How you can help save the environment at work
1. Recycle and Properly Dispose of E-Waste
What it is: E-waste recycling means you send your end-of-life computers, mobile devices, batteries, compact fluorescent lights, ink, toner, and so on to a place that will recover their materials safely and without improperly exporting e-waste to developing countries.
Why it’s green: In the U.S., we currently recycle only 25 to 27 percent of discarded computers. These devices contain many toxic materials that pollute the environment either here or abroad if they are thrown away.
Cost and difficulty: Computer recycling is free for consumers in most of the U.S. and costs less and less for offices. The Dell Reconnect Programhas free and reputable electronics recycling in most U.S. states, as does Best Buy. You can take discarded electronics devices to most Goodwills and Best Buys and they will accept them at no charge. If you want to ensure data sanitation, expect to pay something ($10 to $20 per device) if you take it to an electronics recycling company. Reputable ones are e-Stewards or SERI.
How to do it: It’s free and easy to find recyclers that accept computers, batteries, compact fluorescent lights, cellphones, and many other things at www.earth911.com.
Find environmentally certified recyclers:
2. Recycle Everything Else Too
What it is: In addition to recycling and properly disposing of e-waste, it’s important to recycle, reuse, or repurpose everything else. For a nonprofit, this might mean old furniture, extra copies of printed publications, office supplies, or a variety of other things.
Why it’s green: Recycling prevents useful material resources being wasted; reduces the consumption of raw materials; and reduces energy usage, and hence greenhouse gas emissions, compared to virgin production. Recycling and reusing also diverts materials from the landfill, which reduces pollution.
Cost and difficulty: In some cases, it’s free; in others, it might cost you some time — but it’s worth it! Recycling options are increasing all the time, and it’s often surprising how easy it is to find a new home for things you don’t need anymore.
How to do it: You can find recyclers that accept just about everything at www.earth911.com. You can also repurpose your items by posting them on Freecycle, ReUseIt Network, or Craiglist.
3. Buy New Equipment That Meets EPEAT Standards
What it is: EPEAT is the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, which is a noncommercial program that rates how environmentally friendly new IT equipment is according to three tiers of environmental performance. EPEAT-rated IT equipment is rated on a bronze, silver, and gold scale. The service is free.
Why it’s green: All EPEAT-rated IT equipment uses less power, has reduced toxic materials (like lead and mercury), and is more easily recyclable than conventional equipment.
Cost and difficulty: EPEAT is a free service, and IT equipment with EPEAT ratings is no more costly than buying any other new IT equipment.
How to do it: Visit www.epeat.net, where you can search by manufacturer.
Additional resources:
- EPEAT-rated equipment: EPEAT website
4. Buy Refurbished Computers and Extend the Life of Computers
What it is: Refurbished computers are secondhand computers that have been fully tested, returned to factory specs, and warrantied.
Why it’s green: Using refurbished computers or keeping your existing computers extends the life of IT equipment to its full potential (seven years or more). Seventy-five percent of PC energy consumption has already happened before a new computer is ever switched on; it’s used up in the production phase. Computers contain precious metals, toxic materials, and other non-biodegradable materials. If you use this equipment for six or seven years rather than three or four, the environmental impact for even a fraction of the estimated 2 billion computers now in use in the world will be immense.
Cost and difficulty: Refurbished commercial-grade computers are half or less of the cost of new commercial-grade IT equipment and are suitable for most administrative uses.
5. Work from Home
What it is: If you reduce travel and meet virtually and collaborate online instead, you can save both time and money. We know that there is a time and place for travel, but we believe that with the right tools, a little know-how, and some adventurous spirit, you can save money, be more productive, and lower your environmental impact.
Why it’s green: There are massive environmental benefits to people not clogging roads in their cars to go to work. The benefits are, first and foremost, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and ground-level ozone, but there are other big benefits. For example, nonprofits can use smaller office spaces. According to the GovLoop Telework Calculator, two days per week of teleworking would save you thousands of dollars each year, and would spare the planet more than 1,000 pounds of CO2. The 5.2 million Americans who telecommute just twice per month save 10 million barrels of oil annually.
Cost and difficulty: If all you need is a laptop and a cellphone, you may already be set to go. If you need web conferencing services, annual fees through TechSoup can be as low as $10.
How to do it: Check into video conferencing services. Some basic free options are: Skype and Google Hangouts. You can also use Lync or Skype for instant messaging. In addition, you might want to try out one or more telephone conferencing services. Some good options are: Lync, BetterWorld Telecom, ReadyTalk, Care2Call, andFreeConferenceCall.com.
Try one or more web conferencing services. Some good options are: Lync, ReadyTalk, and GoToMeeting. You can also use virtual private networking (VPN) or Voice over IP (VoIP) to help make working at home as effective as coming into the office. To collaborate and share documents online, consider Microsoft Office 365, Box.org, or Google Docs.
Top Tips for Your Organization to Go Green (Part 2) by Jim Lynch, Sarah Washburn, Anna Jaeger and Laura Kindsvater
