ecoLOGIC-design capabilities

This is a short list of things to do today to get on the road toward being a Greener Company. With a few small items to buy and a few new habits your firm and the planet will benefit.

Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. While fluorescents initially cost more than the incandescent bulbs but they last 10 times longer. A fluorescent bulb will lower your energy bills by approximately $15 a year, and by more than $50 during its life. It will also keep half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The BIG drawback. We have to remember to dispose of them properly! There is mercury in the fluorescent bulbs.

Turn off lights and unplug electronics after hours. Ccomputers and other electronics use energy while they're plugged in, even when they're switched off. (Plug all your appliances into a power strip and you'll only have to flip one switch at the end of the day.)

Set computers to sleep and hibernate when inactive, and lose the screen savers. Flying toasters and slideshows can use up about $50 of electricity in a year. Look for power management or energy saving features on the control panel for Windows, or system preferences under the apple menu for Macs.

Use postconsumer recycled paper, and less of it. The average office tosses out about 350 pounds of paper per employee, per year. And paper accounts for roughly 40% of all municipal solid waste in the United States. Buy copier paper with a minimum 30 percent postconsumer recycled content. (100 percent is best!) Reuse what you can too. Stock your fax machine with paper already printed on one side; reuse oversize envelopes and boxes; use one-sided "draft" paper in your printers.

Stock kitchenettes and bathrooms with postconsumer recycled tissue products. Tissue manufacturers destroy forests when they turn virgin wood into throw-away paper products. See NRDC's guide for ecologically preferable brands.

Make sure your office recycles paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic. If your building does not already offer the service, look for an independent recycling firm that can come and pick up your office recyclables on a weekly or biweekly basis. If this isn’t an option in your area, work with individuals in your office to encourage people to take their recyclables home with them to put in their own residential curbside recycling.

Buy less toxic cleaners to improve indoor air quality and reduce risks to employee health. If you stick with the basics – vinegar, bleach, borax, lemon juice, mineral oil, alcohol, and other biodegradable and non-petrochemical substances – you will have a clean, odor free, ecofriendly office.

Cut water waste. Using water efficiently today will help ensure that future generations have access to the water they need. Install faucet aerators and low-flow toilets; Check for and fix leaks; Landscape for maximum water efficiency.

Raise your voice. We need new laws that will steer our nation toward the most important solutions to global warming -- cleaner cars and cleaner power plants. Send a message to your elected officials, letting them know that you will hold them accountable for what they do -- or fail to do -- about global warming. Joining organizations like The Sierra Club or NRDC make it very easy to send emails to your Representatives.

Buy green gifts. Whether you are buying a special gift for a client or a present for an office baby shower, make sure you buy green or Fair Trade items to show that you care about your customers and co-workers as well as people and the planet.