Our actions leave impressions on our planet, and some of them may be harmful to both the environment and humans. Because many of these activities take place at work – corporations, and governments are starting to reconsider what they do and how they do it. Going green is one of the many ways we can work to do our best to ensure that future generations inherit a habitable earth. This entails a shift in work and workplace design to guarantee that we leave the environment in a sound and healthy state. There are several, simple, effective, and easy ways to go green at the office that are not costly and offer long-term benefits to your business, employee well-being, and future spending. A few easy modifications for a more sustainable, green workplace can go a long way toward decreasing your company’s environmental impact. Going green at work is an effort to make your workplace more environmentally friendly. It may be as simple as working in natural, daylight and turning off lights when they are not needed, or changing the way you buy and drink water/juices/coffees. The whole idea is to replace waste-producing processes with waste-reducing practices.
Green technology is the development and usage of products, equipment, and systems that help to protect the natural environment and resources by minimizing and reducing the negative effects of human activity. Green technology, also known as sustainable technology, is technology that is designed to be environmentally friendly. The term “green” refers to nature, but it also refers to technology that considers both the long and short-term effects of an invention on the environment. Green products are inventions that are favorable to the environment and frequently include features such as energy efficiency, recycling, safety and health issues, and renewable resources.
Objectives of Green Technology:
- To decrease the rate of growth in energy consumption while promoting economic growth.
- To encourage the expansion of the green technology industry and increase its economic impact.
- To increase Green Technology development’s capacity for innovation and boost the field’s competitiveness in the field of Green Technology.
- To ensure long-term development and environmental preservation for future generations.
- To raise public awareness and education about green technology, as well as to encourage its wider usage.
Pillars of Green Technology:
Energy: Attempt to become energy self-sufficient and promote efficient use.
Environment: Conserve resources and reduce environmental degradation.
Economic: Zero or low greenhouse gas emission for the environment.
Social: Promotes healthy and improved environment for all forms of life.
Benefits of going green:
- Lower operational costs
- Enhance consumer perception
- Save the environment
- Contribute to bettering the world
Ways to create a green life office environment:
- Aim to go paperless: Workplaces are getting increasingly computerized in today’s world. The number one approach to go green is to use less paper. While it is hard to completely eliminate the use of paper, lowering your paper usage can have a significant environmental impact. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Only print when absolutely necessary. Many printed documents aren’t required, particularly internal office messages and anything that can be sent electronically. You can use whiteboards or overhead projectors to show notices and agendas instead of printing them. You can also share any documents through Google Drive. Managers can also track changes to papers, making it a collaborative editing tool, which would be difficult to accomplish with physical copies.
- E-signatures: Most corporate agreements require signatures, but you don’t have to use paper to get them. Without using paper, e-signature systems like Adobe Sign make it simple to obtain legally required signatures.
- Note taking apps: While pen and paper has been deeply rooted in everyone’s heritage, it’s time to change that. Now, there are note taking applications, like Google Keep, that make it simple to keep track of your ideas electronically. You can even sync them between devices, ensuring that your notes are always accessible when you need them. It goes the extra mile and allows you to also include images, audio recordings, and PDFs in your notes.
- Opt for reusable pens/equipment: Pens are the most common sort of litter found in rubbish bins. Consider how much plastic is wasted every time you throw away a pen. Instead, use a reusable pen. Look for refills that only need to be replaced when they run out. This will help you save money on pens and reduce the amount of plastic waste. You can also use washable cloth towels instead of paper towels in office bathrooms.
- Take advantage of natural light and actual greens: A well-lit work environment is necessary. To reduce the reliance on electricity, the best approach to bring in natural light is to open the shutters and blinds. Adjust the windows in the morning to let more light in and in return, you will save a ton of electricity. If natural light isn’t available at your business, utilize energy-efficient lighting instead. It also produces less CO2 than traditional workplace lighting. Why not even aim for a literal green office by including indoor plants into your decor? They are simple to maintain and provide a peaceful atmosphere, which helps to keep your workplace from becoming poisonous. Additionally, plants like these help in the improvement of air quality; they remove any pollutants that may have entered the building from the outside.
- Encourage recycle bins: This is a more long-term strategy. Using a recycling bin is a simple act that leads to future advantages. It contributes to fight against pollution in the environment.
It also allows your coworkers or employees to repurpose them. You can also recycle old computers, which makes a huge impact.
- Switch off devices and electronics when not in use: One way small businesses lose money is by wasting energy through the excessive use of lighting, heating, or devices. By shutting off lights and equipment when not in use and converting to compact fluorescent bulbs, you can reduce your energy use by up to 75%. Turn off all electric items, including laptops, computers, punch-in devices, heating, and air conditioning, every evening. In addition, allow part of your workplace equipment to run on rechargeable batteries to save money while also reducing harmful waste produced by carbon energy.
- Introduce green challenges every month for employees: Why not develop monthly green challenges with your team to assist getting everyone on board and encourage green workplace initiatives? It could be as simple as asking everyone to bring their own mugs to reduce throwing out plastic ones. Or it could be a bike to work day, use less fuel day, or bring your lunch in a wax wrap day. You could even create a leaderboard for green challenges and reward your staff and employees with a monthly ‘greenest employee’ award.
- Swap plastic bottles to glass or cans: Whether it’s water bottles or milk cartons for your office coffee corner, make sure to buy glass bottles instead of plastic. Why not try buying directly from the source and get refillable milk bottles that you can use again and over? Also, encourage your employees to use glass or cans instead of reusables for juices or soft drinks, since aluminum is the number one recycled material.
- Use non-toxic products: People usually don’t realize it, but cleaning products are usually loaded with chemicals that are damaging to the environment. The chemicals they emit gradually deplete the ozone layer. Instead, think about using products that are made with natural components when cleaning the office. Many companies now manufacture cleaning products that are made from natural ingredients. These products provide the same functions as traditional products, but they are gentler on your equipment and the environment.
- Carpooling: Sharing a car with your co-workers or using public transportation is a great way to lower the number of gas-emitting automobiles, which is one of the causes of the greenhouse effect.
A green firm uses sustainable business practices and conservation policies to improve the environment while also changing the way people do business. Knowing that your organization has implemented environmentally friendly policies and initiatives is a big step in the right direction. Change how your company handles ordinary day-to-day operations to save money and help the environment. With all the advantages it provides to your health, your workplace, and the environment, there appears to be no excuse not to go green today. How are you supporting green initiatives within your workplace?
