Ways to Go Green With Your Home Office

Support your health and a healthy world by makingYou can also check with your local electric company
green choices for your home office. It's not difficultto see if they offer free energy audits. Many electric
to be more environmentally friendly while creating acompanies will come to your home or office and help
home office that will reduce your exposure to toxicyou identify ways to improve your energy efficiency.
chemicals, it just requires a bit of planning andChoose Recycled and Sustainable Supplies
thought.When you purchase paper, stationary, filing materials
Furnishing & Decorating Your Officeand other supplies, choose ones that are recycled
To furnish your office consider shopping forand made from sustainable sources.
second-hand furniture so you can save it from aInstead of using a fax machine that requires thermal
landfill. Craigs List, eBay, yard sales, moving sales,paper that's chemically treated and can't be recycled,
your local paper, and second-hand shops are greatopt for a plain paper fax machine or go digital with a
places to look.service like eFax that allows you to send and receive
If you're purchasing new, look for furniture that willfaxes through your computer.
last and not need replaced quickly.Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
For decor you can use recycled and re-purposedThe familiar saying, "Reduce, reuse and recycle"
items. If you repaint, use a low-VOC paint to reduceapplies in your home office, too. Use less when you
your exposure to dangerous fumes.can. Think before you print something out. Save your
Energy Smart Appliances and Lightingscrap paper and let your kids color on the other side
Shop for computers and other electronics which areof it. Recycle what you can. Choose refillable pens
EPA Energy Star and/or EPEAT certified.and ink cartridges.
For lighting try to incorporate as much natural light asEliminate Toxic Chemicals
possible. Set your desk up by a nice large window. IfInstead of chemical air fresheners and cleaners, use
you're remodeling consider a skylight. Not only is itnatural alternatives. Keep live plants in your office to
better for you but it will lower your energy usagehelp clean the air. Use a reed diffuser and essential
(and your electric bill).oils to scent your space instead of chemical air
Always turn off lights and equipment when not infresheners. Open your windows and let in the fresh
use.air.