Traveling, whether by air, sea or land, truly opens a window to the world. In addition to the natural wonders of the Earth, travelling exposes us to new and different cultures as well as to the new and different ways our own culture operates. On a recent trip to Seattle [Washington] from my home base of South Florida, I went in search of inspiration and productivity at every corner Starbucks. Unable to connect to any of the available wi-fi networks (a much dreaded reality for any freelance writer, consultant or the like who envisions the world as an office), I retreated to the only spa/salon I could find - in as desperate need of a mani/pedi as of a wired hot spot. Imagine my surprise when I not only realized that the sticker prices of these services were triple what I am accustomed to in South Florida, but also when I was informed that I would be treated to bona-fide organically "green" treatments! I felt indulged, special and strangely proud of myself for patronizing such an admirable organization. As I read over its literature (Julep hopes to expand, coming to a city near you, soon!) I realized that the terms "green", and "going green" are widely used - yet I was not certain how widely understood?
In simple terms, "going green" can be defined as the act(s) of adopting practices that "lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, which can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations"
As an independent consultant, my perspective on the gradual switch to a greener existence is very different from that of a large organization or conglomerate. A greener workplace can mean many different things and translate into various behavioral modifications, so I wondered how I could best implement my own measures in my home office...?
- Transportation - well, this one should be quite easy. My office is 20 feet across from the other rooms in my home. I rarely and barely need to drive into an office or to see clients; but when office duties or client-facing meetings call - I am best served to allocate specific office hours on specific days of the week and maximize that time to cover as many face-to-face meetings as feasible. Consider this: as a workshifter, every appointment or contract you do take is one that you did not take. So you would choose and juggle projects and clients carefully, wouldn't you? In the same way, every trip (by motor vehicle) you do take is one that could be combined or consolidated to produce a trip you don't have to take...
- Tree Hugging - be they palm trees like I have in Florida or Pines to the north, we have a unique opportunity to please the trees by veering closer to a paper-less existence.
- With the onset of technology, smart phones and a plethora of online organizational tools, the need for hard copy calendaring systems and sticky note portraits is long gone. Although this may take some re-training of your mind if you are a sensual and visual worker who needs to see, feel and write - you may be surprised at the joy you receive from plugging in an appointment or task into your smartphone and having it magically sync with your work laptop or PC, or being able to color code your calendars and appointments... Welcome to the world of mindless, foolproof scheduling and tracking.
- Similarly, long gone is the need for drawers upon drawers of files. Even doctors are going digital nowadays! Create a logical filing system in your 'My Documents' folder, learn how to archive your email and most importantly - invest in a smart backup software and external drive. Most are simple, easy-to-install and affordable. Then, the only file cabinet you need is a fire-proof one in which to store the external drive...
- When you cannot avoid printing, make every effort to print double-sided. You will not only save yourself paper but also have smaller stacks to look at on your desk.
- Power Struggle -Turn off your monitor/PC/laptop, set them to standby mode after 20 minutes of non-use, or - even better - unplug! Before you turn any shade of green, BE INFORMED and understand what you're doing and what its effect will be. Did you know that if every notebook sold worldwide in 2006 was on standby 50% of the time... enough power would be saved on an annual basis to provide power to more than 45,000 households...? (citation) was shocked to learn that equipment continues to leech power in the "off mode" when still plugged in. So at night, or when you're away, it's best to "unplug" in more ways than one.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - while these terms have been around as long as I can remember, they have not always been actively practiced. Turn the A/C down or the heat up where you work. Reuse office supplies for as long as they last. Recycle all paper and plastic products and buy recycled wherever it can be found. If your community does not have a recycling program, contact your local waste management authority and demand one! Don't just think of yourself as an office of one, but rather as an army of one on a crusade to better the quality of the earth one less paper copy at a time..
So, no, it isn't easy being green, and it may take a more conscious effort on your part to live and work in a more environmentally friendly fashion, but the planet will thank you and so will many future generations. You may even surprise yourself and discover that a greener life is a cleaner one - in mind, office and spirit, too!
What steps are you/your organization taking/have taken to be greener? What small steps have you adopted to make your life's work more environmentally friendly?
Photo Credit: TheTruthAbout
