| Many of us want to be responsible citizens of the | | | | machines. When going green with your electronics, |
| Earth. We think about the effects our lifestyles | | | | you need to look at 3 factors. You need to |
| have on the environment. We are concerned | | | | consider the waste that is created in the |
| about global warming. We want to ensure our | | | | manufacturing of the products, the effects on the |
| children's future on this planet is one that still has | | | | environment when you use the products, and the |
| clean air to breathe, an abundance of trees and | | | | waste that is created when you are done with |
| wildlife, and clean water to drink. However, many | | | | the products. That may seem like a lot to think |
| of us also think that the sacrifices might be too | | | | about but if you follow these simple guidelines, |
| great to "go green" in our own office. Good news. | | | | you will be able to minimize the negative impact |
| It's not as difficult as you think. | | | | your office equipment has on the environment. |
| There are 3 areas where you can make a | | | | The manufacturing of electronics uses a lot of |
| significant impact without significant expense or | | | | resources including electricity, raw materials, and |
| inconvenience: paper, lights, and electronics. | | | | water. Electronics also account for billions of |
| The average American office worker throws out | | | | pounds of municipal waste each year. Just a few |
| about 150 pounds of paper per year. Paper | | | | of the contaminants that electronics create are |
| manufacturing contributes to the deforestation of | | | | toxic heavy metals, lead, PCB's, mercury, and |
| the planet and in America is responsible for 35 | | | | various acids. To lessen your office's affect on |
| million tons of CO2 a year. So what can you do? | | | | the number of new pieces of equipment that are |
| Buy recycled paper. Make full use of that paper | | | | manufactured, as well as end up in land fills, buy |
| by printing on both sides and/or using paper that | | | | all-in-one machines that combine multiple functions |
| is only printed on one side for scratch paper. Do | | | | into one. Whenever possible, get rid of machines |
| your proofreading and edits on your computer | | | | completely by using services such as Internet fax. |
| before printing to reduce the number of prints | | | | With an Internet fax service you get rid of the |
| you make. Re-use file folders by placing new | | | | fax machine completely, as well as reduce the |
| labels over the old ones. All of these changes are | | | | amount of paper and ink that gets consumed. |
| easy to make but have a big impact. Pretty | | | | Another way to decrease waste is to recycle |
| painless, right? | | | | machines that are no longer working and donate |
| Another way you can go green in your office is | | | | those that do to charities where they will stay in |
| as easy as changing a light bulb. In fact, it is | | | | use. |
| changing a light bulb. Incandescent bulbs use 4 | | | | 25% of the total electricity used by all commercial |
| times more energy than is necessary to produce | | | | buildings in the US is consumed by office buildings. |
| light. Halogen lights can get as hot as 1,100 | | | | When buying any new office equipment, look for |
| degrees Fahrenheit. That's hot enough to cook an | | | | Energy Star certified machines. This will make a |
| egg! Alternately, Energy Star certified compact | | | | huge difference in the amount of electricity that is |
| fluorescent lights (CFL's) use 75% less energy to | | | | used to run your office. For example, an Energy |
| produce the same amount of light, last 10 times | | | | Star certified computer is going to be 52% more |
| longer and produce less heat. If you feel like you | | | | efficient than a standard one. Laptops also use a |
| need even more reason to switch to CFL's, | | | | lot less energy than desktops, so consider |
| consider that you will also save money over the | | | | whether this is a viable option for your office. |
| lifetime of the bulb. Once you have made the | | | | Energy efficient machines are also going to have |
| switch to energy efficient bulbs, make sure lights | | | | stand by options that will power down or go into |
| are turned off when they are not needed. A | | | | sleep mode to conserve energy when not in use. |
| great way to ensure that this happens is with | | | | Once the office is closing for the day, make sure |
| motion sensors that will turn the lights off when | | | | that all equipment is powered off. |
| everyone has left the room. | | | | Taking these steps will get you on your way to |
| 38% of all of the carbon dioxide emissions come | | | | going green in your office. And as I promised, |
| from the electricity we generate. That electricity | | | | they will help you make a significant impact |
| is used to power all sorts of things. A major drain | | | | without significant cost or inconvenience to you |
| on our electricity is all of our office equipment | | | | and your employees. And you thought going |
| such as computers, copiers, printers, and fax | | | | green was going to be hard. |