April 22 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. While many are celebrating by encouraging environmental awareness around the world, you don’t have to completely revamp your office habits and lifestyle to help make a difference. Here are some simple ways to help conserve the Earth’s resources:
At work:
• Turn off the lights when you leave a conference room, classroom or office. Make sure all lights are off before going home at the end of the day.
• Shut off faucets tightly. Report any leaks to your supervisor immediately – even a dripping leak can waste gallons of water a day.
• Only print out e-mails when necessary. Whenever possible, use both sides of paper for printing.
• Turn off the power strip to the equipment you use. Shut down your computer at the end of the day instead of just putting it on standby mode.
• Turn off the televisions in your reception area at the end of the day. Bring your lunch to work in a reusable lunch bag. Consider using reusable containers instead of plastic bags.
At home:
• Install Energy Star®-rated light bulbs and appliances. These are proven to use significantly less energy.
• Purchase nontoxic cleaning products and biodegradable soaps.
• Pay bills online rather than through the mail. This is more eco-friendly and will also save you money on checks and stamps.
• Carpool, ride the bus, use other public transportation or bike to work.
• Open the doors and windows to let fresh air in. Indoor air quality is often worse than outside air, so circulate fresh air into your home.
• Find out from your city what you can recycle. There may be items that you are currently throwing in the trash that could go in your recycle bin.
What are you doing to celebrate sustainability this Earth Day? Leave your comment below or send us an e-mail!
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