It Ain’t Easy Being Green...

Going green means implementing certain changes designed to help you live in a more eco-friendly way. It means becoming more environmentally aware and changing behaviors and lifestyles to reduce the amount of pollution and waste you generate. The decision to go green is a gradual process for most people and businesses. Any action you take that contributes to sustainable living makes a positive impact on the environment. It is not an instant fix; but everyone can take baby steps to change his or her current lifestyle to make a difference for the Earth and future generations.

Going Green 101

Going green is often simply a matter of replacing old habits with new ones. Here a just a few that can be implemented both at home and in the office:

Turn Off Lights – Switch off lights as you leave a room, which saves energy and reduces your electricity bill
Set Your Thermostat – Set your thermostat above 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and below 60 in the winter. Wear less clothing in summer and more in winter. Open windows rather than running the air conditioner, if possible.
Go Digital – more and more businesses are going the paperless route. Do you really need to print out that email? Can you digitally sign that document?
Recycle – Recycle aluminum, cardboard, glass and plastic materials if possible. By doing so you reduce the amount of waste headed to landfills.
Brown Bag it – Bringing your lunch from home in reusable containers is the greenest and often most healthy way to eat at work. No plastic forks and knives and it cuts down on delivery or take out Styrofoam containers.
Change Your Light Bulbs – Switch to compact fluorescent bulbs which last longer and use less energy.
Carpool, Bike or Bus – Carpool with your co-workers or take your bike when weather permits. Familiarize yourself with your city’s public transportation and bus systems. You’ll cut your gas bill and reduce your car emissions.
Unplug – Even when appliances are turned off they continue to draw electricity. Unplug electronic chargers when not in use. Printers, scanners, and other peripherals that are only used occasionally can be unplugged until they’re needed.

These are all small but significant changes that anyone can make.