10 ways to go green at work

Greener homes are in the spotlight these days, but what about the other places where many of us spend huge chunks of our time--our offices? Some simple changes of habit can save energy and resources at work, and these small steps can be multiplied by persuading the powers-that-be at your workplace to adopt environmentally friendly (and often cost-effective) policies.

1. Be bright about light
Artificial lighting accounts for 44 percent of the electricity use in office buildings.
> Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you're leaving any room for 15 minutes or more and utilize natural light when you can.
> Make it a policy to buy Energy Star-rated lightbulbs and fixtures, which use at least two-thirds less energy than regular lighting, and install timers or motion sensors that automatically shut off lights when they're not needed.

2. Maximize computer efficiency
Computers in the business sector unnecessarily waste $1 billion worth of electricity a year.
> Make it a habit to turn off your computer—and the power strip it's plugged into—when you leave for the day. Otherwise, you're still burning energy even if you're not burning the midnight oil. (Check with your IT department to make sure the computer doesn't need to be on to run backups or other maintenance.) During the day, setting your computer to go to sleep automatically during short breaks can cut energy use by 70 percent. Remember, screen savers don't save energy.
> Make it a policy to invest in energy-saving computers, monitors, and printers and make sure that old equipment is properly recycled. Look for a recycler that has pledged not to export hazardous e-waste and to follow other safety guidelines. Old computers that still work, and are less than five years old, can be donated to organizations that will refurbish them and find them new homes. (You may even get a tax deduction.)

3. Print smarter
The average U.S. office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year.
> Make it a habit to print on both sides or use the back side of old documents for faxes, scrap paper, or drafts. Avoid color printing and print in draft mode whenever feasible.
> Make it a policy to buy chlorine-free paper with a higher percentage of post-consumer recycled content. Also consider switching to a lighter stock of paper or alternatives made from bamboo, hemp, organic cotton, or kenaf. Recycle toner and ink cartridges and buy remanufactured ones. According to Office Depot, each remanufactured toner cartridge "keeps approximately 2.5 pounds of metal and plastic out of landfills...and conserves about a half gallon of oil."

4. Go paperless when possible
> Make it a habit to think before you print: could this be read or stored online instead? When you receive unwanted catalogs, newsletters, magazines, or junk mail, request to be removed from the mailing list before you recycle the item.
> Make it a policy to post employee manuals and similar materials online, rather than distribute print copies. They're easier to update that way too.

5. Ramp up your recycling
> Make it a habit to recycle everything your company collects. Just about any kind of paper you would encounter in an office, including fax paper, envelopes, and junk mail, can be recycled. So can your old cell phone, PDA, or pager.
> Make it a policy to place recycling bins in accessible, high-traffic areas and provide clear information about what can and can not be recycled.

6. Close the loop
> Make it a policy to purchase office supplies and furniture made from recycled materials.

7. Watch what (and how) you eat
> Make it a habit to bring your own mug and dishware for those meals you eat at the office.
> Make it a policy to provide reusable dishes, silverware, and glasses. Switch to Fair Trade and organic coffee and tea, and buy as much organic and local food as possible for parties and other events. Provide filtered drinking water to reduce bottled-water waste.

8. Rethink your travel
> Make it a habit to take the train, bus, or subway when feasible instead of a rental car when traveling on business. If you have to rent a car, some rental agencies now offer hybrids and other high-mileage vehicles.
> Make it a policy to invest in videoconferencing and other technological solutions that can reduce the amount of employee travel.

9. Reconsider your commute
> Make it a habit to carpool, bike, or take transit to work, and/or telecommute when possible. If you need to drive occasionally, consider joining a car-sharing service like Zipcar and Flexcar instead of owning your own wheels.
> Make it a policy to encourage telecommuting (a nice perk that's also good for the planet!) and make it easy for employees to take alternative modes of transportation by subsidizing commuter checks, offering bike parking, or organizing a carpool board.

10. Create a healthy office environment
> Make it a habit to use nontoxic cleaning products. Brighten up your cubicle with plants, which absorb indoor pollution.
> Make it a policy to buy furniture, carpeting, and paint that are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and won't off-gas toxic chemicals.

Green Homes: Environmentally Responsible

Even if you’re sick of the term “Going Green”, it’s likely that you are at least aware of the benefits of conserving our resources and trying to do our part in keeping the Earth clean on a certain level. Environmentally-responsible homes are a great way to start this process, especially if you’re having your home built for you. A few things here and a tweak or two there can do wonders for you in the long run. Here are few advantages of setting up your new home in this fashion:

Save Money: You might not realize it, but adapting your home to the environment around it and taking steps to ensure efficiency really doesn’t cost much more than standard procedures. Even if there is a slightly bigger monetary cost at the outset, you will find that within a few months, you have already made up the difference in efficiency. In today’s economy, many people worry daily about their future financial situations and what the road holds for them three years down the line. You can realistically save thousands of dollars in a few short years by attuning your home to environmentally-responsible standards.

