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Office

11 things you can do to Green Your Office

Are you an employee looking for some simple solutions to your office’s environmental buying woes? The president of a corporation searching for greener ways to build and renovate? Or perhaps a manager exploring ways to green-up your daily office operations?

Below, you’ll find our top tips for a greener office. And if you’re feeling particularly eager, check out our comprehensive GreenYour office guide.

  1. Replace T12 fluorescent lamps with T5 or T8 bulbs

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    These bulbs are upwards of 40 percent more efficient, saving you energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

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  2. Get green power from your electric provider

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    Opt for clean, renewable energy via solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, or low-impact hydro from your electricity supplier.

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  3. Provide incentives for employees who carpool to work

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    Reserving parking spaces for carpools and vanpools, and making it easy for participants to coordinate rides, can easily convert would-be transportation-sharers.

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  4. Buy natural commercial cleaners

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    The cleaning of commercial buildings requires 6 billion pounds of chemicals and 4.5 billion pounds of paper products every year, resulting in many job-related injuries.

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  5. Choose recycled office paper supplies

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    With more selection than ever before, there's not excuse for not purchasing recycled paper products for your company.

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  6. Install high-efficiency toilets

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    High-efficiency toilets (HETs) use less than 1.6 gallons of water per flush (gpf) and can save over 4,000 gallons of water per person per year.

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  7. Choose desks made from renewable or recycled materials

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    Bamboo makes a great work surface, as does reclaimed or FSC-certified wood. Other options? Desks made with recycled plastic and steel.

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  8. Get your building LEED-certified

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    Whether you're building new or retrofitting your older building, The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system can help guide you through beneficial green upgrades.

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  9. Start a building-wide recycling program

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    Whip your business into eco-shape by diverting most of your waste to recycling facilities.

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  10. Use teleconferencing services

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    Meet green by choosing remote collaboration methods via phone, video, and online.

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  11. Purchase carbon offsets for remaining emissions

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    Even the most energy-efficient business can't run emissions-free. For those inevitable emissions (from, say, winging it to Los Angeles or powering your office), there are carbon offsets to help you and your company get down to zero.

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