Being green at work shouldn’t be difficult. With a few adjustments, we can all reduce our GHG emissions, save money and possibly get in better shape in the process.  Here are five tips to be greener at work.

1. Preparing for work: in the morning (or the night before), pack a healthy lunch and snack, using (preferably) glass containers and utensils. Bring your own bottle of water or coffee mug, as well as your own cloth napkin. Please visit our buy green section to purchase environmentally friendly “eatware”.
   
   
2. Going to work: depending on where you work, you might have several options to choose from: taking the bus or the train, car-pooling with a colleague, riding a motorcycle, or even better riding your bike. For the latter, if the (feasible) distance between your house and your workplace scares you a bit, approach it little by little: first ride your bike once a week only, and stick to it for a month. Then add another day, and so on. You’re much more likely to stick to your plan if you do it progressively and smoothly. 
   
   
3. At your work station: only turn on the devices you are about to use. In other words, don’t turn on your printer when coming in at 9 o’ clock if you are only going to use it at 11, it’s a waste of energy. Also, remember to use both sides of your paper…if you really need to use paper. When you step away from your desk, turn off your screensaver: it’s actually an energy guzzler. 
   
   
4. Brighten up your work space with a plant. It will put you in a better mood, and absorb some of the air pollution present in the office. Just don’t forget to water it.
   
   
5. Leaving work: turn off ALL devices and lights. Have your devices plugged into a power strip, that way it will be faster to switch off all devices at once AND no electricity will be wasted in stand-off power use.