leaves back (green) and flowers are blooming (green stems); it's definitely like the universe is syncing up and encouraging us to become more eco-friendly.
When it comes to making "green purchases" for your workplace, there are actually more options now than ever before that are both good for the environment and easy on the wallet. If you're looking to make a few additions to your workplace, here are some ideas worth checking out.
Let some new light in. If you've been keeping the blinds closed or curtains shut to help fend off any cold, winter drafts, the good news is that it's getting warmer now, so let them up. Natural light is not just good for your health, but it also cuts energy costs down significantly. If you work the later shift, be sure to swap out the light bulbs in your lamps for energy saving ones, instead.
Use rechargeable batteries. Another thing that will bring an energy bill down is unplugging office items at the end of the day that won't be in use. However, while you're at work, why not get some rechargeable batteries for the flashlights, video equipment and even laptops that will be in use? Sure, they cost a little more on the front end, but benefit is that you can use them over and over again.
Check your floor mats. Who really thinks about the plastic or rubber thing that's oftentimes under their chair at work? Indeed, there are some things in life that we need even if we don't think about them much. Chair mats would fall into this category and there are actually some that are environmentally friendly. A company by the name of Snap Mat, Inc. makes office chair mats from wood and the Anji Mountain Bamboo Company makes office mats and floor mats out of, yep, you guessed it: bamboo.
Upgrade the office supplies. Paper, ink cartridges, photocopies, pens, the glass dry erase board that's in the conference room. These are all things that we tend to use in excess, oftentimes without taking the environment into account. There are creative ways to address all of these, though. When it comes to paper and photocopies, thanks to our computers, they're not as vital when it comes to communication as they used to be. Before writing something down or printing something off, ask yourself can it be typed and either filed away in an online folder or emailed out. When it comes to ink cartridges, there are recycled ones that you can purchase and remember that drug stores like Walgreens will refill the ones that you already have for a pretty low price. Pens and pencils? Well, thanks to companies like RecycledProducts.com and GreenLinePaper.com, you can find basically any kind of office supply with an eco-friendly twist from writing utensils to containers, cleaning supplies, labels, binders, wall calendars and more.
Buy some recycle bins. One of the best ways to encourage people to be more conscious of the environment is to lead by example. One of the best ways to do that is by setting up some recycle bins. One can be marked "paper", another "plastic" and another, "compost". Before long, employees will be so used to throwing their trash away in the appropriate bins that they might find themselves doing something similar at home, once they leave the office for the day.
Carol Montrose is a contributing writer for BusinessResearchGuide.com where you can find information about Master’s degrees in Information Assurance and a variety of business resource guides.
There are literally thousands of businesses around the UK looking to take advantage of a direct electricity savings of up to 18% with the use of a Commercial Voltage Optimization Unit, commonly referred to as a ComEC. However, there are tons of energy saving ideas which can further reduce the amount of money being spent on energy each and every year. The purpose of being in business is to make money and it isn't easy to do that when resources are being thrown away day after day because of the inefficient use of energy.
One of the things which many businesses have started doing is appointing a member of management to be in charge of energy efficiency. It is his or her job to complete a mini energy audit each and every day to ensure that lights are being turned off when not in use and that thermostats are kept at their correct settings. The person whose duty it is to be in charge of auditing energy usage should also ensure that computers are being turned off when not in use.
Any cell phones or digital devices should not be left charging once the battery is fully loaded and they should also be spot checked throughout the day. These are just a few energy saving ideas which can be utilized to reduce the amount of money being spent on energy and at the same time lower a business’ impact on the environment. Keep in mind that most electricity is still manufactured with fossil fuels and that releases an extreme amount of carbon into the atmosphere.
Environmental awareness workshops conducted by Apollo Enviro can help employees understand the significance of saving energy wherever possible. Not only will this help to reduce a business’ carbon footprint but by saving their employer money it can also help to save their jobs. More and more companies are feeling the pressures of a downturn in the economy and saving money in some areas, such as in energy usage, can also free up those funds to pay salaries and grow businesses, thus ensuring job stability.
