I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing fantastic, thanks to the Almighty. I'll be sharing tips and tidbits on how we can practice sustainability in our everyday life and be environmentally-responsible with my series called "My Green Maryland." For today, I'll be sharing five ways we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the workplace. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, which make our planet Earth warmer, are called greenhouse gases. These gases include: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.
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| Miss Earth Maryland 2015 Ruby B. Johnson Photo by ROS Productions |
[1] Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Reducing, reusing, and recycling at the workplace helps conserve energy, and reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Reduce, reuse, and recycle at the office by using two-sided printing and copying; only printing what you need; buying supplies made with recycled content; and recycling paper products, batteries, and used printer cartridges. For old electronics (e.g., computers, monitors, cell phones, TVs), investigate leasing programs, manufacturer and retailer take-back programs, and municipal programs and events to ensure reuse and recycling. You can also donate used equipment to schools or other organizations and take advantage of any available tax incentives for computer donations.
[2] Manage Office Equipment Energy Use Better
Did you know that the total electricity consumed by idle electronics equals the annual output of 12 power plants? Save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at work by setting your computer, monitor and other office equipment to power down when not in use. Activate the power management features on your computer and monitor, unplug laptop power cords when not in use and turn off equipment and lights at the end of the day. Plugging everything into a power strip makes it easy to shut everything down at one time.
[3] Commute With Less Energy
Switching to public transportation, carpooling, biking, or telecommuting, can save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on your way to and from work. Encourage your employer to offer commuter benefits that address limited or expensive parking, reduce traffic congestion, improve employee recruiting and retention and minimize the environmental impacts associated with drive-alone commuting. If you do drive, find out the fuel efficiency of your vehicle at the Federal Fuel Economy website, and make more environmentally informed choices when purchasing your next vehicle by using EPA's Green Vehicle Guide.
[4] Use ENERGY STAR Products
Office products that have earned the ENERGY STAR feature special energy-efficient designs, which enable them to use less energy while performing regular tasks. Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified office equipment, such as computers, copiers, and printers, in addition to more than 60 product categories, including lighting, heating and cooling equipment, and commercial appliances.
[5] Develop Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Developing a greenhouse gas inventory is a critical first step toward measuring and managing your organization’s climate change impact. An inventory is a list of emission sources and the associated emissions quantified using standardized methods. Many organizations are taking this step and by doing so find that most of their emissions come from building heating and cooling, fleet vehicles, electricity use, and employee travel. EPA’s Center for Corporate Climate Leadership is a resource center to help all organizations identify and achieve cost-effective GHG emission reductions.
Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Earth Maryland 2015
Continuing the legacy of beauty and responsibility
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