1. Set Carbon Footprint Goals
Starting off the new year with a vague eco-friendly resolution usually just leads to business as usual. Set goals for how much you can reasonably reduce your carbon footprint, and then get there by purposefully making changes in the products you buy and the energy you use. This business carbon footprint calculator can help establish your footprint. Going a step further, a business energy audit will lead to utility bill savings.
2. Make Fuel Economy a Priority
3. Install a Living Wall
No, a living wall doesn’t pulsate with chthonic forces and demand to be fed with brains. It’s loaded up with plants that help clean up your indoor air quality, and they don’t have to cost a fortune. Home or small office versions can be found here starting at $450.00. If you’d rather not have a wall of plants, look at buying a few more plants to spread around the office to help you and your employees breathe easier. NASA-backed research shows that greenery removes toxic chemicals, including those found within computers and printers, from the air. The most potent air-cleaning plants include the low-maintenance peace lily and English ivy.
4. Think About the Lifecycle Before Buying Tech
5. Green Your Printing
If you print brochures or other marketing collateral, try to go as green as you can with your printing choices. Check out these five green printing tools. If you need a third-party to print materials, Greenerprinter.com makes a commitment to the environment.
Many tools allow employees to work from anywhere, and employers enjoy bottom-line benefits to telecommuting policies. GoToMeeting, Skype, Google+ Hangouts, and many other technologies let you meet with employees on the fly even if they are working in their slippers at home. The savings alone for in-person meetings where employees need to fly to a destination is 1600 kilograms of carbon emissions, according to the World Wildlife Fund. That’s not to mention savings for your travel budget.
7. Power Off Everything at Night
8. Use Your Computer’s Power-Saving Mode
Every computer can be run in power-saving mode. In Windows 7, go into your control panel, and then choose Power Options and Power Saver, except where you really need your computer to run at peak performance. Your graphic designer, for example, may not want to run her computer on Power Saver mode. And if she’s rocking an Apple, check out built-in power saving features for OS X.
–Elsa Wenzel contributed to this story.
Angela West dreams of opening a Fallout-themed pub featuring wait staff with Pip-Boys. She’s written for big insurance companies, small wildlife control businesses, gourmet food chains, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @angelawest and Facebook.