Breathe Better: If your home is environmentally friendly, the air inside will be free of much of the debris and harmful particles that are in everyday homes. This can be especially beneficial in homes that host the elderly or folks with inherent breathing problems such as asthma or emphysema. There are ventilation systems with earth-friendly filters that are much more effective than the current systems, and they are available for less than you may think.

Less Maintenance: As you build your home, planning ahead is key. We’ve all seen the implementations of numerous city councils and planners around the country, and how year by year they are taking steps that demand environmentally-friendly homes. Many have told the tale of being required to upgrade something either in their practices at home or at their business that did not meet “industry standards” anymore. Seeing the current trend and taking action now rather than later can save you a bundle. It’s much cheaper to install such products initially rather than having to take down existing schemes and replace them later.

It’s not that serious and it doesn’t have to cost that much. All it takes is a little planning and a little initiative and you can have an environmentally-responsible home that will save you loads in throughout this next generation.

Save Money and Reduce Carbon Emissions

Second to the refrigerator, the clothes dryer is a household’s worst offender in terms of energy efficiency. For an average household in the United States, a clothes dryer takes up 6 percent of the total energy use, costing each household around $100 per year in energy, and emitting 1,440 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air. In fact, clothes dryers are so inefficient, that energy star doesn’t label a single one.

The good news is that drying clothing in a machine is not necessary. Okay, I realize it is convenient, but if your goals and priorities are a healthy planet, sometimes convenience takes a back seat.

In reality though, avoiding a dryer is not really that hard. The sun provides plenty of free energy, and depending on where you live, you can probably dry your clothes outside in the open air most of the year. Think of the benefits: money saved, and a little extra exercise to help you stay fit. And nothing beats the smell of clothes dried outside in the warm, summer air.

Green Homes

So is it safe to say that you are aware of what it means to “Go Green?” The craze of green has taken over just about every aspect of society from the news, politics, fashion, nutrition and even technology making it difficult to properly define green. Though the overall outcome and motivation for going green is of course to aid in creating a better eco-friendly environment and allocation of resources for the future generations – it is exceptionally beneficial to you as well. As the craze takes off it has driven more and more people to take green into their homes, and I say that literally. Custom built green homes and buildings have become a popular investment that assists the environment and consumers alike. If you are building a home it is beneficial for numerous reasons to begin building a green home.

The first and foremost reasoning for building a green home is Energy Savings. This is done by increasing your water and heating efficiencies. There are many ways that this is done. Making sure that your home is properly insulated is a key factor. Most homes have insulation; however, making sure that you’re insulated with high quality insulation and the key word “properly” installed insulation greatly increases its efficiency. There are many voids where insulation can be installed and making sure that all of home is insulated correctly is vastly important. Another factor is upgraded windows and doors. Doubled paned windows are a must and appropriate weather stripping increases its effectiveness. Installing energy efficient appliances and systems takes another step in making sure your home is holding its value.

Another reason to go with a green home is your health. Green homes are designed to decrease the amount of air pollutants within your home by better ventilation systems. This is done in many ways from the design of the home to the ventilation system and filters used in itself – all of which plays a role in the overall air quality.

Because a green home is built to be of higher quality – less maintenance is required. When it comes to building a green home the key words are properly and efficient, and when products are installed properly and efficiently they require less maintenance. This lack of constant maintenance can play a huge role in the time and money put into the upkeep of a home.

The fact is that building a green home isn’t only good for the environment, contrarily; it offers an array of long and short term benefits for you, your home, and your family.

Tips For Energy Efficient For Your House

The ideas listed here are are just some of the items that can be done to lessen your energy expenditures month in, month out. They have low or no fees and may be performed quickly to allow you to be secure, comfy all the while helping the environment and being economical. Share these with the whole family and try to get each person included.


1. Install a programmable thermostat in order to maintain your own home pleasantly heated in winter and adequately cool in the summertime.

2. Take advantage of compact fluorescent light bulbs using the ENERGY STAR® label.

3. Air dry the dishes as opposed to using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.

4. Put off your PC and keep track of when not in use.

5. Connect home electronics, including TVs and DVD players, right into power strips; flip the power strips off if the products are not in take advantage of (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still employ several watts of power).

6. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.

