AT WORK

THE WORK CONFLICT

There's a good chance you don't work in an office. (That's too bad—they're really fun!) But for those of you in offices, you probably have the easiest chance to get going with your new FLICK OFF maneuvers.

The office can be your best forum for change. But wherever you work, these tips are valid. So long as you contribute to society, trust us! There'll always be a way for you to make your mark. Maybe you're a trucker? Maybe you're a cook? Maybe you're a farmer? Whatever you do to get by, it'll only take a teensy weensy bit of ingenuity to figure out what you can do to become more efficient, less wasteful, and a better person in general, basically...

FLICK OFF! DURING THE DAY
Power down when you leave for a meeting, an extended lunch and at the end of the day. FLICK OFF in your home office, even if you've just popped out for a break. Try FLICKING OFF in the bathroom too (just make sure your colleague isn't in the next stall when you leave!)

MONITOR YOUR ACTIVITY
Turn off your monitor when you step away from your desk. We'll let you in on a big secret: IT DOESN’T TAKE MORE ELECTRICITY TO TURN ELECTRONICS ON OR OFF. In fact, less energy is consumed when computers and monitors are turned on and off than when left on over time. 60% of the power used by a computer is used by the monitor! Set your computer to automatically 'sleep' after ten minutes of inactivity, and set them to turn off at a scheduled time so there's no forgetting. Ask co-workers to do the same.


OPEN BLINDS INSTEAD OF FLICKING ON THE LIGHTS
Given the option, open up blinds rather then flicking on the light, especially in the morning. Adjust blinds throughout the day to deflect glare. Look into 'task lighting' instead of keeping those 1970s neon overhead lights buzzing that eerie green office glow. A nice CFL desk lamp makes a wonderful difference. Martha would approve.


INSTALL COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS
If you work indoors, ask your superiors to install Compact Fluorescent bulbs. CFLs use 75% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs. It may seem like a puny effort, but they make a huge difference to the earth. Each incandescent light bulb you replace with a CFL will keep a half-tonne of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over the course of the life of the bulb. Oh, and while they may seem expensive, CFLs are actually cost effective considering they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent lightbulb.


FLICK OFF! AT NIGHT
Ask your company to FLICK OFF at nighttime. Water coolers, vending machines and boilers can be connected to timer switches so that they are not constantly in use over evenings and weekends. There's no need to keep the lights, photocopier or water cooler on at night.



RECYCLE!
It's ridiculous that we even have to say this.  There are so many shops, restaurants and other such workplaces that don't recycle. If you've got a dumb workplace like that, couldn't you please just take your soda can out with you at the end of the day so you can pitch it in the right place? Or just be ballsy and try to implement recycling. Start a petition. People love those...




PRINT WHAT YOU NEED. RECYCLE WHAT YOU DON'T.
Get smart about printing: Stop printing out frivolous emails. On top of that, use the printer-friendly option on websites to cut down on printing ads. Spell-check your documents before you print to avoid wasting paper. Use the double-sided photocopy option on your photocopier. And recycle the recycling. Load your printer with paper from the recycle bin. If you don’t need to present it to a client or your boss, who cares what’s on the other side?



USE POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PAPER
Ask your office supply person to look for the highest post-consumer content paper they can find. 100% post-consumer recycled fiber is the most earth friendly, but 30% post-consumer recycled fiber is better than cutting down new trees. If you’re worried about cost, recycled paper is roughly 30 cents more per pack. Worth the increase? We think so.


GROW A GREEN ROOF. OR A GREEN WALL.
A garden on your dirty, gross city rooftop? Green roofs are popping up in cities across North America as a healthy combatant to the urban heat island effect. They also look incredibly cool! Green walls are another option. Not only do they perform the same function, but they are also simpler and easier to install.  For more information check out Light House Sustainable Building Centre.



CONVERT TO FSC PAPER
Forest Stewardship Council certified or FSC paper ensures responsible harvest and replanting of forests and complete protection of old-growth or high conversion forests. Over the past 12 years, over 84 million hectares in more than 82 countries have been certified according to FSC standards. Several thousand products are produced using FSC-certified wood and carrying the FSC trademark. Click here to find FSC paper suppliers.


