How to reduce your carbon footprint at work

Be a hero and help save the planet by making simple lifestyle changes. Here are some environmentally consciousness ways that you can incorporate to reduce your carbon footprint at work:

• Always turn off unnecessary lights during the day and turn off all lights at night. Lighting an empty office overnight can waste the amount of energy required to heat water for 1000 cups of coffee!
• Shut down computers overnight and use power saving options. Turn off unused machines at the plug. Appliances continue to draw electricity on stand by.
• An initial investment in tele- and video-conferencing facilities will reduce the need for flights, saving money, time and carbon emissions.
• Print less. Always print 2 pages per sheet or print on both sides of the paper. Go to Print, click on Properties, and choose Page layout: 2 pages per sheet OR go to Print, click on Properties, click on Finishing and choose Print Style: 2-sided printing.
• Optimise paper use. Change the margins on your word documents for more words on a page. Click on File, and choose Page set up and change the margins to 2 cm.
• Only buy recycled paper or paper from FSC certified sources. The FSC label ensures that the paper comes from responsible sources.
• Clean travel. Organise a car pool to work, or even better, cycle to the office.
• Recycle your e-waste. Electronic waste is the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded appliances that use electricity. It includes computers, consumer electronics, fridges etc. Visit www.e-waste.org.za to learn how to recycle your office’s e-waste.
• Water wise. Don’t serve bottled water at meetings. It takes 3 litres of water to 
produce 1 litre of bottled water. Promote tap water.
• ‘Green’ procurement. As far as possible, choose eco friendly products or services that aim to have the minimum impact on the environment.