What are some ideas to help make my office "green"?

Question

I work in a financial institution. We use A LOT of paper as well as ink. We are trying to figure out a way to go "green" in our office and see an immediate cost benefit from our efforts.

There's the obvious:

Recycle paper & ink

Change the light bulbs

Turn the computer off at night

Print on both sides of the paper

But I need something outside of the box. I have a meeting tomorrow and i want to come prepared with some creative solutions.

Answer 1

Try green paint. it won't actually do anything but you will feel better because you are now "green"

I hope my financial advisors aren't stupid enough to fall for this c**p.

Answer 2

use "greener" products.i get most of my school supplies from target because they have green office supplies there

Answer 3

I wrote a couple of posts recently on this subject.  They're too long to put here in their entirety, but here are some highlights:

1. Setup a recycling station for aluminum cans and plastic bottles - I'm sure your co-workers generate quite a bit of these from lunch.

2. Buy everyone mugs.  This will cut down on Styrofoam and paper waste from coffee cups.

3.  Replace the paper towels in the kitchen with reusable cloth towels.

4.  Install high efficiency hand dryers in the rest rooms.

Answer 4

get rig of everything in the office made from oil

Answer 5

Ok I've got your "outside the box" idea.

First go to Home Depot. Second buy some green paint and some roll brushes. Last have a painting party and watch your office turn green!!!!!

Now that's outside of the box!!!

Answer 6

I agree with the obvious ones of recycling the paper and the ink toners, changing to energy efficient bulbs, etc. You could also buy recycled paper, use papers that you have made typos on for scrap paper for phone calls and notes instead of post-its, turn off the lights in the bathroom and put ferns or something that doesn't need sunlight in the bathroom, recycle bottles, cans, boxes, etc for the money you get that can be put back into your budget supply, don't use the screen saver on the computer just turn off the monitor or put the computer on energy saver, make 4 day work weeks where some people have off Fridays and some people have off Mondays so their computers don't have to be on and they don't have to use the fuel to come to work.

I hope this helps. Good luck at your meeting.

Answer 7

With the recycled paper, (not info sensitivative) use a paper cutter and cut into note pads..put a heavy weight on top and coat one end with rubber cement. Everyone one needs 'scratch pads'. If you have windows block the sun in the summer and let it shine inside in the winter. This saves in electricity. Have everyone bring their own cup/glass and be responsible for keeping them clean. This saves paper products. For those that subscribe to magazines or books have them bring them to the office when their done and exchange. This will save many trees with fewer subscriptions and save people money buy not having to subscribe to as many. Hope these idea's help.

Answer 8

Friends of mine started using "green" cleaning products in their offices.  They found a company that sold "green products" and ordered them from there.  The company is a health and wellness company.  If you want more information about it email me and I will send it to you!

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