Living Green: The Missing Manual

Chapter 9. Green Business Is Good Business

Lots of people spend nearly as much time at the office as they do at home—you might even be one of 'em. You've made earth-friendly improvements at home, so why not do the same at work? This chapter suggests ways to make your workplace greener, from stuff you can do at your desk to company-wide policy changes you can suggest. In business, it's all about the bottom line, and going green can save your company money by reducing operating costs, using fewer supplies, and cutting back on expensive travel. And the goodwill you generate in your industry and community might just attract new customers.

Tip

Even if you're not a bigwig in your company, you can influence company policy. Research greener alternatives to the way your company does things, then write up a proposal and present it to management.

Greening the Workplace

The U.S. EPA says that the energy required for just one worker in an office building in a single workday causes twice as many greenhouse-gas emissions (for things like heating and cooling, and powering lights, computers, and copiers, and so on) as that worker's commute. Clearly, businesses can do better. There are lots of things you can do to make your workplace a healthier, more environmentally friendly place. This section gets you started with ideas for doing things greener at work.

Telecommuting

Chapter 8 has all kinds of tips for greening your commute, but the greenest option is to avoid commuting altogether. Telecommuting, working ...