10 top tips for a green office
A call to all businesses and home offices - Are you doing enough?
Greening the office has more than just the obvious environmental benefits, it can also save money, boost the company image and increase worker productivity.
|
|
1. Wear your green credentials on your sleeve
Encourage recycling with a style based solution such as the Ovetto recycling bin. This will give employees a more outward perspective, both socially and environmentally. Ovetto is not just a bin, but a statement of your green commitments, and a design piece in its own right, designed by renowned Italian architect Gianluca Soldi, These bins are made from recycled plastic and come in 3 colour ways, a visual reminder to recycle. Ovetto recycling bin - £129
2. Spread the word
Instead of buying so many new envelopes, re-use them with Envelope Angel labels. Each label has the eco message "Every envelope should have another journey" and is your opportunity to tell the people you are writing to that you put environmental consideration into everything that you do. Envelope Angel - £4.50 |  |
|
 | 3. Brighten up
Replace old-style incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents to save energy, plus money off your bills. LED desk lamps, such as the leaf lamp are stylish, plus they use miniscule amounts of energy. Natural daylight is not only free, but has also been proven to improve productivity and satisfaction.
Leaf - £349 Energy saving bulbs - from £2.50
|
|
4. Save money, get fit
Your boss can pay up to 40% of the cost of a new bike for you under a government initiative set up to encourage cycling to work. Find out more at www.EvansCycles.com/Ride2Work . You'll save money, be healthier, and by avoiding the usual battle on the tube you'll arrive in a more positive frame of mind and feel more alert. The only thing to worry about is where to keep all the bikes in the office (try the wall mounted Cycloc - a great space saver). Cycloc - £59.00
|  |
|
5. Turn me off
A photocopier left on overnight uses enough energy to produce over 1500 copies. Likewise, a computer monitor left on consumes about two-thirds of a computer's total energy use. The Efergy Elite energy meter shows you your energy usage, the costs of running different appliances, and the savings you make by simply turning things off when not in use. Place it by the door, reminding colleagues to turn things off before they go home. Efergy - £45.99
|
|
 | 6. Breathe easy
You can literally make the space greener by adding plants. Houseplants help clean the air indoors through their photosynthesis process of absorbing C02 and releasing 02. This range of window plants grow in the pockets they come in, and add colour and scent to the space. Workspace air quality is crucial. Good ventilation and low-VOC paints & materials (such as furniture and carpet) will keep you healthy. Window plants - £4.99
|
|
7. Home sweet home
Work from home more often. When trying to concentrate, it can be difficult when the phone keeps ringing. Reduce your carbon footprint by not travelling to the office one day a week, and use a laptop bag, made from recycled plastic bottles, to carry your computer and papers back to work the next day. Laptop bag - £29.99 |  |
|
8. Upsizing?
If you are in need of more office furniture, then look no further than the Furniture Reuse Network. Around 800,000 pieces of re-useable furniture are thrown out by London's households each year. Pieces are reconditioned for sale at 14 locations around the capital, refurbished by young trainees working towards a vocational qualification. Find your local depot at http://www.lcrn.org.uk/ |
|
9. Reduce, reuse, recycle...
...so the mantra goes. Reduce - make sure you have the printer set to print both sides as standard. Reuse - If a mail-out goes wrong use the misprinted paper to make a notebook for your musings. A pin-board made from scrap-paper makes for an interesting focal point in the office. Recycled office paper, notebooks and pens are now widely available from usual office retailers. Recycled paper pin board - £15.00
|  |
|
 | 10. Office gossip
When gathered around the water cooler, refuse the wasteful plastic cups, and invest in some recycled glasses. Not only do they save waste from landfill, but they will also add style, and make a good impression when clients come for meetings. Investing in a microwave, fridge and a few plates in the office will also encourage them to bring lunch from home, saving up to £5 a day! Recycled glasses - From £16.00 for 6
|
|
EcoCentric is proud to introduce a range of eco-friendly office products. While maintaining a great sense of style, these items do their part to better the environment.
- ends -
|
|
