Being environmentally aware is no longer a fad or a trend, but is now part of everyday conscientious. Whether you run a home-based or off-site business, there are simple things you can do to run an environmentally friendly business.
Here are some simple steps that you can put into practice right now to make your office a more environmentally friendly place:

1.
Turn off equipment when it is not being used. This can reduce the energy used by 25 percent; turning off the computers at the end of the day can save an additional 50 percent.

2.
Recycle everything your company collects. Just about any kind of paper you would encounter in an office, including fax paper, envelopes, and junk mail, can be recycled.
3.
Place recycling bins in accessible, high-traffic areas and provide clear information about what can and cannot be recycled.

4.
Encourage communications by E-mail, and read E-mail messages onscreen to determine whether it is necessary to print them. If it's not, don't!

5.
Reduce fax-related paper waste by using a fax-modem and by using a fax cover sheet only when necessary. Fax-modems allow documents to be sent directly from a computer, without requiring a printed hard copy.

6.
Produce double-sided documents whenever possible. Download the new Ecofont – a new typeface that incorporates tiny, inkless circles that minimize ink usage by up to 20 percent. Best of all: it’s free.

7.
Do not leave taps dripping; always close them tightly after use.

8.
Install displacement toilet dams in toilet reservoirs. Placing one or two plastic containers filled with stones [not bricks] in the toilet's reservoir will displace about 2 gallons of water per flush - a huge reduction of water use over the course of a year.

9.
Choose suppliers who take back packaging for reuse.

10.
Instigate an ongoing search for "greener" products and services in the local community. The further your supplies or service providers have to travel, the more energy will be used to get them to you.

11.
Before deciding whether you need to purchase new office furniture, see if your existing office furniture can be refurbished. It's less expensive than buying new and is better for the environment.

12.
Any electronic waste that cannot be refurbished should be disposed of properly. Everything from monitors to scanners to batteries can be given to E-waste disposal and recycling services for little-to-no cost.