3 ways save the planet – At Work
The fifth edition of the IPCC report was some fairly terrifying reading, with scientists stating that we may have as little as 12 years to slash global emissions by 45% in order to keep temperatures from rising about the 1.5˚C threshold.
However, there was positive news in the report – if we all do our part to reduce the impact we have on the planet, it’s very possible to keep to the 1.5˚C increase. The report also noted that we already have the technology needed to exact change.
The most effective way to reduce greenhouse gases is at the source – micro-generation solutions such as biomass boilers and biogas plants are ideal, whether you invest in the system yourself or switch to an energy supplier who generates heat or electricity from renewable sources, limiting the amount of fossil fuels being combusted is the goal.
If this isn’t viable for your business there are ways that you can reduce your consumption – We’ve put together a list of 3 practical ways businesses can reduce their impact on the environment. 3 ways save the planet – At Work
1. Shed some light on the situation
Your lighting system could be responsible for as much as 40% of your office’s total electricity consumption.
Switching to LED bulbs may lower your lighting electricity consumption by as much as 75% and save you hundreds of pounds a year.
The Carbon Trust could help cover some costs towards switching to energy saving equipment. The Carbon Trust Green Business Fund is the energy efficiency support service for small and medium-sized companies in England, Wales and Scotland. It provides direct funded support through energy assessments, training workshops, equipment procurement support and up to £5,000 capital contribution per company towards your energy saving equipment purchase.
2. Go paperless
From office networks and cloud storage to online accounting and digital contract signings, the digital age has all that you could need to decrease your paper use and make your office more efficient.
It takes more than half a tree to make 10 reams of non-recycled 20-lb. copier paper. One tree makes 16.67 reams of copy paper, or 8,333.3 sheets. One ream (500 sheets) uses 6 percent of a tree. According to Ors Group the average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year – that’s more than 1 tree per office worker each year and with over 32 million people employed in the UK, you can see how reducing paper consumption is beneficial for the environment.
You can find digital services to replace almost all of your paper needs, from quotations and receipts to HR documents and contracts.
3. Sleeping on the job…
Whilst employee nap time won’t help (sorry), setting your computers to go into sleep mode after a short amount of inactivity can cut energy consumption by 70%. Remember, screen savers don’t save energy.
Desktop computers use around 200 watts/hour when idle or in use, but when put into sleep mode this drops below 10 watts/hour. Not only is this beneficial to the environment, it saves money!