REUSE AND RECYCLE INK CARTRIDGES
Use refilled or remanufactured cartridges in all your office printers. Don't forget to ensure your ink cartridges are RECYCLED PROPERLY. Many office supply stores will take them in for recycling.

GET A WORKPLACE ENERGY AUDIT
Your office could reduce its emissions by up to 30%. Energyshop offers a range of business services, including energy audits, and a list of Government of Canada incentive programs for energy efficiency.

SPEAK TO YOUR UNION
Need to eco your workplace but feel like it's out of your hands? Think again. Unions are a great place to start. Speak up at your next meeting. Get environmentally friendly initiatives placed on the docket or ask your union for a collective bargaining agreement to include bike racks or financial incentives for carpooling to work. These changes definitely fall under employee rights and work-related welfare.

ECO IN THE BREAKROOM
Avoid disposable dishes, Styrofoam cups and paper water cooler cups. Provide staff with glasses and mugs or bring one from home. Avoid using single-serving creamers and sugars, as well as plastic or wooden stir sticks. Stock milk, sugar and condiments in bulk and eliminate single-serving packages. Provide teaspoons and cutlery in place of stir sticks and plastic utensils. Inform your coffee service of your office's desire to reduce packaging; refuse individual coffee pouches.


PACK A WASTE FREE LUNCH
If you bring your lunch to work, use reusable containers and pack in a cloth lunch bag. Bring a drink in a reusable thermos or travel container instead of using single-serving juice boxes or milk cartons. Use a cloth napkin instead of a paper napkin.



TAKE OUT MORE FOOD THAN GARBAGE
When eating out, try to reduce the amount of packaging it takes to carry the food from the restaurant to the office. If you are buying take-out meals with coworkers, ask to put all the meals in one bag. Let the establishment know that wrapping a sandwich in foil and then placing it into a Styrofoam container is not necessary. Opt to use cutlery from the office rather than plastic utensils.


TAKE YOUR TRAVEL MUG TO THE COFFEE SHOP
Bring a travel mug with you to coffee shops to cut down on disposable coffee cup Styrofoam waste.

USE RECYCLE BINS
Make sure there are recycling bins in the kitchen and that staff are putting them to use. Don't be afraid to be 'that guy' - your coworkers will respect you for it! A big shock is that many buildings don't recycle. You may have the bins, but the content is just going to the trash in the end. Follow that bin, and lobby for better recycling facilities if you find your company isn't recycling.


RUN A FULL LOAD BEFORE YOU HIT THE ROAD
Run dishwashers at the end of the day and only when you’ve got a full load.

USE BICYCLE COURIERS FOR LOCAL DELIVERIES
Ask your courier company to provide a bicycle courier for local deliveries.

ASK YOUR COMPANY TO SWITCH TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
Sure, it costs a couple of bucks more, but that's short-term thinking to a long-term payoff. Switching to renewable energy is a huge step towards addressing climate change at your workplace. Besides, think of how the company could boast to potential clients, sponsors and media about how they’ve taken big steps towards a cleaner environment. In Ontario, renewable energy can be purchased from Bullfrog Power. In Alberta, you can choose between TransAlta Wind or Bullfrong Power to fulfill your renewable needs. In British Columbia, Green Power Certificates can be purchased from BC Hydro. In Prince Edward Island, check out the Maritime Electric Green Power intiative. In Saskatoon, green power can be purchased through SaskPower's Green Power initiative. If your province is not listed above, you can purchase Certified Renewable Energy Certificates from Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., The Pembina Institute or ENMAX Green Power Inc.




TELECONFERENCE
We're in the age of the Internet. There are many creative ways to do your work without really being at work. TelePresence and video conferencing will cut down on the pollutants you'd waft around commuting to and from your job.  Come on, haven't you always wanted to go to work in your pj's?

YOU MIGHT NOT GET TO TELL YOUR BOSS WHAT YOU THINK, but tell us! Click on "add new comment" below and let us know what tips work for you or add your own. Yay open forums! It's like the meeting you never had.