Going green in the workplace: 7 ways to save energy, cut waste on the job

Thousands of people worldwide will look to make a difference on April 22, in observance of Earth Day.

Going green--implementing environmentally conscious practices-has become more than a hot topic, but a movement to conserve our Earth's resources.

"What makes this movement so different is that you can't wait around and say can we develop a diversity plan? Those days are gone," says Charles Jordan, board chairman of The Conservation Fund, about why Blacks should care about going green. "Global warming is what they say it is ... you don't wait around to be invited if you really care because there's not going to be any discrimination when it comes. This is one of the movements that really demands all hands on deck."

One place an individual can make a strong impact on the environment is at work. Though workers are already multitasking, a few quick and simple actions can save energy and prevent waste.

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People are slowly starting to pay more attention to energy conservation, says Maria Vargas, the Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson for the government's Energy Star program, which establishes energy efficient products and practices. "I think people realize when they're not using equipment and it's on, it's wasteful," she says. Vargas suggests making sure that the power-management function is enabled on your computer, which includes the hard drive as well as the monitor. "When those are on and you're away from your desk, that's a pretty blatant waste of energy," she says.

Last year alone, Vargas says, with the help of Energy Star, Americans saved $16 billion on their energy bills and reduced greenhouse gas emission equivalent to that of 27 million vehicles.

Here are a few tips to help you help save our planet.

1 Commute For The Environment

Even before getting to work you can help improve air quality by walking, bicycling or taking public transportation to the job. Arrange a carpool and alternate drivers weekly. Transportation accounts for 66 percent of all U.S. oil consumption. Gasoline and diesel-burning automobiles are the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, accounting for one-third of our total carbon dioxide emissions.

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2 Reduce Energy Use

Turn off computer monitors, printers and lights when not being used. Shut down computers after 15 minutes idle time. Also, unplug equipment that drains energy when not in use, such as cell phone chargers, fans, coffeemakers, desktop printers, radios, TVs, VCRs and iPod docks. If you are the last one leaving for the day, turn off copy machines and other office equipment. Another way to reduce energy is to take the stairs instead of using the elevator when possible.

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3 Forgo Printing & Photocopies

Do you really need to print those e-mails when they're saved in your inbox? Instead, print and photocopy only important documents to minimize the amount of paper you use. Spell-check and proofread before you print or copy. Send an e-mail instead of printing. Recycle copy paper by using both sides for printing or copying, or for scrap paper. Another way to save at the office is to reuse shipping boxes and envelopes by sticking labels over the old addresses.

4 Bring Lunch In Reusable Containers

Reducing the amount of packaging for food (including takeout) cuts garbage, which curbs the dumping of harmful products into the environment. Use a lunchbox instead of a paper or plastic bag. Substitute reusable products whenever possible. For instance, bring your own utensils, plates and cups for eating at work. If you must use disposable products, make sure they contain post-consumer recycled content.

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5 Save Paper

Recycle newspaper and printed paper whenever possible. Each of us uses approximately the equivalent of one 100-foot-tall Douglas fir tree in paper and wood products per year. Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 2 barrels of oil and 4,100 kilowatt-hours of electricity--enough energy to power the average American home for five months.

6 Recycle Ink Cartridges, Plastic & Aluminum

Look to refill ink cartridges instead of purchasing new ones. Recycle plastic materials, including water bottles and aluminum cans. Recycling one aluminum beverage can save enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for three hours or a TV for two hours. Consider storing larger-sized beverages at work. For example, buy a liter of Coke instead of drinking from several aluminum cans. Choose drinking tap or filtered water or your favorite drink from a thermos instead. More than 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide is emitted in order to create the 28 billion single-use plastic water bottles purchased each year in the United States. At least 86 percent of those bottles clutter our nation's landfills and incinerators.

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7 Use Coffee Mugs

Each day Americans drink 45 million cups of coffee or tea in disposable cups. Using a reusable mug could prevent 7 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted every day, thanks to the energy saved from not having to manufacture or recycle the paper cups.