- Switch to Laptops: Laptops computers use only 10% of the energy required by desktops, and take up less desk space, opening up the possibility of a smaller office. Even better, buy used laptops. Check out our main blog for a guide to buying a used laptop. You can often get great deals on business ready models.
- Avoid the photocopiers: Photocopiers are energy hogs. Use them sparingly, and remember to shut them off at night. Amazingly, A photocopier not turned off overnight and left in standby uses enough energy to produce over 1,500 photocopies.
- Switch to LED Lighting: Led lighting can reduce carbon footprint by 70%, and more than pays itself back over time. No-brainier, right? Yet more than 70% of commercial installations have not yet switched over.
- Telecommute one day a week: Most people telecommute alone in a car, which, of course, is a huge amount of energy. Also, many people find they are more productive working from home once a week, and look forward to making productive use of the commuting time they save. Encouraging employees to telecommute one day a week will cut your transportation budget by 20% and often leads to happier employees.
- Turn down the Heat/AC: Every degree colder in the winter (or hotter in the summer) that you can tolerate over an 8 hour period will lead to a one percent drop in your fuel bills. Try one degree at a time during the day, and turn it down a significant ammonium at night.
This post is sponsored by a century old family business,
Kranich Jewelers, sellers of mothers rings and other quality jewelry. Kranichs has been working with Sustainablog to implement many of the changes above, and we will keep you posted about their progress!
