Top office tips
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- If you have to print a document or email, just print the text you need.
- Put on more clothes rather than turning up the heating!
- Turn off your monitor when you go for lunch, a meeting or even a tea break.
- Turn off your PC if you're not going to be using it for a few hours.
- Use timer switches to turn off vending machines when the office is closed.
- Make the most of natural lighting - open the blinds!
- Use hand-dryers rather than paper towels.
- Use a laptop and projector to run meetings electronically.
- Mark junk mail 'Return to sender' or ask to be removed from the mailing list.
- Use (or install) video-conferencing to save travel for meetings.
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Office and work
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PCs, monitors and PDAs
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- Leaving your monitor or computer on stand-by mode still consumes significant amounts of electricity, as much as 30% of normal use in some cases.
- Switch off your monitor every time you are away from your desk for a few minutes.
- Shut down your PC every time you are away from your desk for more than a couple of hours.
- Change the settings (Start > Control panel > Display) to automatically switch off monitors and/or shut down when not in use.
- A light flashing on your monitor shows that it is still on and is wasting energy.
- Collect unused discs, erase them, put new labels on them and make them available for re-use.
- Note that setting-up a screen saver does not save any energy. (They are there to stop the image of a static screen from being imprinted on the monitor glass.)
- Leave your personal digital assistant switched off while in the holder. It will still charge and you only need to turn it on for a minute or so before removing it to let it syncronise.
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Lighting
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- Make the most of natural light. Don't block it with filing cabinets, plants or blinds that are permanently shut!
- Switch off lights when you are last to leave rooms and when they are not needed.
- Turn off lights in the toilets, kitchen, meeting rooms etc. when not needed.
- Flickering fluorescent tubes use up more energy. If you see one, report it!
- Turning off fluorescent tubes frequently does not mean that more electricity is used when they are turned back on and does not have a significant impact on the life of the tube (compared to the energy saved).
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Heating and other equipment
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- Keep doors and windows shut (and avoid opening them to cool a room if the heating is still on).
- Water coolers, vending machines and boilers can be connected to timer switches so that they are not constantly in use over evenings and weekends.
- Never turn on local A/C units for cooling purposes if the heating is on. The systems end up working against each other, wasting energy in the process.
- If you feel the cold, consider wearing a thicker shirt or blouse, a jumper or a fleece to work.
- Check that the radiators in your room are set appropriately. It is not necessary to continually turn your radiator up and down from minimum to maximum. Thermostatic radiator valves work by stabilising the local temperature to that set by the switch e.g. if the valve is set to II, the radiator will work to heat the air around the thermostat to the level of heat corresponding to 'II'. Generally, once set, they do not need to be touched again.
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Paper, printing and photocopying
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Photocopying
- Use the size reduction feature offered on many copiers. Two pages of a book or periodical can often be copied onto one standard sheet.
- Photocopy double sided.
- Put a paper recycling box beside the photocopier.
- Recycle all toner cartridges.
- Switch off the copier overnight (a photocopier left on overnight wastes enough energy to make 5,300 A4 copies).
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Paper
- Re-use paper that's already printed on one side by manually feeding it into copiers and printers for draft documents.
- Once-used paper can also be reused in plain paper fax machines — they only need one clean side.
- Re-use old paper for notepads.
- Re-use internal and external envelopes by using re-use stickers.
- Recycle all paper including white and coloured stationary, stapled paper, magazines and cardboard that cannot be re-used again (if possible).
- A box containing paper that has only be used once can be placed at printers.
- Do this by using the manual feed tray on the machine.
- Contact the waste minimisation team to obtain a supply of 'reuse' stickers on 0131 273 7258.
- Stop junk mail by marking it RETURN TO SENDER and re-posting it.
- Register with the Mailing Preference Service by writing to MPS, Freepost 22, London, W1E 7EZ; phone 0207 766 4410 or visit www.mpsonline.org.uk (service is for UK residential addresses only).
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Printing
- Do you really need a hard copy of it? Can you save the message/attachments instead?
- Instead of printing a web page, bookmark it or save the page.
- Proof the document on screen before printing.
- Consider changing the margin sizes, especially on drafts.
- Reducing the point size of your text may save lots of paper.
- Check margins when printing on headed paper.
- If you only need the page you are working on, go File > Print > and click on 'Current Page' on the 'Page range' section.
- If you only need a specific number of pages, go File > Print > and put the page numbers in on the 'Page range' section.
- Check if your printer will print multiple pages on an A4 sheet (2, 4, 6, 9 or 16 pages).
- Check if your printer can print double sided (most larger laser printers can).
- If you do print something, retrieve it immediately. This helps to avoid the need for printing it again (because it has gone walkabout etc.)
- Switch the printer off at night - the last person to leave the office should do this.
- Recycle all ink toner cartridges.
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Reducing the length of emails for printing
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- When replying to e-mail messages most users have Outlook set to 'Include original message text'. A long exchange can lead to several pages of text which can waste paper when printing the most recent message.
- To insert the original email into your response (for reading and printing if necessary), do this:
- select 'Tools' on the Outlook menu bar
- select 'Options', then 'Preferences'
- select 'E-mail Options'
- under 'On replies and forwards' choose 'Attach original message'.
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Other office tips
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- You can run meetings electronically by using LCD equipment to project agendas and papers rather than having everyone bring hard copies. You can also take notes on scrap paper or record minutes directly into your laptop (if you have one).
- Paper towels are often a major source of waste. Try to use hand dryers, where available, rather than paper towels. (The advice from a local authority environmental health department is that the risk of cross-contamination from using hand dryers is minimal.)
