eco-Office tips

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Eco-Office tips 

Nearly every office, be it commercial or home-based, has areas of inefficiency that can be improved upon.

Not all paper work and receipts need to be shredded, but sometimes, for the sake of security, it is necessary. This shredded paper is recyclable or it can be contributed in layers to a compost or worm bin. It can also be donated to animal shelters where it is used to keep the bottom of cages clean. This simple donation will ease workloads on the volunteer staff while keeping operational costs down, and the animals more comfortable in their cages. The animal waste along with the bedding is easily composted, as you would any other manure.
Technology now makes it possible to save paper on a daily basis by sending emails, the occasional fax, video calling and texting. It is hard to imagine these days just how much time was spent when we were forced to make phone calls and use the slow postal system. The expectation of such technology was the reduction of paper use, however this hasn’t exactly proved true.

There are so very many ways we can reduce paper consumption. When sending a fax, for example, refrain from using a cover sheet. For efficient paper use at the photocopy machine, set it to automatically print both sides of the page. When making draft copies with the photocopier or printer, use the reverse side of any suitable scrap paper. We keep a box of this paper handy for visiting children to colour and draw upon. We use it to plot out projects and take notes during brainstorming sessions. We often use the paper sheer and cut the scrap paper into 4 equal squares, making smaller note paper that is super handy to use as shopping lists, reminder notes, game scoring, or the perpetual to-do list.

Used adhesive labels sheets tend to have 1/4" of unused material around the edges, top and bottom. These can be trimmed off the sheet and cut into convenient lengths (usually 2”) and stored in a small container in the drawer. These labels come in handy whenever we have items destined for the freezer, jam/jelly/herb jars, bulk foods, shop and craft supplies among other things.

Keep computer equipment such as external drives, printers and scanners powered off when they are not in use - turn them on only for the duration that they are needed. Stand-by power (lights or clock displays) can be eliminated by either using a power bar with a switch, or by manually unplugging the equipment. Sleep computers during the day when not in use (lunch, coffee, or meetings) and turn all equipment off before leaving at the end of the day.

These are some simple suggestions, yet they will save time, money and resources, which is in the best interest of any office.

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