By WorkCabin.ca Staff

Sometimes it's little, simple steps that can quickly get your workplace on the path to being green:

1. Trees, trees, trees: Go outside and look at your building during the morning, midday and afternoon. Is your building exposed to the heat of the sun? If it is, it means your air conditioning will be working overtime to compensate. Trees provide shade which help reduce air conditioning needs.

2. Power down computers at lunch and when employees go home: Do your employees leave their computers running all night after they leave for the day? What about when they leave for lunch? Why is it that we power down our computers at home at night, but in the workplace many times computers are left on? Start powering down.

3. Start recycling: Look at your lunchroom. Are pop cans ending up in the general garbage can? What about paper and cardboard in your office? If your office doesn't have a visible recycling program (that means designated blueboxes at key points) for employees, your workplace's recycling efforts are likely falling short.

4. Put an emphasis on using green stationery: Most stationery companies are realizing that companies now want a choice. Products made from recyclable materials are now more commonplace than ever before. Next time you pick up a stationery catalogue, look for green products. If they don't exist in the catalogue that's in your hands, get another stationery company's catalogue.

5. Do you really need to photocopy or print off copies of emails and other material?: Avoid the habit of printing off emails and leaving hardcopies on co-workers desks. Start forwarding emails and encouraging them to be read, not printed off. And when you think you need to photocopy something, pause and ask if it's really necessary. Next to your photocopier, also leave a pile of paper that has only been photocopied on one side. Reusing the blank side of used-but-not-needed paper reduces paper waste. If it's not for essential office use (ie. external use), you can probably use both sides of paper (yes, even the blank side of paper that was previously photocopied on one side only)

6. Use flourescent lighting: Do a lightbulb audit of your workplace and replace those old incandescent lightbulbs today.

7. Workplace upkeep: Insist that janitors and cleaners use environmentally-friendly products. Same goes for lawn maintenance workers and general contractors.

8. Be water wise: If your workplace has a watercooler, ditch the disposable cups. If your workplace doesn't have a watercooler, but instead has a vending machine that sells bottled water, ditch the bottle water (we don't need more plastic).  Employees can use their own cups for water.

9. Create your own Green Team: You can enact all the workplace green policies you want, but it will be much more efficient and successful if it's employee-driven. Develop Green Teams that are put in charge of conducting a lightbulb audit, reviewing janitorial practices, lawn care practices, hydro usage, products used during office parties (ie. stop using paper plates, plastic cutlery and paper cups. Start using washable dishes, silver cutlery and washable mugs; for Christmas parties, stop wrapping gifts with Christmas paper and start using reusable gift bags), etc.   

10. Get a composter: Many municipalities have green bin programs for food waste. Or, if you are in the appropriate location, install a regular composter. Who knows... there may be gardeners among your employees who would love the free compost!