Creating a More Eco-Friendly Office Environment

Due to the growing concern for the environment, a variety of green practices are being implemented all over the world in different areas, including offices. By creating a more eco-friendly workspace, not only will you decrease your ecological footprint and reduce your bills, but you will also provide your employees with a healthier and more enjoyable working environment. Here’s a list of simple, yet efficient measures you can include to create a greener office space.

Financial Considerations

First of all, creating a greener office might require a sizeable investment, so inform yourself whether there’s a financing program available in your community. One possible solution is applying for the PACE financing meant for eco-friendly property updates. You can educate yourself more on the subject here. This way, you can easily transform your office into an eco-friendly space without spending a fortune.

Change Lighting Fixtures

If your office still has incandescent light bulbs, consider replacing them with a more energy-efficient option. You can easily save money on the electricity bill by switching to LEDs or CFLs that have been widely embraced by the green community. Not only do these lighting fixtures save energy, but they also represent a healthier option, since they don’t emit carbon dioxide, unlike the incandescent light. In addition, LEDs are a great choice if you want to have lighting that is closer to the natural light. Just make sure you find out what types of LEDs and CFLs there are beforehand in order to choose the ones that best suit your needs.

Electricity Measures

Apart from opting for different lighting fixtures, there are other measures you can apply with little effort and even less investment in order to reduce electricity consumption. Electricity should be used wisely and you are advised to eliminate any possible source of energy loss. For example, you should unplug all appliances at the end of a day, as they use energy even when they are turned off. In addition, switch off the lights when you leave a room you don’t plan to return to for a while. Finally, try to let natural light in as much as possible by keeping the blinds up or placing thin, gauzy curtains.

The Law of the Triple R – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Another step towards creating a more environmentally friendly office entails reducing waste, which you can achieve by abiding by the law of the triple R – reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce the use of unnecessary items in your office, such as disposable plastic cups or plastic bags, and opt for eco-friendlier options. Another important area that requires a reduction in use is paper – encourage your employees to reuse the old paper instead of just throwing it away by printing on both sides. Finally, you cannot go green without introducing recycling to your office. Place enough recycling paper bins around the office so that all of your employees can access them easily. Of course, this is just the beginning – aluminum, plastic and glass also require recycling bins.

Embrace Environmentally Friendly Products

No stone should be left unturned, so make sure you do everything you can to create a healthier and greener working space. This involves opting for eco-friendly products for your office, including office supplies and cleaning products. You don’t have to do everything at once; take one step at a time – start with refillable ink cartridges, non-toxic highlighters or recycled paper. When it comes to cleaning products, keep in mind that many of them contain dangerous toxins, so make sure that the cleaning or janitorial services you hire uses green ones. Correspondingly, you can learn more about the benefits of working alongside a commercial office cleaning company with environmentally friendly values by heading to https://greenfacilities.co.uk/office-cleaning/ and by researching other cleaning companies in your area online.

By applying just a few simple steps, you can create a greener office in no time. All you have to do is opt for energy-efficient lighting fixtures, green products, as well as reduce, reuse and recycle.