Whether you’ve been an environmentalist for years or you have been inspired by others, climate change has probably been on your mind. You may have adopted ways to reduce your own carbon footprint but imagine if you could do that for your office or even your whole company. Make some small changes that can affect the environment for the better.

Looking for some ideas to make your office more eco-friendly? Here are some simple things you can try to make your office greener.

Reduce your computer usage

In most businesses, the computer is the main tool for all work that gets done. But did you know it is estimated that over $1 billion is wasted in electricity every year just in computer usage alone? To help reduce this number, you can:

• Switch your computer to energy saving settings
• When leaving your desk, put your computer in sleep mode as it can be up to 70% more efficient
• When finishing at the end of the day, turn your computer off rather than putting it in sleep mode

Set up monthly green challenges

Monthly office challenges can be a good way of encouraging employees to go green. You can challenge the office to go for a month without using plastic utensils and reward them at the end of the month with small prizes.

Turn off lights, heating, and electronics when leaving

Get employees in the routine of switching everything off when leaving the office at the end of the day.

When leaving the office switch all electronics off from the mains plug, turn the heating off for the night, and make sure the last person out switches off all the lights. This is not only good for the environment, but it is also a great way to reduce costs over the year.

Maximise natural light

Embracing natural light through sunlit windows can not only help the office to reduce energy usage, but it can also improve employee’s health and increase productivity.

According to a study by Alan Hedge, a professor in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornel, “optimizing the amount of natural light in an office significantly improves health and wellness among workers, leading to gains in productivity”.

Embrace renewable energy

Renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy, are more accessible than ever. With options of including solar panels and wind turbines, companies of any size are capable of making the switch.

Investing in renewable energy can help you to cut your company energy costs and you’ll be significantly reducing your companies carbon footprint and doing your part to help the planet as well.

Looking for ways you can introduce renewable energy to your company?

Paperless office

Becoming a paperless office is a simple way to make your office greener. It’s as easy as keeping digital files on your computers, instead of leaving files all over your desk. Also, get in the habit of viewing digital documents on-screen, rather than printing them out.

Using existing technologies to remove paperwork, you will find that your company can reduce its carbon footprint and improve efficiency.

Introduce desk plants

Something as small as putting a plant on everyone’s desk will not only improve the environment but also employees’ happiness and productivity levels. A plant creates oxygen, keeps people calm, and reminds them they’re on a green team.

You can even try organizing a tree-planting day and talking to the building’s operations department about adding more trees around the building.

Encourage green commuting

Encourage employees to lower commuting emissions by offering incentives to those who walk, bike, or take public transport to work.

Introducing remote working can also reduce your companies carbon footprint, cutting down on employees commuting emissions as well as reducing the usage of electricity, lighting, and heating in the office.

Reuse and recycle

This one is simple. For years now, recycling has been common in homes and offices and has become part of our normal routine. This is more of a reminder of how you should already be helping the planet.

As a reminder here’s a list of some of the things found in the office that you can recycle:

• Paper products
• Cardboard
• cans and foil
• Plastic bottles and bags
• Ink cartridges