No one can deny that advances in technology have increased the effectiveness of our workplaces and how we approach energy efficiency, conservation, and communication. Understanding the most recent equipment and software can help you take advantage of the latest options for your home and office.
The way you and your staff interact with customers, distributors, and colleagues says a lot about your commitment to sustainability and how you approach technology. If you utilize services such as Twitter and Skype or use web cam technology in lieu of costly, inefficient trips out of town, what you’re really communicating is your willingness to use your resources and time wisely. While nothing can replace a face-to-face meeting with colleagues or being present for relevant conventions out of town, much of your business travel can be reduced using GoToMeeting, telecommunication, and other advanced forms of correspondence.
Produce More, Use Less
Step away from the printer. One of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your office waste and increase efficiency of work flow is to simply use less paper. Instead of printing out documents and records to store in filing cabinets, save files as PDFs and take advantage of your electronic storage capacity. If you manage your files well, finding important documents when you need them will be easier than ever. Not only that, but consider the physical office and storage space you will save using electronic storage rather than old-fashioned filing cabinets and bankers boxes.
You may not realize it, but moving from hard copies to electronic storage will help considerably when it comes to business continuity and disaster recovery planning as well. If your files are stored electronically and backed up remotely, you will be in a much better position to continue operations in the event of an unexpected disaster than if all you have are hard copies in a storage facility 2 miles from your office. For more on this, visit www.disasterrecoveryforum.com.
Forget the Fax Machine
Emailing files rather than faxing them has many benefits. Not only does it maintain the integrity of your document for outside use, but it also saves ink and paper as well.
If you don’t already have one, create a system to help monitor your paper consumption; this will not only help with inventory checks, but will give you a heightened awareness of just how much paper is being used in your office.
Sustainable Staffing
Place help wanted ads on websites such as CareerBuilder or Monster.com instead of sending out fliers or placing expensive classified ads. Studies have shown that a growing number of people are doing their job hunting online.
Eco-Friendly Advertising
If you aren’t taking advantage of online advertising, you’re definitely missing out on a growing market of potential customers and employees. Place banner ads on appropriate websites and create a Twitter account to keep your customer base instantly abreast of specials, events, and how your business is developing. Every company, no matter how small, should establish a website for customers and potential customers to reference. Do a Google search using your company’s name; if your website isn’t in the first five results, it’s time to beef up your Internet exposure.
Become a Responsible Office
If you haven’t already established a recycling system for your excess paper or a bin for recyclables in the break room, consider adding one. Just as they do in your home, the small contributions you make toward sustainability add up over time.
