Creating a Green Friendly Home Office
“Whether you’re setting up a home office or are already a work-from-home veteran, there are ways to conserve energy,” says Chris Winter, Executive Director of the Conversation Council of Ontario. “And with a home office, you have lots of options for reducing your environmental footprint.”Here are his top ways to ensure that your home office is earth-friendly.
Setting up your home office
If you’re in the process of setting up a home office, consider options that will make it more energy-efficient.- Go for natural light. “If you have the luxury of choosing a room, pick one with as much natural light as possible,” advises Mr. Winter. “You’ll save on electricity and have a better work environment. And who doesn’t want an office with a view?”
- Buy second hand. Rather than buy new furniture, take a peek at your local second-hand store for a desk, filing cabinet, bookcases and other storage solutions. “This is a good way to save money, add some character to your home office and reuse or repurpose something of value,” he says.
- Look for new products that are green. “Whether you’re in the market for new computer equipment or furniture, buy from companies that have eco-friendly policies in place; for example, those that use recycled or sustainable material, follow green manufacturing guidelines, reduce packaging or support green initiatives. In addition, many companies will now take your old computer to be recycled and disposed of responsibly,” says Mr. Winter. “You can normally find this information on the company website.”
- Think laptop rather than desktop. If you’re buying new or upgrading your computer, in general, laptops are more energy-efficient than desktops.
- Paint it “green.” A common way to spruce up an unused room is to freshen it up with paint. Now readily available in different colours and finishes, opt for low- or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint and primer for better indoor air quality.
The little stuff: Office supplies
It’s not just what you buy, but where you buy it.- Be a green consumer. Either online or in-person, favour retailers that offer green products and services, such as green seminars and ink and toner cartridge recycling.
- Don’t buy disposable. However, if you must buy disposable items, make sure they’re at least recyclable and won’t end up in landfills.
- Look for green office supplies. “There is no doubt that you’ll need paper, but there’s a good variety of innovative office products available,” says Mr. Winter. “From biodegradable ballpoint pens to fasteners that crimp paper and instead of using a stapler, always look for a green alternative.”
On-the-job eco-wise tips
There are plenty of ways to save energy by making small changes to your routine:- Scale back your paper use. “Promise yourself to not print anything — no emails or documents — unless you absolutely have to,” Mr. Winter says. Try setting yourself a no-paper goal for a week and see how easy it is to bypass the print option.
- Use your power bar. Like any appliance in your home, even when your computer and printer are switched off, they can still draw power because they’re plugged in. This is known as ‘phantom load.’ “To reduce a phantom load, switch your power bar off along with your computer, peripherals and any other home-office equipment that’s plugged into an outlet,” he says.
Expert tip: Ensure your power bars are within easy reach so it’s easy to flick them off at the end of the day. - Know your recycling options. If you live in an area with a recycling program, know how to make full use of it. Stay up-to-date on what material your municipality or town recycles and the process you need to follow.
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