The office is one of the toughest places to stay green. After all, it’s hard to keep track of the entire place when you’re just one employee. The best way to start is with the individual.

If one person starts getting green, the benefits of it will soon be recognized and appreciated by others. It can be very positive for morale and boost teamwork in the office.

The long-term benefits can cut energy costs, attract employees, and of course benefit the Earth. There are many ways of getting green and sparking green awareness at the work place. Remember to stay positive and above all, green!

Top 10 Tips

Here are 10 highly effective ways to go greener. Now get to work!

1. Improve Indoor Quality of Life

All workers should be able to have access to outside views. It is important for employees to be able to see the outside because it not only brightens their eyes, but also their mind. A worker with an alert mind will be able to focus on their work and will also be less likely to fall asleep at their desk.

Whenever possible, open windows for proper air circulation. This benefits the worker because of natural air flow through the body, and it can also lower the cost of air conditioning.

Natural light is not only sufficient for the eyes of a worker, it is also not as bright as the harshness of most office lighting. If you feel that the lights in your office are too bright and distracting, simply lower them or turn them off. You’ll reduce your next electric bill as well.

2. Save Water

Using low-flow faucets with automatic shutoffs in kitchens and bathrooms will help conserve more water. People forget to shut off the faucet all the time! Don’t let the earth suffer because of that.

Have you ever encountered a toilet that takes a whole minute to flush? Install toilets that allow for a low-volume flush. That way, more water will be saved with each flush.

3. Build Green

Avoid using carcinogenic or otherwise environmentally unfriendly materials. Awareness of harmful chemicals and toxins will not only save the environment, but will also protect the workers.

Buy used furniture or fixtures made from recycled materials. It may not seem like much, but the long-term effects of buying recycled materials really pays off for the company’s budget and the earth.

4. Conserve Energy

Let individuals control the light and temperature in their areas. By doing this, each worker will feel comfortable in how green they can be in their own area. When people are green in their own area, it’s much easier for someone to notice his green techniques and also start being green.

Install motion-sensing switches to turn off lights when workers are not present. A lot of times, workers get so caught up in their work that they don’t think to pay attention to conservation. Get automatic and your office building will thank you.

5. Pick a Sustainable Site

Locate buildings where they will have the least environmental impact. For offices that require a lot of in-and-out traffic, it is better to be in a less densely populated area. Employees can easily arrive to work and delivery services can find their way better.

Choose sites near public transportation, within walking distance of services. Workers will be more likely to use it if it’s close by. Fewer cars on the road are always a benefit!

Adding more bike racks will help more employees use bikes instead of cars. Again, fewer cars on the road are always a benefit.

6. Offer Incentives for Green

For managers, a way to get the whole office to get green is to offer rewards and prizes for being green. When workers know there’s a goal to reach, they will work hard or even compete to get it. Nothing sparks good habits better than a little friendly competition.

7. Walk As Much As You Can

Walking is always a healthier alternative than driving. During lunch, try walking to a closer place to eat rather than driving there. Instead of using the elevator, you can use the stairs. It’s good for you and you will help save the energy of your car and the elevator.

8. Save Paper

Paper is the most used product in the office and there are many ways of helping to save paper. When making copies, you can use the double-sided feature on your copy machine. Use scratch paper instead of new paper when you have notes to take.

Whenever you can, try reading documents off the computer instead of printing it out. Always test it out or preview the document before you make multiple copies of a document on the copier or the printer. Make sure to maintain your copiers and printers periodically so they will not malfunction and print out useless copies of documents.

9. Share and Recycle

Sharing office stationery with your co-workers will help reduce the cost of buying office supplies. Encourage staff to share and circulate copies of reports rather than issuing separate copies.

Recycle everything you can recycle like paper, printer/toner cartridges, envelopes, cardboard boxes, cans, glass bottles, and more. Use a mug instead of a plastic cup.

10. Pass on the Green Message

Being green starts with the individual. Explain the benefits of being green to a manager or a colleague. Encourage them to realize that being green can be very easy and highly beneficial if everyone just works together with a positive attitude.