Home Office Goes Green

If you're concerned about the environment, there are a lot of reasons to think about working from home.  If you already have a home office, you may be familiar with some of them.  But read on anyway to find out how working from home can make your lifestyle even greener.

Right from the start, working from home helps you save on fuel costs, and benefits the environment.  If you commute 60 miles roundtrip every day, for 48 weeks out of the year, you drive over 14,000 miles.  So by using your home office, you are significantly reducing the carbon dioxide that your vehicle contributes to air pollution.  And even if your car gets 30 miles per gallon, at the cost of $4 per gallon, you will personally be saving at least $1,800 per year in fuel costs.

You can also make green choices when you purchase office supplies.  Some of the easiest green supplies to purchase are recycled ink cartridges, recycled paper and energy efficient light bulbs.  Recycled ink cartridges for your printer are also usually less expensive than the brand name versions.

If you’re concerned about your printer's warranty and you want to stick with the brand name, you can still recycle the empty cartridges.  Watch for the ink cartridge recycling bins at your local office supply store.  In some communities, there are even ink cartridge recycling bins in the pet stores.  So keep your eye out for the retailers who are trying to do their part to be eco-friendly, and let them help you recycle.

Recycled paper is sometimes a little more expensive than the regular version.  So if you're on a budget, recycle your paper in other ways.  Instead of tossing all used paper out, start a pile for paper that has been used only on one side.  Keep it in a location that makes it handy to use for scratch paper.  Then when you really are ready to throw paper out, be sure to toss it into the recycling bin instead of the regular trash.

Using energy efficient light bulbs in your home office can save you time and money, as well as helping you stay green.  Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.  These bulbs use only about 20 percent of the energy that incandescent bulbs use.  They last 3 to 4 times longer than regular bulbs, so you won't have to change then as often.

Most of these tips cost very little or no money.  If you’re interested in cleaning up the environment, these are easy ways to begin.  If you’re already doing these things, spread the word to friends and family who are just getting started on their eco-friendly lifestyles.