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With environmental sustainability a hot topic and a big issue for our future, every small action helps. There are scores of books and websites dedicated to helping people green their homes and offices. Here's a short list to help you get started.

1. Buy office supplies that are recyclable, and items that come from renewable resources. And despite what people think, environmentally friendly products cost just about the same as regular products. Check out www.thegreendirectory.com.au
2. Save on electricity. Make a sign to remind the last person out of the office to turn off all the lights. In common areas like the kitchen, supplies room and lounge, keep the lights off unless in use. Turn off equipment when it’s not being used – this can reduce the energy used by 25 per cent. Turning off computers at the end of the day can save an additional 50 per cent.
3. Adjust your air-conditioning. Set the temperature a few degrees higher in summer, and a few degrees lower in the winter. Encourage employers to wear sweaters in winter, and install fans to cool the room in summer. And always make sure you turn off the air conditioning at the end of the day.
   
4. Implement a carpool program. Many people want to carpool, but don’t know who lives in their area. Set up a program to help them get started.
5. Next time your light bulbs die, replace them with energy efficient bulbs – they are slightly more expensive but you'll save on your energy bill.
6. Recycle your used printer cartridges. Places like Officeworks and other office supply stores accept them for recycling. Set up a box at the office for the empty cartridges to be put in, and have someone drop them off next time you need to pick up office supplies.
7. Have you heard of vampire power? It’s a term used for all the electronics you leave running at night, for example, a phone charger, even though your phone is charged in one hour. Always turn off or unplug all electronic items you don’t need.
8. Encourage your staff to only print emails if totally necessary. Add a line to the bottom of your emails along the line of ‘Think green - read from the screen! Don’t print this email unless you need to’. Print on both sides of the paper, and rather than throw out old print outs, use them again.
9. If your company needs to use hire cars, consider switching to ecolimo - they're an envrironmentally-friendly limousine company using hybrid cars (and they're Business Chicks members too!)
   

Have you got any other tips your office uses? Share them with us below.