Working from home offers tons of sustainability benefits.
Remote employees usually have smaller carbon footprints because they don't have to commute.
Fortunately, there are many more opportunities to reduce your impact on the environment while working from home.
Below are 5 EASY working from home sustainability tips. And check out the special sale for our readers below!
$$ SALE - Save 42% on Office Supplies! $$
Do you want to save money on office supplies? Take advantage of the sale going on now!
Save 50% on select home office products on Amazon. Limited time offer.
Working From Home - Sustainability Tips
1. Use Eco-Friendly Office Supplies
Did you know that the average office worker generates about 2 pounds of waste every day? Fortunately, today's products can help improve our efficiency.
The trick is to use office supplies that are either waste free or biodegradable.
Paperless Notebooks
For instance, using paperless notebooks is an option that our readers love.
Rocketbook is our favorite! It looks and feels like a regular notebook, but is erasable and reusable.
It can even store your notes in Google Drive, One Note and Drop Box.
Ready to try it for yourself?
Rocketbook is available on Amazon. There are a ton of success stories and positive reviews.
Biodegradable Pens
A good pen is essential for any office worker. However, throwing away plastic pens can harm the environment.
Biodegradable pens made from recycled materials are a more sustainable choice.
2. Adjust Your Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat 2 degrees up in the summer and 2 degrees down in the winter can save up to 2,000lbs of carbon dioxide per year!
Alternatively, you could use an energy efficient thermostat that conserves energy automatically.
For example, the Nest Thermostat programs itself to save energy. It learns the temperatures you like and create a schedule that saves electricity and money.
3. Unplug Devices as Much as Possible
Electronic devices use energy when they are plugged in but aren't being used. Everything that is plugged in draws energy from the grid which puts unnecessary stress on the environment. This is referred to as "Vampire Energy".
Source: Payless Power
To improve sustainability while working from home, you can start by unplugging electronic devices that aren't in use. This could mean unplugging things like your cell phone, laptop, coffee machine, microwave or television when you aren't using them.
4. Decrease the Brightness on Your Computer Monitor
Reducing the brightness on your computer monitor can save up to 20% of the monitor's energy. Less energy equals less strain on the environment!
5. Consider Using Bamboo Office Products
It is important to use office products that will keep you comfortable, productive, and organized. However, a lot of office supplies is made from plastic or other materials that harm the environment.
Using materials made from bamboo is significantly better for the environment. For example, bamboo decomposes more quickly then plastic yet it is just as sturdy.
Here are a few bamboo office products that we like.
Bamboo Pencil Holder
Keeps organized and never lose another pen or pencil.
Bamboo Book Stand
Eco-friendly option for books, tablets or papers.
Bamboo Monitor Stand
Simple design and dedicated space for all of your supplies.
Analyze Your Habits and Make Small Improvements
Lastly, look at your daily habits and see what you could do differently.
For instance, go to FootprintCalculator.org and take their quiz to calculate your carbon footprint and see what changes you can make to decrease it.
There are tons of small steps you can take that will make working from home more sustainable. Be the change you want to see!
More Articles:
- 5 Sustainable Online Businesses You Can Start Today - Have you ever wanted to start an eco-friendly online business? Here are 5 businesses you can start today on your laptop.
- 13 of the Best Eco-Friendly Dog Toys - Calling all dog lovers! Are you looking for eco-friendly dog toys for your best friend? Here are the best options available - all just one click away online!
- Environmental Impact of Styrofoam Cups - Learn how Styrofoam cups hurt the environment and what you can use instead.
- 5 Easy Tips to Help Keep the Environment Clean - Doing your part to help the environment doesn't have to be hard! Here are 5 easy steps that anyone can take to help keep the environment clean.
- 15 Examples of Corporate Social Responsibility - Find out what the best companies are doing to uphold their responsibility to society and the planet.
- How to Write an Environmental Policy in 20 Minutes - Over 1,000 organizations have used this easy step by step guide.
- The Best Green Web Hosting Companies - We compared the top five best green web hosts and the winner was clear.