From Guest Blogger Cooper Klein: Going Green–Ways to Create a More Sustainable Office

In the modern world of vanishing ecosystems, climate change, and the ever-growing scarcity of natural resources, becoming environmentally-friendly is no longer an option – it has become a necessity. While it is the duty of every household to minimize its carbon footprint by introducing eco-friendly solutions and adopting green habits, there is only so much the residential realm can achieve on its own.

The business world needs to join the fight for the preservation of Earth. With more and more eco-conscious companies joining the cause with each passing year, now is the time your business raised the green flag as well. Not only for the good of the ecosystem but for the good of your company as well. Here are the best ways your office space can become more eco-friendly and help you make long-term financial savings in the process.

Going energy efficient across the board

Modern tech innovations aim to simplify and expedite all daily processes in the office, at home, and beyond. Not only is switching to energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and amenities across the board a great way to save up on your electricity bill, but it’s also a great way to green up your office space in general.
For the work area, consider switching to laptops from desktop PCs, as laptops tend to use five times less energy on average. For the office kitchen area, look for modern appliances that use smart technology to minimize energy and water consumption, and try to educate your staff on proper operating procedures in the process. You can use the Energy Star rating to find the best appliances and other office tech for your needs.

Ditch paper and embrace the digital mindset

Is there really a need to use paper in the wake of the digital revolution? What can a pen and paper do for the collective productivity of your office staff that smart software cannot? Not much, really. In fact, there aren’t a lot of things paper is good for in a 21st-century office environment, which is why it would be a prudent and financially-sensible idea to ditch or cut paper use and stick to software.

Not only would you be doing the earth a favor by aiding the preservation of rainforests and cutting down on waste production that feeds the global landfills, but you would also be elevating office-wide productivity levels by keeping everything connected, secured, and shareable across all platforms.

Introducing green features throughout

Green office design is very much a thing, and modern design studios such as Studio X that focus on creating sustainable office spaces for the new millennium incorporate everything from eco-friendly appliances, ancillary features, all the way to natural lighting and ventilation that requires minimal upkeep and maintenance into their plans. This approach helps create an independent, sustainable space that can support the needs of your team and even teach them about the importance and benefits of environmentalism.

Reuse, reduce, and recycle

Speaking of educating your employees, introducing a strict “reuse, reduce, recycle” policy in your company should be one of your top priorities. After all, your business is only as eco-friendly as your employee collective, so it’s important to instill these green values into their hearts and minds as well.
You can easily achieve this by running eco workshops and surrounding your employees with the aforementioned features that will seamlessly inspire them to become a part of the movement. Not only is this great for your brand recognition and word-of-mouth marketing efforts, but such policies will help you minimize your resource consumption in the long run.

Fill the place with greenery

Finally, an eco-friendly workspace is not complete without strategic greenery scattered throughout the office that serves both an aesthetic and a functional purpose. Not only are office plants excellent for creating that natural oasis vibe that will help your employees banish fatigue and maintain top productivity, but they can also act as natural air purifiers and shades, minimizing the need to use the HVAC system.

In the wake of the environmental revolution, every growth-oriented business should strive to create a sustainable work environment – for the sake of its employees, customers, as well as its reputation in the competitive market. By introducing these green solutions into your office space, you will effectively help in the preservation of Earth, and generate long-term ROI in the process.