CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/17354
BRIGHT IDEAS Compact flourescent lightbulbs (CFLs) can save more than $40 in electricity costs over the lifetime of one bulb. They use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer and produce about 75% less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling. 6. Close the loop Make it a policy to purchase office supplies and furniture made from recycled or natural and sustainable materials. 7. Coffee talk and water coolers Bring your own mug and dishware for what you consume at the office. Provide reusable dishes, silverware and glasses. Switch to Fair Trade and organic coffee and tea and buy as much organic and local food as possible for parties. Provide filtered water to reduce bottled-water waste. 8. Print smarter The average U.S. office worker goes through 10,000 sheets of copy paper a year. Try printing on both sides of the paper or using the back side of old documents for faxes, scrap paper or drafts. Avoid color printing and print in draft mode whenever feasible. Recycle toner and ink cartridges and buy remanufactured ones. According to Office Depot, each remanufactured toner cartridge “keeps approximately 2.5 pounds of metal and plastic out of landfills...and conserves about a half gallon of oil.” 9. Reconsider your commute Fayetteville doesn’t have a lot of mass transit options, but explore carpooling, riding the bus, walking or biking to work and/or telecommuting when possible? 10. Bring on the real green Brighten up your cubicle with plants, which absorb indoor pollution. You can also lead the way for your co-workers by purchasing non-toxic cleaning products for your office. Visit www.seventhgeneration.com for coupons on some environmentally- friendly cleaning agents. Buy chlorine-free paper with a higher percentage of post-consumer recycled content and consider switching to a lighter stock of paper or alternatives made from bamboo, hemp or organic cotton. CityViewNC.com | 41 Larry’s Coffee, from right here in North Carolina (Raleigh, in fact) is not only completely fair-trade, but also organic – and the bag is even compostable. How’s that for green?