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Travelling
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- Use this meetings 'hierarchy' to decide the most appropriate choice:
- If a meeting is necessary, can some people take part by video or telephone conference?
- Can anyone travel by public transport to and from meeting venue? When organising the meeting, take account of the extra time needed for people to make public transport connections.
- If you must drive to a meeting, can you use pool vehicle? (Many of SEPA's pool vehicles run on LPG with a reduced carbon dioxide emission.)
- If you must take your own car, can you share with a colleague(s) to and from the meeting venue?
- The last option is driving yourself in a private car to and from a meeting.
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Driving
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- Limit the amount of time your car engine is running (idling) when you’re not driving – turn it off if you stop for more than 10 seconds (except in traffic). Idling also prevents the catalytic convertor from working properly.
- Avoid rapid acceleration and heavy braking - accelerate smoothly, even in a traffic jam. Smoother driving can use 30% less fuel. Also, obey the speed limit. Doing 50mph can use 25% less fuel than 70mph.
- Service your car regularly (usually every 12 months or 10,000 miles).
- Make sure your tyres are properly inflated. (For every 6psi a tyre is under-inflated, fuel consumption can rise by 1%)
- Make sure your garage throws in an emissions test with the service. This can save you money as well as helping to prevent breakdowns by identifying problems with the engine.
- Wide-open windows, roof racks, heavy clutter in the boot and air conditioning can all add to your fuel bill.
- On cold days, limit warm-up idling to 30 seconds or less (the best way to warm up your vehicle is to drive it).
- Choose a car with a three-way catalytic converter - it will reduce nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions by 90%.
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Other
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- Fly less! Take a holiday at home, or use the channel tunnel to get to the continent – air travel produces three times more carbon dioxide per passenger than rail.
- Ask hotels or guest houses to change your linen and towels every other day.
- Take your waste home with you if you can recycle it (e.g. plastic drinks bottles).
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Bathroom and kitchen
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Water
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- Use less water by taking showers rather than baths (unless it's a power shower!) – this can save 50 litres every time.
- Avoid putting sanitary products, nappies and cigarettes down the toilet.
- Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth.
- Nine litres of clean water are used every time we flush the toilet so either install a dual-flushing mechanism (two levels of flush) or put something in your cistern to displace water (e.g. bag of water) to reduce the amount of water used.
- Repair dripping taps and always turn them off properly - they could be wasting 13 litres a day.
- Use full loads in your dishwasher and washing machine.
- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products (e.g. bleach, washing-up liquid).
- Use a nappy washing service - they use 32% less energy and 41% water than home washing.
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Eating and drinking
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- Heat small meals in a microwave oven.
- Use plastic storage boxes rather than sandwich bags and plastic wrap.
- Drink tap or filtered water, not bottled.
- Cook more fresh food - it means using less packaging.
- Buy local produce or grow your own to reduce energy used in transportation.
- Check with your council about recycling facilities for plastic (e.g. drinks bottles), metals (e.g. food tins) and cardboard (e.g. food packaging).
- Avoid using disposable cutlery and plates. For parties and picnics, cheap plastic sets are available.
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Home energy
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- Ask your utility supplier to provide you with power generated from renewable energy sources (e.g. wind farms).
- Ask them for energy saving tips - they'll provide you with free advice.
- Use thermostats that switch off the heating etc when you don't need it.
- Add insulation to your home to conserve warmth - cavity wall insulation can cut heat loss by up to 60 per cent.
- Use a fan instead of air conditioning.
- Turn off appliances and lights when they're not needed.
- Fit energy-efficient light bulbs - they cost more but save money and energy over time.
- Insulate your water heater / hot water tank properly.
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Garden
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- Choose plants that don't need much water (e.g. lavender, tulips, sunflowers, buddleia, wall flowers).
- Avoid using garden sprinklers or hoses for long periods and water your garden after sunset as less water will evaporate.
- Use a bucket to wash your car rather than a hose.
- Make compost from your biodegradable waste (and use it on your garden!)
- Dry your clothes on a clothes line - tumble driers use huge amounts of energy.
- Avoid putting oil, paint, varnish or solvent down the drain.
- Put out a bird feeder or nesting box.
- Build a pond in your garden to provide a habitat for dragonflies, frogs and other wildlife.
- Attach water butts to your shed roof to collect rain water.
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Shopping
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- Check the label when buying new appliances to check they are water-efficient.
- Buy products made from sustainably produced wood - it will help preserve the world's endangered forests.
- Buy products made from recycled material (e.g. toilet rolls, bin liners).
- Choose products that use recycled packaging.
- Re-use plastic bags when shopping or use cloth bags.
- Supermarkets often have recycling facilities (saving a car journey if you were going anyway) and some take back plastic bags.
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Other reusing and recycling
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- Check about recycling facilities with your local council.
- Supermarkets often have recycling facilities (saving a car journey if you were going anyway) and some take back plastic bags.
- Send e-cards rather than paper cards at Christmas.
- Find someone who can use something you no longer want (e.g. children's toys) or take it to a charity shop.
- Use a cloth hankie - it takes 6,000,000 trees to make one-year's worth of tissues for the world.
- Use the front of greeting cards to create a supply of postcards or gift tags.
- Donate leftover paint to a community project - the UK wastes 6.2 million litres a year.
- Use rechargeable batteries.
- Alkaline batteries (e.g. Duracel AA) should be dispersed in the general waste. Unfortunately there is no route for recycling alkaline batteries in the UK at present
- Mobile phone batteries (e.g. NiCad) can be recycled.
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