Take action today, with a combined effort everyone can reduce carbon emissions and make more informed decisions about their actions and purchases. So this made me think, “What simple things can we do everyday to help reduce our carbon footprint?”
There is this useful article called 50 quick, Painless Ways You Can Help the Environment Today where you can find helpful tips, which couldn’t be simpler.
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- Don’t print at least once day, to help reduce paper consumption.
- Turn off lights and unplug your electronic products when not in use.
- Look for energy efficient products.
- Use a coffee mug instead of disposable cups.
The article also talks about speaking to your employer about telecommuting, and the savings of time and fuel and the reduction of stress. There is also a host of various online outsourcing websites such as mytino.com that suggests growing popularity for working independently or from a home office. So how would this work in the context of working online or outsourcing work online to reduce emissions and conserve energy?
The members of freelancing online communities could be viewed as telecommuters, as they are not required to travel to a location and can work remotely from home, therefore reducing time spent in a car and reducing car emissions. The Washington Post quoted a study done by the Consumer Electronics Association which found that the United States of America currently has 3.9 million telecommuters, which collectively save about 840 million gallons (3 billion liters) of gas and 14 million tons (12 billion kilograms) of carbon dioxide emissions. That’s equal to taking 2 million vehicles off the road each year!
Other environmental benefits include the reduced need for office space and related materials and roadways. As the work is conducted online it makes sense that that this type of activity could be the next step in business. There is the view that the lack of face to face interaction can lead to a reduction in productivity and to a degree a loss of control; however in most businesses communication between colleagues sitting across from each other is done via email rather than face to face.
So how can we encourage more people to review how their work impacts the environment? Lovely as a Tree has great tips specifically for graphic designers from paper choices to choosing a printer, the site evolved from twig.co.uk and conceived by Caroline Clark who after much research found that there were very little environmental tips for designers.
Planet Green Discovery gives you energy tips for all parts of your life and Business Green looks at what businesses, large and small are doing to help the environment.
Working from home isn’t for everyone, it takes a certain type of person to be able to focus and ensure they are productive. It also requires having the correct equipment and an office set up in your home where you are away from distractions. Designing or working from home can definitely help the environment, and taking a few more simple actions in your home office can ensure that your business reduces its mark on the environment.
