Let's Get GREEN!

Every year, on April 22nd, we celebrate Earth Day. One day out of 365. Seems kinda silly, huh? The earth is our home and we only give her one day? We loved skimming through social media yesterday and seeing all those posts for our Mother Earth, but it made us think … what are we doing the other 364 days of the year to show our love to the Earth.

We did some research on how our company and yours can do their part to protect Mother Earth. Some simple changes that can make a world of difference in sustainability.

Recycle.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people and offices don’t take the time to recycle. How can you help? Make it easy for your team to recycle! Having designated bins for recyclable products can give people more incentive to recycle. Look up “Recyling Pick Up” for your area to see when those bins need to go out.

Work from Home.

Working from home, even just one or two days a week can reduce the number of cars on the road, thereby reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and energy usage. It also helps reduce environmental and human health impacts as a result of decreased air pollution.

Encourage Community Service.

I feel confidently saying that most people would love to participate in more community service opportunities. The problem? Time. As a business, coordinating a group community service outing or approving time off for employees to participate in community service is a great way to help everyone give back.

Sustainable Swag.

Instead of stocking the office fridge with bottles of water, put that money towards some reusable water bottles for your team. Fun, sustainable swag can encourage the whole team to cut back on single use products.

Bring plants to the office.

Indoor plants help to create an oxygen-neutral environment and improve the quality of air your employees are breathing. In fact, a NASA study found that houseplants can remove up to 87% of air pollution in an office over a 24 hour period. Additionally, plants have been known to reduce stress, boost productivity and reduce sickness.

Turn the lights off.

We all know the feeling: it’s the end of the day and you’re ready to bolt out the door. You’re starving, eager to relax, anxious to snuggle your cute pup. But, imagine taking 10 extra seconds to unplug everything that won’t be in use overnight. Now, imagine every one of your employees does the same. It turns out, this small action reduce massive amounts of energy waste.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that 75% of the electricity used to power electronics is consumed when they are turned off. Make it a company-wide policy to unplug appliances before leaving the office, and you’ll immediately save energy and money.