15 Ways to Green Your Office

Below are 15 simple ways to help reduce your impact on the environment. Do them all and make a real impact, but remember every action will have a significant impact. If you want to do something more, join Green Impact

ACTION IMPACT
Too hot in your office or lab, email Sustainability-estates @bristol.ac.uk, you may need controls on your radiators of insulation on the pipes. You are more comfortable. You help save energy (the University spends £8 million each year on energy).
Contact Sustainability if you require or would like to dispose of any surplus furniture. Saves you money in disposal costs.
Cheaper than buying new furniture.
Find a light in your office or department that is on when it doesn't need to be and turn it off. Saves energy and money. Money, which would be better spent providing services for teaching and research.
Ordering a new computer, order a flat LCD screen. Saves energy.
Takes up less room.
Produces less heat and reduces the need for air conditioning and saves yet more energy.
Set the office photocopier to print double sided (remember to tell everyone though). Reduces the amount of paper you have to buy (more cost savings).
The University buys 165 tonnes of paper each year.
Use the University's recycling schemes, cardboard, paper and cans. Reduces the £100,000 costs for emptying our bins of rubbish.
Buy recycled paper. Every tonne of recycled paper saves 32,000 litres of water.
Switch off your PC monitor if you are not going to use it during the next 15 minutes. Saves energy.
Prolongs the life of the monitor.
Set up your filing on your computer. Reduce the amount of paper you have to buy and the space to store it.
Ordering a fridge, ensure it is 'A' or 'B' rated. Saves energy.
Reuse envelopes to send internal mail. Saves you money and time on buying internal mail envelopes.
Use mugs instead of plastic vending cups. At present, we could circle the equator 14 times with the number of paper and plastic cups we throw away in the UK each year. It saves you money too!
Use the other side of used paper for printing out drafts or making notes Reduces the amount of paper you have to buy.
Recycle junk mail, or stop it altogether by writing to the Mailing Preference Services Freepost 22, London W1E 7EZ - who will remove your name from mailing lists. Reduces rubbish collection costs. Reduces the amount of mail you have to wade through.
Purchase recycled paper and stationery. The University's paper and stationery suppliers offer a recycled range Environmental benefits include conservation of natural Resources, reduced reliance on fossil fuels and a reduction in waste sent to landfill. Will help stimulate markets for recycled products and assist in 'closing the loop'.