Greening your office

For those who work in an office (like myself), it feels as though that is where you spend a majority of your time. So you should make every effort to keep it as green as you would other parts of your life.

1. We have to remember that green living requires examining every part of your life/routines to see where you can make a change. Thus, greening your workspace starts with how you get to work. I’m talking about walking, biking and mass transit. I used to live outside San Francisco and would walk 15 minutes to the bus, take a 45 minute bus ride, and another 5 minute walk to work. That’s over an hour commute. But I know if I had decided to drive, it would have taken much longer when factoring in traffic and the impossibility of parking. The expense would also have been much higher. Before I was spending about $8/day on the bus ($160/month), now that I’ve moved to San Francisco I spend just $2.25/day ($45/month). Driving would include gas (very high right now as we all know), the cost of insurance, toll over the bridge, and parking daily. I don’t even want to calculate that cost. In addition to these things, walking or biking your way to work is great exercise and makes you feel much healthier. And don’t forget the joys of carpooling. In addition to saving money, the environment, and time driving (you can sleep while others drive!) – it is a great way to make friends. Whether people who work in your office or in an office nearby, you can expand your social and work network this way. If you live in the Bay Area, go to 511.org and check out their Trip Planner for finding mass transit options from home to work (or anywhere else). There are also links to Bike Maps and Carpool matching services.
2. Next is once you enter the building. If you work in an office building with multiple floors, you probably take the elevator. This saves time and energy. However, elevators are a waste of energy, especially for just one person. If you work on the second or third floor, consider taking the stairs. After a few weeks of this, you will definitely notice that it gets easier and easier. I work on the 6th floor, and I have walked up a few times, but it is quite a lot of work (though I may try from now on just to bare it, because it’s such great exercise). However, I always try to walk down whenever I leave the office. No matter what floor you are on, it is easy to take the stairs down instead of calling up that elevator.
3. The next step is literally greening your workspace, I’m talking about keeping plants on your desk. I have one potted plant (which is growing nicely) and some dried lavender. A coworker had a whole trellis hanging from her window with numerous plants. You can have as much or as little as you like, but it is a nice reminder of nature and the outside world instead of your gray cube walls. Just remember to water it (without over watering). I generally check how dry the soil is when I come in each morning and water it if it doesn’t feel moist.
4. Breaks: Stop every day for coffee before work? Or like to take that mid-morning break? Two things you can do. First, invest in a coffee maker, either for your home or office. Either way, you are saving money, and by using a mug or travel mug instead of disposable cups, you are eliminating waste. If you just can’t let go of your gourmet coffee drinks, bring your own cup! I have a travel mug that I keep at the office for whenever I have the urge to run out for coffee or tea. Just think, you are completely eliminating all those cardboard cups that would have gone straight to the trash.
5. Along the same lines is your lunch. From an economic standpoint, I try to bring my lunch 4 out of 5 days a week. But this too also helps to eliminate waste, depending on what you wrap your lunch in. In high school I used a brown paper bag every day with a plastic bag for my sandwich, a plastic bag for chips or crackers, and a disposable soda can. Now I have a reusable lunch bag, tupperware that perfectly fits the size of my average sandwich, and a steel water bottle (easily fillable with juice or soda as well). And I use tupperware for anything else I bring like crackers or fruit. There is no need to waste paper or plastic bags when you have everything you need with reusable containers.

That’s it for now, but lots more green office tips to come!