Since the advent of the modern workplace, there has never been more opportunity to work from home (WFH). From customer service and data entry to management, jobs that have traditionally required a commute, a desk and plenty of dry-cleaning bills have suddenly become up to 100% virtual. The benefits are undeniable for employees, employers, and the environment – and the trend only seems to be heading upwards. In fact, Ladders estimates that up to 25% of professional jobs will be remote by the end of 2022. High as it already is, the percentage is still anticipated to increase through 2023.
If you’re a remote worker – or planning to become one soon – it’s key to have a dedicated workspace to call your own within your home environment. While it may seem relaxing to sit on the couch with your laptop on your legs all day, that may not be a sustainable long-term. And recreating the exact replica of your on-site office at home is not necessarily the solution either.
As a happy medium, many WFH employees are taking the time to carve out a green office in their house or apartment. Why waste all the space, electricity, and resources a traditional office consumes when you can do it so much better for yourself and the environment with a little legwork and elbow grease? Keep reading for our top green office ideas to make a sustainable workspace.
Green Office Supplies
The first order of business at your green office should be to source, you guessed it, green office supplies. The greenest of them all will be anything reused, as our post on upcycling as a home décor trend explores. Desks can be made of anything flat you have lying around (doors, stone, extra wood) and a few sawhorses to lay it across. Wall shelves can be repurposed from extra plywood or broken bookcase shelves. And office chairs can be easily found on Craigslist and at thrift stores. (It may not surprise you to discover that a lot of offices are liquidating their entire collection of furniture at extremely cheap prices.)
Try to minimize the amount of extraneous machinery and supplies you collect (e.g., printer, notebooks, desk phone, etc.) and strive to be paper-free in your green office. Use note-taking apps during meetings, digitize any documents that are still in paper form, and make sure any invoices you issue (or bills you have to pay) are online. Not only does it save paper, ink and power, but it also makes document storage much easier, more secure and more accessible. If you have to use paper, make sure the printer is set to print on both sides and in black and white.
Another way to commit to a sustainable workplace is by making a vow to turn off and unplug your devices at night. Anything that is plugged in is drawing “phantom power.” Ensuring that everything is shut down and unplugged will help save your energy – and your mind – by creating a definite “sign out time” to your workday. Add another eco-friendly office supply to the list with an energy-efficient power strip. It’ll make the task easier and more efficient.
Green Office Equipment
We covered office supplies above…but what about green office equipment? First, if your employer is outfitting you with anything new for your WFH setup, ask for the most energy-efficient version of it as possible (preferably with the Energy Star qualification). Let it be known if you don’t need quite the horsepower you had at the office. Laptops, for instance, use less than one-third of the energy as desktop computers. But be careful not to leave it plugged in all day. Overcharging a laptop battery may have negative impacts on the computer over time.
Another green office idea is to set all of your electronics to automatically switch to “sleep” mode when not in use. In addition to saving energy, this step will also keep your equipment cooler which will extend its lifespan and reduce your AC bill. Win win!
Plants: A Low-key and Sustainable Workplace Solution
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most sustainable workplace solution is a gift from Mother Nature herself: houseplants. Greenery is proven to help reduce stress, increase productivity, and clean the air. Plus, they can be nice to look at – especially if you invest in a few “statement plants” in cool pots. If you’re worried about the expense, check out the tips in our recent blog on repurposing plastic containers. You might be surprised by how far a little dirt, a few cuttings, and an old container will go to make your space warm and inviting while still maintaining a professional vibe.
If you’re worried about a missing green thumb, don’t fret. Many houseplants are especially hardy and can survive in low light, including Chinese Evergreen, Philodendron and Bird’s Nest Fern. If you often forget to water, pick up a Snake Plant. These beauties only need to be watered about once every two weeks. Set a reminder on your (virtual) calendar and you’ll be good to go.
The Best Lighting for Your Eco Workspace
One of the most important aspects of your new eco workspace is the lighting. Goodbye, flickering overhead tubes! Instead, opt for a desk close to a window so you can rely on natural light as much as possible. If that’s not in the cards, choose small lamps rather than overhead lighting for maximum energy efficiency. If you’re buying new for your sustainable workspace, look for lamps that are specifically built for energy efficiency. If you’re swapping a desk lamp or floor lamp from somewhere else in your home, replace any incandescent light bulbs with LED lights to make a big impact on your bottom line and the earth at large. (LEDs last up to 20 times longer than their incandescent counterparts, which means less waste, less cost and less changing the light bulb.)
From all indications, working from home is the new reality for the foreseeable future. If you’re planning to go remote, make the effort to create a space that nurtures you while limiting negative impacts to the environment. Small changes can add up to big results. Coordinate with your employer to champion sustainable workspace solutions like going paperless or switching from desktops to laptops. They’ll appreciate the initiative – and the return on investment.
