You’re probably already taking greener steps by working from home – after all, you’re putting
one less car on the road when you give up your commute.
Switching to virtual, remote communication removes a lot of the need for printed hard copies
of important documents, and it’s easier to eat healthier from home than it is when you’re away.
You can always take things a step or two further by continuing to optimize your environment
to be conscious of the planet and conserving natural resources.
It’s no secret that offices generate a lot of waste, but if you’re mindful, yours doesn’t have to.
Utilize Natural Light
Natural light is your best friend.
The sun is free, and your office needs a lot of access to it.
Natural light is better for your eyesight and your circadian rhythm, and it doesn’t leave a toll
on your energy bill.
Your home office should be placed in an area with enough windows to prevent you from relying
on lamps during the daytime.
If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your apartment, you may want to consider renting a room
close to home that can be efficiently utilized as an office.
Upcycle Your Furniture
You need desks, chairs, and shelves.
It will be hard to get anything accomplished if you don’t have proper furniture or organization.
While it may feel tempting to make a trip to Ikea, you should resist the urge.
Craftier people might enjoy the tactile experience of building custom furniture out of recycled pallet wood.
If you aren’t feeling up to the challenge, you can always buy older furniture second hand,
or repurpose things like milk crates for additional organization.
Limit Your Use of Paper Products
Home offices are most commonly used by remote workers or independent professionals.
Doing things your own way means you’re able to cut out some of the waste.
Always opt for digital documents.
Things that need to be signed are able to receive virtual signatures through programs like Adobe.
Scratch paper and notepads can be replaced by the backs of older paperwork.
When you’re done with any paper goods, don’t forget to recycle them.
Keeping a paper bin in your office will remind you to do so.
Use Mindful Decorations
Since a green home office should have plenty of natural sunlight, making the most of that can be
more fruitful than you may have imagined.
Nobody wants a drab office space, and your decorations can be more than just aesthetic focal pieces.
Many people have office plants, but have you ever considered growing herbs?
They’re nice to look at, and they serve double duty.
Some basil and oregano close to a window will serve as fragrant decorations that you can harvest later.
Watch Your Power Consumption
There’s no way around needing vital electronic equipment, such as a computer and a printer.
If you’re working at night or on a dark day, you’re going to need to use some lights.
All you can do is make sure you’re not consuming an excessive amount of electricity.
Most newer office appliances come with an eco mode, or electricity-efficiency feature.
Make sure you’ve enabled this mode on all of your electronics.
Use high-efficiency daylight LED lightbulbs, and try to locate a single bulb close to your working
area rather than illuminating your whole office.
Sometimes, going green requires you to engage your creativity.
You’ll need to think outside of the box and come up with some innovative ways to re-envision
what a home office means, and the functionality you expect from one.
About the Author
Hannah Dickins is part of the team behind DirectorStats.co.uk. With a huge interest in writing and startup industry, she works as a Community Manager. She’s keen on new helpful online tools and productivity hacks.
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Do you have a home office or work from home?
What are your tips for making your home office greener?
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thanks for these tips! I never thought to bring a plant to my office – definitely need to do that! ♥
Great tips! My partner works from home and is the only one there during the day. He tries to avoid heating the whole house to a comfortable temperature. At first he was using a space heater next to his desk, but this guzzled so much electricity that it wasn’t worth the savings on natural gas for the furnace. Hot drinks and an electric heating pad under his feet help. But the best solution has been moving as much of his work as possible to the family computer downstairs, because the living room tends to be warmer than his home office! It works out since nobody is home to distract him.
Hi Becca,
I know what you mean. My father’s house is like that. The rooms are unevenly heated so we often wear sweaters and even throws to stay warm while keeping the temperature low for energy-saving reasons. The middle bedroom is the warmest room so that has become the best place to hang out with laptops and tablets to get work done. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I appreciate it.
I think these are great tips for those who work efficiently in a home office. I currently do not have an office space, so I use my side of the bed and get comfy! I have a lamp right beside me for lighting [which needs a more energy efficient light bulb currently]. For storage, I use my bedside table and a wooden basket. It works great while I live in a studio apartment set up, but once we get our home built, I will have my own space again! How do you cut down on paperwork you need to keep for taxes? I have bills that come in the mail, I can’t get electronically, but am not sure what to do with besides store them.
Erin | http://www.awelderswife.com
What great suggestions! The way we consume energy and impact the environment with our everyday activities is so important to consider. Thank you!