We want to be “green” in everything that we do. We look for ways to make monumental impacts in our everyday lives. Sometimes what we overlook is the smaller details that can escape us, but still make a serious impact. Here is a short list of those smaller details to instill change at work.

Update Mailing Lists

Seems like an odd place to start, but if you make sure your “physical” mailing lists are up to date on a regular basis then you will be saving a multitude of resources. Postage costs, printing costs and paper costs are all factored into every piece of undeliverable mail.
This is a small but effective tip; by ensuring your mailing lists are up to date, you avoid sending out unnecessary letters, thus saving.

Go Casual

Who would have thought, but going casual cuts back on dry cleaning, which can make a big impact on the environment. We generally dry clean our formal wear after every use, but jeans, casual shirts and the like generally get more than one use per outing. If your work culture allows it, go causal and then thank Mark Zukerberg for making it acceptable.

Shut It All Down

This seems like a no-brainer but can be difficult to implement and monitor. Call a company meeting and let your staff know that machines, computers, office equipment, lights, etc. need to be shut down at the end of every work day. Then release a memo and put somebody in charge of monitoring. This can save massive amounts of waste per office.

Install Motion Sensors

This is a big one. Don’t believe me? Take a minute to walk around the office and see how many spaces are fully lit with nobody in it. Welcome back. Now think about how much energy, money and strain on the grid can be saved when those areas are lit only when occupied. This is a small cost for a huge savings.

Buy Multi-Purpose Machines Second Hand

The functionality and output of every machine in the office is a drain on resources. Look for machines that do more than one thing. Everything from fax, print and scan machines to coffee, hot water, espresso machines can be found on second hand sites. Use apps like OfferUp to locate anything and everything for sale second hand by geo-location. Caution, could be habit forming.