Seven Easy Ways to Go Green and Save by North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS)

Americans are becoming more environmentally conscious, and many businesses, from home offices to large corporations, are also taking steps to help the environment.

They’re finding that “going green” not only helps the planet, it can also save a lot of money.

These seven tips from Staples can help make it easy for any size business to help the environment and save money:

1. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label:
By using energy-efficient technologies, such as ENERGY STAR®-qualified computers and other office equipment, you can cut the cost of powering your workplace or home by up to 80 percent.

2. Reduce You Energy Use:
Energy-efficient lighting, ventilation, insulation, heating and cooling technology can cut energy bills by 30 percent or more.

If every U.S. household replaced just one light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb each year, our country would save $600 million in energy costs and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to emissions from over 800,000 cars.

By setting thermostats a few degrees lower in the winter (to 68º F) and a few degrees higher in the summer (to 78º F), you can save nearly 10 percent on heating and cooling bills.

Even a simple step such as disabling your screen savers to “none” or “blank screen” can cut computer energy use by 70 percent.

3. Be Smarter with Paper:
To save money and reduce the impact on trees, cut your paper use by reducing the margin size on the documents, printing double-sided and selecting the “printer-friendly” option on websites.

Conduct more transactions online and e-mail documents or post them to a company intranet.

Minimize the effect of the paper you do use by purchasing paper made from post-consumer recycled content and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Small changes can have a big impact.

4. Invest in Renewables:
Investing in wind, solar, biomass, hydropower and geothermal energy technologies reduces greenhouse gas emissions and long-term expenses.

You can save 40 to 80 percent on electric fuel bills by replacing conventional water heaters with solar heating systems.

Maximize available tax subsidies (now up to $500 in federal tax credits for making your properties more energy efficient) and various rebates for investing in renewable energy technology.

5. Recycle Old Equipment:
An estimated 133,300 computers enter landfills each year, polluting the air, water and soil. Reduce waste by utilizing the many easy recycling programs that are offered across the country.

Through its Eco-Easy recycling program, Staples offers everyday, in-store recycling for a wide range of items including cell phones, PDAS, computers, printers, fax machines and other office technology, and will accept any amount that you drop off.

Earth911 (www.earth911.com) enables you to find the nearest recycler. Many retailers
now reward customers with coupons for select ink and toner cartridges they recycle.

6. Use Smart Transportation:
Every year, 1,590 pounds of CO2 emissions are cut for every worker who leaves his or her car at home two days a week.

 Encourage employees to bike, carpool or use public transportation with carpool incentive programs or subsidies for public transportation.

Introduce telecommuting either part- or full-time to help employees save gas and reduce carbon emissions.

7. Lead by Example:
Many businesses have enhanced their reputations and acquired new customers by taking leadership on environmental issues.

Your bottom line can benefit by taking these positive steps to help the environment.