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To help environment, think small

By Kristyn Schiavone, Source: Tribune Media Services

The idea of going green for Earth Day is always appealing, but what about the rest of the year?

Little changes seem like they won’t make all that much of a difference, and yet, they take a lot of getting used to.

Start by focusing on the place where most Americans spend the majority of their waking hours: work. The following tips, adapted from a Green Tips Guide by NAEM, a non-profit network of environment, health and safety managers, are easy ways to make your workday a little more environmentally friendly.

Find alternative ways to commute. According to NAEM, one-third of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States come from daily driving. Try riding public transportation, carpooling or biking to work, or consider telecommuting if your company has a flexible scheduling policy. If you just can’t deal with not driving yourself to work, make sure your car is well maintained and consider a hybrid option as your next vehicle.

Re-use containers. You SHOULD brown bag it, but don’t actually put it in a brown bag. Eliminating disposable silverware, plastic baggies and paper coffee cups significantly reduces waste and helps conserve resources. Stow your lunch in Tupperware and tote it to work in a reuseable bag or lunchbox. One other Earth Day article even suggested that instead of getting our coffee to go, maybe we should take the time to sit down and drink it from a mug – IN the coffee shop. Groundbreaking!

Unplug. Even if there’s nothing attached to it, that phone charger you left at your desk spent the whole weekend sucking up energy. When you shut down your computer at the end of the day, take a moment to turn off your power strip. NAEM also suggests using power save settings on electronics.

Save the trees. Of course, print less. But also pay attention to the amount of junk mail that piles up on your desk. Sites like donotmail.org and cataloguechoice.org let you get rid of unwanted mail to work or home.

Pass on promotional items. For those of us who work downtown in office-heavy areas, it’s not uncommon to pass promoters handing out postcards or other little trinkets. NAEM notes that every little bit of trash makes a difference, so only grab the things you actually want.

Make recycle bins bigger. If there’s no recycle bin at your desk, get one, stat. But those of us who do have recycle bins should consider making them larger or more prominent than our trash cans as a reminder to recycle.

Get outside. The more you see the environment, the more you appreciate it, says NAEM. So take that Tupperware out of the office.

© 2011, Tribune Media Services