By working from home, and not commuting on a daily basis, you are already helping lessen the environmental footprint your company is making. However, we can all do more to help the planet.
1. Make The Most of Natural Light
If you have the opportunity to choose the room where you will put your office, opt for space with plenty of natural light. This move will allow you to reduce your energy usage, thus saving you money on electricity. In case you are not blessed with huge amounts of it, use light colors and strategically place mirrors around the room to boost the light you do get. Plus, natural light has many health benefits, from boosting your immunity to improving your mood. On the other hand, if your home office is located in the basement or some other part of the house that gets no natural light, get LED bulbs to mimic sunlight.
2. Consider sustainable office furniture
As more people work from home, the home office has become an essential space in the house. And as we become more aware of the need to be sustainable, Eco-friendly office furniture is a great way to make your home office more sustainable. First, look for furniture made from sustainable materials like bamboo or recycled plastic. Second, choose durable furniture, so you often don’t have to replace it. Third, look for furniture that is easy to clean and maintain, so you can keep your office looking tidy without using harsh chemicals.
What is more, when looking for furniture and storage pieces, you can find some amazing previously-owned ones. Sure, you might want a brand new ergonomic chair to sit on, but your filing cabinet(s) and desk can be second-hand.
3. Be Energy-efficient
In terms of equipping the office, you need to look for gear that will not use a lot of energy. Depending on what you do, and the items you use, look for the most energy-efficient devices. For instance, a laptop is more practical and efficient than a desktop PC. So, decide whether it is enough for the line of work you are in.
However, how you use the devices is also important. Turn off all the equipment you are not using, from your computer to the printer. You can even take it one step further and unplug the things you don’t use that often as they can drain energy even when turned off.
4. Going green
A home office is a great place to get work done, but it can also be a drab space. Adding a few plants can help to liven up the room and make it more inviting and Eco-friendly.
Plants can also provide some much-needed health benefits. For example, they can help purify the air and reduce stress levels. Certain plants can also help muffle the sound if you want a little privacy. So if you want to add a little life to your home office, consider adding some plants; they just might make the workspace more pleasant.
Going green isn’t just good for the environment—it’s also good for our health and wellbeing. Help the members of your workforce to adopt eco-friendly habits by sharing educational information, content, and resources through your digital health platform and setting up a company-wide challenge to recycle and reduce waste. Your employees will feel better knowing that they’re contributing to global efforts to reduce climate change with just a few simple changes to their daily routine, and your organization can expect a more engaged and productive workforce in return.
5. Reduce, reuse, recycle
When it comes to living a more Eco-friendly lifestyle, the focus is typically on recycling. However, reducing and reusing are also key components of creating a more environmentally friendly home office.
Even with digital documents, you can reduce paper use by implementing double-sided printing. Only print several copies of your most important information at a time.
Another important part of living an Eco-friendly lifestyle in the home office is reusing existing items whenever possible.
This can mean using scrap paper for quick notes instead of buying a new notepad or using old pens and markers until they run out and then switching to new ones. Other materials that can be reused in the home office include storage containers, file folders, recycled paper, and rechargeable batteries.
Overall, you can go green without significantly altering your everyday routine. Simply incorporate reduced waste and reused materials into your home office space.