Bring Green Ideas to Work

Many people save money and reduce their carbon emissions at home. There's no reason you can't use those same energy smarts to create a comfortable, productive and efficient workplace. The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy’s Energy Star program is a great resource for the tools you need to lessen the carbon footprint of your workplace.

1. Improve the efficiency of your building
You may have heard of Energy Star homes. Did you know that commercial buildings can also receive the distinction? Energy Star–certified buildings use 35 percent less energy. Encourage your company to choose a qualified building or earn the Energy Star at its current location.

According to Maura Beard, communications director for the EPA’s Energy Star buildings program, commercial and industrial facilities, including restaurants and hotels, use more energy than any other sector of the economy. “We think about homes and transportation,” Beard says, “but buildings are responsible for almost 50 percent of energy use, and for the largest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions.”

If your colleagues need some convincing, tell them about the savings Energy Star partners PepsiCo and Marriott saw in 2006. PepsiCo reduced its energy use by 6 percent and saved $14 million in energy and utility costs! Marriott saved almost $6 million. That makes sense for both the climate and a company's bottom line.

To get started on the path to energy savings, join other businesses in the Energy Star Challenge, a nationwide effort to improve the efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings by 10 percent. Whether you’re in retail, real estate or anywhere in between, the Energy Star Challenge Web site provides the resources you need to make a difference.

2. Put your work in a new light
You may have replaced your incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star–qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) at home. The bulbs use about 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer. Since many of us spend as much of our waking lives at work as we do at home, imagine the difference just one new bulb at your desk can make over the course of a year.

Don’t let the notion of a fluorescent scare you: CFLs come in a variety of wattage and warmness options, and you won't notice a bit of difference in the quality of light. Check out the Energy Star lighting guide for more information.

Another simple step: Shut off the lights at work like you do at home. Flick off that break room, supply room or bathroom switch before you shut the door. Make sure it’s dark inside if you're the last person out of a room. If there are multiple switches for lights covering large areas, flip only the ones you need and let natural illumination do the rest.