| Everyday choices for an office can make a huge | | | | business. Choose the most efficient HVAC products |
| difference in the future of global health, as well as | | | | when purchasing a system, but they will not likely be |
| economic and social benefits. This energy guide | | | | the least expensive; however, the reduced utility bills will |
| suggests a number of energy saving opportunities that | | | | quickly make up for it. For optimal system |
| can make a difference. Choices of lighting, office | | | | performance, these systems need to be properly |
| equipment, paper products, heating and cooling | | | | maintained and operated. Operationally, automatic |
| systems, water conservation, and cars and parking | | | | thermostats can be installed to turn the systems on |
| can all reduce global warming pollution, and reduce | | | | and off when needed, eliminating wasteful use. |
| costs. | | | | There are creative options for high efficiency cooling |
| Lighting uses about 29% of the total energy use in an | | | | and heating including outside air economizers. These |
| office. By changing fluorescent lighting from T-12 to | | | | use the cool outside air to flush the building with fresh |
| T-8 or T-5 size lamps, using dimmable ballasts, and | | | | air. This allows less air conditioning use during the day, |
| changing to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can | | | | and these systems pay for themselves in 3-5 years. |
| save thousands of energy dollars in an office building. | | | | Another method to avoid the intense heat of the sun is |
| Changing exit signs and exterior lighting to CFLs will | | | | solar shading opportunities. They include reflective |
| also cut energy usage and costs. Occupancy | | | | roof coatings, which use white roof coverage that |
| sensors can also be used to automatically turn lights | | | | reflects the sun’s heat back into the atmosphere. |
| off when nobody is in a room. | | | | Window films and shading are also used to shield a |
| Considering computers, printers, copiers, and faxes, | | | | building from the sun’s heat. Another inventive |
| office equipment is enormous energy expenditure. If | | | | option is to have trees and shrubs planted on the |
| workstations would be shut down at night, and | | | | south and west side of a building to provide natural |
| automatically set to go into “sleep” mode during | | | | shade. Eco-roofs actually use vegetation as the roof |
| daytime idle periods, it could save millions of tons of | | | | surface. This does not allow as much heat |
| CO2 emissions! Additionally, look for Energy Star | | | | absorption through the roof, and it also has drainage |
| labels when replacing copiers, faxes, and other office | | | | advantages. |
| equipment. Energy Star copiers use less energy with | | | | Water conservation and water heating methods are |
| automatic turn off functions, and some are capable of | | | | important elements of having a green office. For hot |
| making double sided copies to use less paper. | | | | water heaters, set the temperature at 120 degrees, |
| Offices literally use tons and tons of paper, and there | | | | and consider a smaller or even a tankless unit. Solar |
| are effortless ways to use much less; for example | | | | pre-heating units are now available, which can save |
| relying on electronic copies instead of printing, single | | | | 50% off of hot water bills, and also allows for state |
| spacing what is printed, and simply using both sides of | | | | tax credits. As far as plumbing, install low flush toilets |
| a piece of paper. Purchasing recycled paper is an | | | | and low flow faucets, and always fix leaks. |
| obvious standard, but look for labels that say the paper | | | | Thousands of gallons of water can be wasted from |
| is made from at least 30% “Post Consumer | | | | leaks that are simple to repair. |
| Waste” (100% PCW is available and preferable), | | | | A significant saving of gasoline and a reduction of |
| and is non-chlorine bleached. Using recycling paper | | | | greenhouse emissions can result from employers who |
| saves significant energy, water, air emissions, and | | | | support the reduction of drive time for employees. |
| landfill space. Colored paper, magazines, newsprint, | | | | Employers can subsidize transit, and encourage |
| and boxes can be recycled in addition to standard | | | | carpooling with incentives. Employers can support |
| white paper. A business should always encourage | | | | bicycle commuting with secure bike parking and |
| and support the recycling of all eligible products like | | | | access to locker rooms and showers. Offering |
| glass, aluminum and plastics as well as paper. | | | | flexible work schedules including telecommuting and |
| There are many options for green office supplies | | | | compressed work weeks reduces commute time, and |
| which are excellent choices for an environmentally | | | | increases worker productivity. If a company has car |
| responsible office. Products should be chosen that | | | | fleets, choosing hybrid cars, and using recycled motor |
| are recycled, tree-free, biodegradable, non-toxic, | | | | oil and antifreeze are environmentally friendly options. |
| sustainable, or reusable. Paper products, pens and | | | | In order to implement some of the above, or research |
| pencils, planners, filing products, ink cartridges, and | | | | alternative products, some businesses hire a |
| more, all should be used. Responsible choices can be | | | | conservation manager. They can track energy use, |
| made when purchasing other products in an office | | | | encourage employee participation in green causes, and |
| including cups and food containers, trash bags, and | | | | facilitate the use of green office supplies. |
| cleaning supplies. | | | | Implementing any of these suggestions can be an |
| There are so many things an office can do to reduce | | | | important step toward improving the health of our |
| their HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) | | | | world, and GreenLine Paper supports these causes as |
| usage, which can be up to 40% of energy use in a | | | | well as supplying socially responsible office products. |