7. Take short showers as opposed to baths.

8. Clean mainly full loads of the dishes and clothes. With clothing take advantage of cold water.

9. Drive shrewdly. Aggressive driving (racing, quick acceleration and braking) squanders gasoline

10. Check for the ENERGY STAR label on home appliances and merchandise.

11. Ensure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are correctly cared for. Check your owner’s manuals for the suggested repair.

12. Search for open fireplace dampers and make certain they are closed when not in use.

13. Look at the insulation values in your attic, exterior and basement walls, ceilings, floors, and crawl spaces.

14. Look at for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that can leak air right into or out of your home.

15. You may also get the assistance of a professional.

Tips for choosing a new green car

Choosing a greener car can have a direct financial benefit for you as well as helping to conserve our environment for all Australians and future generations. Buying a vehicle that is more fuel efficient can save you thousands of dollars on fuel bills and many tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the vehicle's life.

As a new car buyer there will be a range of factors that are important in making your final choice of vehicle. As a major financial investment and a decision that will be with you for a number of years, it is important to purchase the car that best meets your needs.

Assess your needs carefully. In doing so, consider your day-to-day transport requirements, eg. passengers carried and cargo capacity required, and match these requirements to a vehicle that can provide them (or a good compromise).

You may wish to draw up a list of the features you want in a car. Then think about what other factors will influence your decision, and add these to the list. How important is each of these in coming to your final decision?

Consider how often, if at all, you may need certain features, such as off road capacity or a larger engine for towing. These features may come at an extra financial cost and an extra cost to the environment. Given that many of these costs will be ongoing for the life of your car/s, it is important to make the right decision.

Research all possibilities, ask friends/family about cars, visit car dealers to look at various models and search the Internet for relevant websites, including those set up by manufacturers, motor magazines, and motoring clubs, etc. Ask questions! If there are any 'car terms' you don't understand, now is the time to ask.

Before buying a new vehicle, refer to the Green Vehicle Guide ratings. Detailed information helps identify individual vehicle models, including the make, model and variant name, engine and transmission, body style, seating and fuel type. Further information to help you compare each vehicle's impact on the environment includes the - Greenhouse Rating (based on CO2 emissions); Air Pollution Rating (based primarily on emission standards); an overall 'Star' Rating (a combination of the Greenhouse Rating and Air Pollution Rating); and Fuel Consumption (in L/100km). You can use the Green Vehicle Guide to identify the vehicle with the highest ratings which meets your needs.

Remember, larger cars and those with bigger engines often consume more fuel, which not only increases your fuel bills, but increases the level of greenhouse gas emissions. Commercial style vehicles and large off road vehicles are usually built to less stringent emission standards than "regular" passenger cars, so produce more air pollutants. If you are in a showroom, look for the Fuel Consumption Label on the front windscreen, which provides information on fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions from the vehicle.

Passive Solar Energy For heating

Mention solar technology and most people automatically assume that solar panels are involved in one way or another. While this is generally true, the concept of passive solar energy has been used from thousands of years to heat structures. The trombe wall is one form of low tech used in passive solar for heating a home at night.

To understand how the trombe wall functions, it helps to first contemplate how passive solar energy works as a heating process. A simple example suffices. Imagine you drive to the grocery store. You park in the parking lot and head inside. You are there for no more than 30 minutes. When you come out to the car, what has happened? It has turned into an oven! This is passive solar at its finest. The sunlight has heated up every dark surface in the interior of the car, which then radiates heat. During the summer, sitting down on the seats can be a delicate maneuver, particularly if you are in shorts!

What if you could capture this heat during the hottest periods of the day and slowly release it at night when temperatures drop? This is exactly what the trombe wall is designed to do. The average trombe wall is between 8 and 16 inches thick. It is typically made of concrete. On the exterior face, the wall is covered with a heat absorbing material. This can be a painted on dark color or absorbent material. A double layer of glass is then placed about an inch outside of this and forms the exterior of the structure. It looks a little odd to have a wall inside of glass, but the heating impact is significant.

As sunlight penetrates the glass, it heats up the surface of the concrete wall. The wall then absorbs the heat at a rate of about an inch an hour. By the end of a sunny day, you have a concrete wall that is heated up much like the rocks in a sauna, although obviously not as hot. The double glass serves to insulate one side of the wall. Once the temperature in the area starts to cool below the heat level of the trombe wall, it will start to emit heat. The heat rises. Vents and small fans can be put in to circulate the warm air into the interior of the home where it can be funneled to rooms in use. This can be done day-after-day so long as the sun hits the wall.

Solar power is a complex energy platform and involves much broader techniques then just solar panels or water heaters. Passive solar can be a powerful way to deal with heating issues and the trombe wall is one example of this.