Practical Reason for a Green Office

Source: Insight Magazine

In addition to helping save the planet, greening your office may have practical shorter term benefits. Here are some mentioned in this article:

• In a recent survey of MBA graduates of 11 major business schools, respondents said they would consider lower compensation to work for “socially responsible firm.”
• Customers have similar feelings.
• Being green can distinguish your firm from others.
• Operating costs may be lowered, for example by lowering water bills through direct reduction and through reducing heating costs.

What you can do:

• Go paperless, or at least implement a policy to save paper, like eliminating unnecessary printing of emails. And use recycled paper, binders, folders, report covers, and copy paper.
• Use energy-saving computer equipment.
• Turn off computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, and even coffeemakers when not in use.
• Use recycled or reusable products such as cutlery made from potatoes or wheat, or from polylactic acid derived from corn. Use Chinet plates made from waste.
• Use a water-filtering system.
• Use recycled paper towels and all-natural plant-based cleaners.
• Use remanufactured toner and ink cartridges, refillable pens and pencils.
• Use solar and battery-powered calculators.
• Don’t buy furniture made from rare wood.
• Donate unwanted equipment rather than trash it.
• Encourage and support employee carpooling or cycling.
• Offer a subsidized travel card for public transportation.
• Use live plants in the office. They protect you from toxins emitted by office furniture and equipment.
• Live plants may create an environment conducive to improved productivity and problem-solving skills.

And finally—work less. Countries that work fewer hours are more productive than the United States, where people work more hours and take fewer vacations than in almost any other country.

For the complete article, click here and select the article “Saved.”

From Insight Magazine, Illinois CPA Society, September/October 2008, http://www.icpas.org/insight.htm.

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