Your Office

Green is good for business: A recent study conducted by consumer insight firm Brockmann & Company found that companies that focus on eco-friendly business practices such as recycling and reducing energy consumption had nearly five times higher employee satisfaction, and three times higher customer satisfaction than companies that didn't. That same study also found that environmentally minded companies earned nearly twice as much revenue per employee. So why aren't more companies getting themselves some of that green (money)?

"There's a lot of red tape to get through to make a company truly green," says Margaret Lydecker, a sustainability consultant who has worked with VH-1 and is the US head of Green Drinks, a networking organization of people in the environmental field. "But employees can help companies get on the right track with patience and an understanding of the importance of even seemingly small steps."

The right small steps can add up: Since energy use in commercial and industrial buildings generates 45% of US greenhouse gas emissions, and as much as 30% of that energy gets wasted, businesses that go green can have a major impact on the environment. The good news is, you don't have to be the CEO of your company to start making your office a little greener; there's plenty of eco-chicing to be done right there within the three walls of your cubicle.

Nice and Easy Eco Ideas

"Even if you work for a company that isn't taking any active steps to be green, there's a lot you can do on your own," says Jennifer Woofter, President of Strategic Sustainability Consulting, a network of consultants that help organizations understand their environmental impact and create sustainability plans. A couple of easy actions? "Bring your own mug, reusable water bottle, plates, and utensils to work," Woofter suggests. "And green your commute by using public transportation or carpools to get to and from the office."

But before you hop on that 5:02 pm bus, remember to shut down your computer. Here's a crazy statistic: If every US computer and monitor were turned off at night, we could avoid emitting seven million tons of CO2 each year. That's like taking nearly 1.5 million cars off the road!

You might not catch a glimpse of nature's greenery during the workday, but don't forget about the trees. "Paper makes up about 35% of all solid waste, so be conservative with what you decide to print out," suggests Lydecker. "There's a lot of energy that goes into making even recycled products; it's too easy to forget that when you're in a big office and it can seem like there's a free, endless supply of paper."

Other simple steps: Bring your own organic tea or coffee and throw a water filtration pitcher such as Brita in the company fridge so you're not tempted by those pesky, landfill-clogging plastic water bottles. Of the 60 million bottles consumed by Americans each day, more than 75% aren't recycled and wind up in landfills where they can take 1,000 years to break down. Finally, remember to turn your desk light off on your way out and check that any nearby vents are clear of furniture—as much as 25% more energy is needed to distribute air from a blocked vent.

Going to the Medium-Green Level

All right, ready to green more than your cube? It's time to think about eco-purchasing. Is your company using recycled paper? Double-sided printing? Energy Star appliances and equipment (which use as much as 60% less energy than standard equipment)? If you can swing a quick meeting with your company CEO to discuss the possibility of greening your office, Woofter suggests trying that route first. You might even consider taking an informal poll of co-workers to get their thoughts on green practices to share with the boss.