4 Simple Steps Any Office Can Take to Reduce Costs … and Your Environmental Impact

 Offices can impact climate change in multiple ways: through the paper, kitchen items and cleaners they use; the energy they consume for lighting, heating, cooling and operation of computers and other equipment; and the waste - including e-waste - they generate. 

With modest effort, business offices - no matter how small - can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) associated with their energy, paper use and waste generation. By doing so, they demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility while reducing cost, which not only puts money back in their pocket, but can help build customer loyalty, as well.

 Many offices still tend to be way too paper-intensive, resulting in a relatively significant carbon footprint. This is because the production and disposal of paper consumes substantial amounts of energy and generates significant quantities of GHG emissions. In addition, it removes trees, which are critical to GHG reduction.

 For instance, copier and printer paper can range from about 20,000 to about 100,000 sheets per person in offices where document production is a primary activity. This amount comes to about 10-50 sheets per work hour.

 The high end of this range - 100,000 sheets per person- amounts to a half-ton of paper use per person per year. The lifecycle of a ton of paper, from production to recycling, results in generating about 9 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent GHG emissions. Add to that disposal in a landfill, and the result can contribute up to an additional two more tons of such emissions per year. 

Office can take specific steps to conserve energy and resources, as well as reduce GHG emissions and other pollutants. 

Here are some specific steps your office can take to reduce your environmental impacts while lowering your costs at the same time: 

1.      Adopt at least two of three best practices for office paper management: Switch to double-sided printing and copying to reduce the amount of paper used; buy paper with at least 30 percent post consumer waste to satisfy 90% of the office's paper needs for copying and printing; and/or implement an effective paper recycling

program. 

2.      Join EPA's WasteWise program (http://www.abanet.org/environ/climatechallenge/wastewise.shtml) by adopting best practices for office paper management as noted above, and quantifying the benefits. 

3.      Join EPA's Green Power Partnership

(http://www.abanet.org/environ/climatechallenge/greenpower.shtml)by buying at least some minimum amount of electricity from renewable sources such as solar cells or wind farms. The required minimum amount is calculated by reference to a percentage of the organization's annual electricity use, and ranges from 10% if the organization's annual electricity use is relatively low to 2% if overall electricity use is relatively high. EPA recognizes organizations that buy at least the minimum amount as "Green Power Partners." Partners who purchase

additional green power in specified amounts or more qualify for membership in the Green Power Leadership Club.  

4.      Join EPA's ENERGY STAR program

(http://www.abanet.org/environ/climatechallenge/energystar.shtml) by adopting an energy management plan designed for law offices, and set a goal to reduce electricity use by at least 10%. Law offices can reduce energy use through, among other things, the purchase of ENERGY STAR-designated equipment and implementation of better energy management practices.