Just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of global greenhouse emissions. Although these companies mainly work with fossil fuels. Every company should be more responsible with how they affect the environment. It should be every single human being’s duty to take care of the environment. We have been warned many times about the negative effects of CO2 emissions. And if we don’t change the way we work soon, we might cause irreversible damage to the planet.
That is why companies should find a way to lessen their carbon footprint. We have to start creating more eco-friendly workspaces if we want to help the planet. Here’s how:
1. Have a switch-off rule
Most people think that light usage doesn’t cost much. Ten incandescent light bulbs only cost 6 cents an hour. It doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re in the office for 9 hours that’s 54 cents a day. Which adds up to $16.20 a month and $194 a year. That’s only 10 light bulbs. Ten light bulbs are only enough for two 12×16 ft rooms.
Office spaces are much larger, around 200 square feet minimum. That means the amount of energy and money offices spend on light alone is much bigger. That’s why you should enforce a switch-off rule at the workplace. Make it a rule for every employee to switch off any unused lights. Hang signs beside light switches to remind them to turn off the lights before leaving that space.
2. Go for gas heaters instead of electric heaters
Most people think that electric heaters save more money. In smaller spaces such as homes, it does. But in large spaces such as the workplace, a commercial gas heater is cheaper. They do a better job at heating large spaces and for a less amount of energy compared to electrical heaters.
3. Get bigger windows to let more natural light in
If you want to save money on light, a simple solution would be to get bigger windows. Bigger windows will allow more natural light to come into the workplace. That means you won’t need to turn on the lights as much as long as the sun is up. Painting your walls a lighter color would also help reflect more natural light.
4. Start a bike-share campaign
Encourage your employees to bike to work instead of commuting or driving. The average passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. If each employee of yours drives or commutes to work. Can you imagine just how much greenhouse gasses they produce a year? It’s a lot. If you started a bike-share campaign at work and encouraged them to take part. You would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by tons. It will not only help the environment, but it’ll promote health and wellness too. Biking to work may make your employees more productive.
5. Limit paper use
We have all the technology we need available to us today. If the paper can be avoided, why not go paperless? For some companies, this is easy. But if your company really can’t avoid the use of paper. At least try to limit your use and practice recycling.
6. No-plastic policy
Impose a strict no-plastic policy at work. As we all know plastic is one of the materials that take the longest to degrade. It has polluted our oceans to the point that the fish we eat have microplastics in them. And microplastics are being found in the placentas of unborn babies. That’s how bad plastic pollution has become.
7. Build an office edible garden
Many offices have been turning their rooftops into edible gardens. Why not do the same in your workplace? If you have a canteen at work, this will be a great way to save money on ingredients. You can even turn leftover food into compost and use it to fertilize the garden too. ;
8. Switch to energy-efficient appliances
If your appliances are taking up more energy than you expected. Switch to energy-efficient appliances. To know if an appliance is energy-efficient, you can look for the Energy Star logo on the product.
9. Start a bring-your-own-blank campaign
To limit the amount of waste and use of plastics in the office place. Encourage your employees to bring their own reusable bottles, utensils, and mess kits. You also save money from it because you no longer have to buy paper cups and plates all the time.
10. Use plants for decor
Studies have shown that having plants at the workplace can boost productivity. It also lessens stress, provides better indoor air quality, and reduces sickness rates.
Each year we are seeing more of the negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions. If we want to solve climate change, we have to make changes in the way we live. Otherwise, we may never breathe fresh air again.