Though companies exist to provide products and services to ease the lives of their customers, they often neglect the environmental implications of running a business. This can have detrimental effects on the environment, and promises to be problematic for future generations who will have to deal with the issues we are creating now. Luckily though, it’s not all doom and gloom. You can do things to help, however, and this article will detail a few.
As the concept of going ‘green’ becomes more popular, many businesses are looking for easy yet effective ways of doing so. A few obvious ways of going green are to introduce initiatives for taking public transport or cycling to work rather than driving, to use internal email instead of large amounts of printing, and to recycle where possible. There are other ways that may have gone unnoticed however, such as reducing the carbon footprint associated with traveling to business meetings around the country and/or world.
Through video conferencing, business meetings that would previously have required large amounts of travel can now be conducted with all parties comfortably in their own offices. The real time, face-to-face video stream is easy to use and versatile, the carbon footprint of your business is reduced, and above all, it can reduce travel costs for your company also.
If you look at a breakdown of the savings on travel costs, it shows just how easily the cost of setting up a video conferencing system can be offset. When you consider taxi / train / plane fares, hotel rooms, expenses for food and other personal needs, the total quickly begins to grow.
So, what is actually needed to use video conferencing? An internet connection is required, of course, but in this day and age most companies will be able to boast a high speed connection. A reliable electricity supply is also required, but aside from the very occasional power cut, this is rarely a problem. Once these two requisites are present, you can make calls with crisp, HD quality video and sound, to business partners all over the world.
The video footage captured during the conversation can also be saved and downloaded, making it easier to access the insights within, and preventing the need to print documents summarising the conversations. Hosting the video on a private video hosting website will give you and your employees access to the videos, thereby reducing the need to put it onto digital mediums such as CDs or DVDs, which, going back to the environmental angle, are not biodegradable.
The reasons for considering video conferencing are clear; why not incorporate it into your business operations and save yourself time, money, and the guilt of damaging the environment at the same time?
If you are growing increasingly more concerned about the ways in which you can help create a sustainable world for yourself and future generations, and are also seeking to play the market, you will undoubtedly want to utilize eco-friendly investing tips. Begin by …
Defining yourself. What does eco-friendly mean to you? Figure out where your individual passions lie before you decide to invest. Does nuclear energy seem like a viable solution to you, or are you opposed to it? Does the use of biofuels create ethical quandaries or do you see them as a necessary means to power the world? You might also consider how deeply you want your decisions to be based on conditions with stocks other than environmental, as many businesses are involved in animal testing, pornographic ventures, and tobacco. Which leads you to …
Doing your homework. While some businesses seem too good to be true on the surface, it is possible that they are. Dig a little bit, and you can find out if a company’s track record is clean, or if they have been involved in the past in some dirty dealings that might hurt the environment. This will help you with …
Trend spotting. Research will tell you about current trends in green investing, including sources of green technology and analysis. After that, you should turn to …
An Ethical IFA, or Index Fund Advisor. This person should be able to help you create your eco-centric profile before they recommend any funds to you. You should then be able to consider your …
Attitude to Risk. Starting up with renewable energy stocks can be risky, so if you aren’t feeling particularly bold or if you are just starting up, you may want to spread your money between different funds, sectors, or geographical areas. Conduct more research or ask for help before you make any big decisions, including …
Green Pension. You will want to be aware if the pension company you plan to possibly invest in is truly eco-friendly. Some are involved with mining or oil companies whose business practices may be questionable or completely unethical. Finally, consider …
Management and Monitoring. After you have defined yourself and done your homework, you should be able to have reasonable expectations when planning your investments, which means that you are probably aware that eco-friendly specific funds are at a disadvantage when compared to those that can invest anywhere, without concern for sustainability or renewable resources. You will also need to monitor the performance of your investment, but this means keeping an eye on its current performance while considering how it has performed in the past, though the future is never determined by past performance. You may, depending on the size of your venture, be able to use purchase order financing if you have little access to working capital or a less than steady cash flow.
By following these tips, you can go green and see it at the same time ... through the cash your investments will bring in!
Infographic by Jobvine Jobs
