Talk of the Office
Time to go eco-savvy
Scientists have long rung the alarm bells about the mounting threats of climate change, and its corollaries, such as hurricanes, droughts, and vast land's disappearing into the sea. But, although it is frightening, it was not easy for many to see its foreseeable link with the daily activities that often seem to be insignificant. These are enormous forces beyond control. But possibly there is something to do about it. It is only now, as tremendous weather disasters are becoming so frequent and when many think it might already be too late, that it is finally hitting home that all can and need to do something. By releasing too much CO2 by an excessive use of energy, and greedily using up all the natural resources, we are putting the balance of our planet at risk, and becoming irresponsible to the future generations. The office is the best place for most people to make the biggest difference, as more emissions are generated at office than at home. And it is not a thankless mission: it provides an incredible scope for energy saving, meaning more profit. If businesses and organisations make united efforts, the potential for energy saving will be huge. There is a strong link between an office employee sitting at his/her workplace and the massive eco crisis that may harm the entire planet. Not only does a green office provide great environmental paybacks, it is also a key factor in getting and retaining eco-savvy employees. Green business also goes some way towards saving money used in the business and safeguarding the bottom line against the rise in energy prices. We can start today, as what we will need to do is simple, easy and well-known, luckily. Recycling, among those, can be a common practice. The first thing to do is to talk it up. Sit at a meeting at office and decide what steps are necessary in line with your plan to recycle things. It could be simple, like agreeing to use scrap paper as notepads, or using coffee mugs rather than disposable cups. Think once before giving a print order, because a scary fact is, one tonne of office paper leads to around eight tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Most printers can do double-side printing. So only make sure the printers are defaulted to duplex, and the consumption will come down dramatically. And another thing: only print the pages you need. This is easy to do by selecting specific pages in the print setup. It is important to encourage communications by email, and read email messages on the screen to see whether those should get printed. Reduce fax-related paper waste by using a fax modem and by using a fax cover sheet only when necessary. Fax-modems allow documents to be sent directly from a computer, without the need for a printed hard copy. Another habit to build is using the 'green transport'. Ride on, instead of driving it, although it is hard in Bangladesh, until we have our backs to the wall. If the office is not within the cycling distance, consider buying a scooter, which is not only more eco-friendly than a car, but cheaper to insure, and will cost less to run. The alarming thing is: the average car emits 4.5 tonnes of CO2 per year. Be sensible in energy use and opt for renewable energy. The 1990s was the warmest decade on record, and 2010 the warmest year -- it is the global warning of global warming. Using renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, can reduce carbon emissions significantly, and cut the risk of too much warming. Also 'green loans' are now available, thanks to Bangladesh Bank, and one may even be eligible for a rebate. Replacing the traditional office lighting with more efficient alternatives, such as CFLs and fluorescent tubes, is of great advantage. These may cost a few bucks more than the regular bulbs, but will save more on the electricity bills at the end of the month. Make a habit of switching off. A fluorescent tube light uses 500 times more energy if left on for 15 minutes than the energy needed to restart it. Practise switching off everything at the wall when you are not using it, and make sure all computer monitors are on power-saving mode, and will turn off after two minutes. Cool it. Turn your air-conditioner down by two degrees in winter and up by two degrees in summer. No one will know the difference, but it will make a big difference. Measure your print. Measure your carbon footprint [try carbon calculator] and create a goal at your company to try and reduce that by at least 5-10 percent within the first year. While purchasing something, give priority to buying something recycled. It will also give your company a good publicity. Not only are recycled products cheaper, but using those is a great way to publicise your company's environmental commitment. And before deciding whether to purchase new office furniture, see if your existing ones can be refurbished. It is less costly than buying new and also helps the environment.