Making Environmental Consciousness Decisions at Work
Environmentally conscious decisions create green offices. Consider all aspects of your workplace while searching for methods to become green.
How green is your office? Have you made environmentally conscious choices? This questionnaire is designed to assess how many green decisions you’ve made at work and what areas of environmental unconsciousness need improvement.
Office Furniture
- Do you buy recycled copier paper, toilet paper and paper towels?
- Do you encourage the use of ceramic/glass dishes by supplying dishes, cupboard space, a dishwasher or a sink and soap?
- Do you buy refillable pens and pencils?
- Do you encourage the reuse of file folders, binders and other non-expendable office supplies?
- Do you refill toner and inkjet cartridges?
Office Design
- Do the light fixtures have energy-efficient bulbs?
- Are the heating and air conditioning systems as energy efficient as possible?
- Have you chosen office furnishings and decorations made from sustainable materials?
- Do you turn off your photocopier and other office equipment at night?
- To encourage recycling over creating garbage, do you have multiple recycling boxes in prime locations (under each desk, beside photocopiers, in the lunchroom) and minimal garbage cans?
- Does your office have live plants to help improve air quality?
- Is there a substantial amount of natural light available in work areas?
- Does the washroom have water-saving faucets, toilets and blow dryers instead of paper towels?
- Are water leaks in the kitchen and bathroom attended to quickly?
Chemical Contamination
- Do you reduce the amount of chemical contamination your office creates by purchasing non-toxic, water-based correction fluids, recyclable batteries and green cleaning products?
Transportation
- Do you have incentives for employees to ride their bikes to work or use transit?
- Is the location of your office close to good transit routes and amenities?
- Do you use bike couriers whenever possible?
Office Communication
- Do you email memos instead of printing them?
- Do you have a website or electronic message board for inter-office communications?
- Do you send Christmas cards to clients?
- Do you choose promotional gifts to advertise your brand that helps the environment (e.g. thermal mugs, fabric shopping or lunch bags etc.)?
Air Quality
- Do you have open windows to allow fresh air movement and stale air out?
- Does your HVAC system get regularly cleaned?
- Is the air quality regularly tested?
If you answered more than one question affirmatively, 20 of the 25 questions, you would work in a very environmentally conscious environment.
If you have answered yes to 14-19 of the 25 questions, you are well on the way to protecting the environment with your choices. Next, consider starting programs that will reduce, reuse and recycle more.
If you choose yes to less than 13 of the 25 questions, it is time to take a severe look at your commitment to going green at the office.
Playing your part in creating a greener planet by making environmentally conscious decisions at work will offer a word of encouragement to colleagues and customers. It may even help you win new clients and recruit superstar employees!