Tips at Work

You can also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by taking actions that help reduce your own or the  use of energy in the workplace. Show your computer who’s boss.

Computers and monitors account for approximately 7 per cent of electricity consumption in a typical office. A computer that runs 24 hours every day uses $75 to $120 of electricity a year. Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the monitor’s energy saving features during the day, and turning the computer off every night. Standby mode uses about half the power than full power mode.

Go on standby.

Use the feature on your printer to automatically reduce power after a set period of time. This can use 65% less electricity.

Be two faced.

Two-sided photocopying uses 50% less paper and energy than one-sided photocopying.

A PC and monitor left on continuously consumes between $75 and $120 worth of electricity a year. In stand-by mode, this can be reduced to $15.

Breathe new life into school supplies.

Put used binders, diskettes, CD cases, envelopes and file folders in the supply closet.

Find a blue bin near you.

It takes 19 full-grown trees to make one tonne of paper. Recycling paper uses 40% less energy than producing it from raw materials. Every kilogram of office paper recycled is 4 kilograms fewer GHGs.

Ring up savings with less business travel.

Replace travel with conference calls and videoconferences.

Small appliances.

Consider reducing your use of small appliances, such as toasters, coffeemakers, kettles, and microwaves.

Shop ‘til you drop.

Hunt until you find the ENERGY STAR®-labeled printers, computers and photocopiers switch to ‘sleep mode’ after a preset period of inactivity, use about 50 per cent less energy and generate less heat, thereby reducing cooling costs.

Going up?

Elevators. Adopt the "down two, up one" philosophy: If you are going down two flights or up one, use the stairs.