Environmental Stewardship: WFH Edition

Bria Sundton | March 2024

Caring for the environment and leading a sustainable life are not new concepts in 2024. However, as more and more people start working from home, sustainability practices for the home office might be new to us. We may not even be aware of the environmentally harmful practices we have made so routine. To shed some light on the subject, we put together a guide to the most effective ways to be good stewards of the environment while working from home––without straining your wallet. 

Reduce Paper

Office jobs are notorious for the heavy use of paper. Thankfully, digital solutions exist for most paper-oriented tasks. Here’s a list of quick and easy ways to reduce the paper you use at work:

• Switch to digital paystubs. If you still get paper stubs in the mail, log into your HR system and go paperless, or contact your HR specialist to find out how. 
• Switch to a digital explanation of benefits. Similarly, if your insurance company is still mailing a list of services covered after every appointment, log into your insurance account and go paperless. Your information will be emailed to you instead. 
• Take digital notes. Countless tools and apps are available to take notes and keep them organized. Get a writing tablet if you can’t quite let go of writing with a pen.
• Use both sides of the paper. It’s unlikely that we can remove paper from our work environment entirely. When you have to print a document or write in a notebook, cut the paper in half using both sides of the sheet.
• Recycle. Remember to recycle paper when finished; never put it in the regular trash bin. Sensitive documents can be shredded and either recycled or burned. 

Plants

Getting a few indoor plants for your home office will increase the air quality, contributing to higher productivity levels. Check out which types to start with here!

Energy

Chances are, you’re powering your WFH day with much more than your computer. Making many small, conscious, energy-saving decisions will make a big difference and likely reduce your energy bills in the process!

• Maximize natural light. Use the windows and sunlight for as much of the day as possible, turning off lamps and overhead lights. 
• Use energy-efficient LED bulbs. Where artificial light is needed in your home, use LED bulbs, which use far less energy and last much longer than incandescent bulbs. 
• Use power-save mode on laptops and computers. Simply toggling this setting will conserve your devices’ energy, requiring less energy for use and charging. Not sure how? This guide walks you through how to switch on power-save mode for Mac and Windows users. 
• Unplug cords not in use. Did you know devices still use energy when turned off if the cable is plugged in? It’s called vampire energy, and it can be easily avoided by simply unplugging the cord when it’s not being used. Cut back on the number of lamps, computers, charging, and cables you must unplug using a power strip!
• Get a smart plug or power strip. These handy accessories can detect when the plugged-in devices are off or in standby mode and cut the power to that cable! If you want to avoid using vampire energy but want to avoid unplugging all your cables, this may be your option.

Office Furniture

Now that you’re working from home, you can control your workspace’s tables, chairs, lamps, rugs, and other household items. Keep these tips in mind when making your selections:

• Look for EnergyStar-certified appliances. Appliances with this certification have met strict energy efficiency standards required by the US Environmental Protection Agency or the US Department of Energy. They also use less energy than non-certified appliances to do the same job.
• Buy second-hand. When looking for office furniture, check out local marketplaces, thrift stores, and consignment stores. Reusing what already exists worldwide is almost always a more sustainable option than buying new––even from an environmentally friendly brand. 
• Avoid plastic and toxic chemicals. When buying new, vet your choices by choosing an option that uses natural resources, like wood or steel, instead of plastic. Also, check that your furniture does not contain PFAs, VOCs, or other chemicals harmful to the health of humans and the earth. Look for items that are Greenguard certified or CA Prop. 65 compliant.  

Emissions

You’ve already eliminated the emissions used to commute to and from the office by working from home! Keep it going by sticking to these general rules:

• Meet virtually. Even if you find sustainable transportation to an in-person meeting, there’s no guarantee that the person you’re meeting will do the same. Avoid the issue by hopping on a video call instead!
• Walk or bike when able. When you can’t avoid meeting in person or doing errands for your company, walk or bike if you can. If there are other options, check out what ride-share or public transportation options are available. 
• Plan to reduce car trips. A car ride is sometimes the only way to get where you’re going. Plan for your day and be efficient with your away-from-home tasks so that you don’t have to make the trip to and from your home more often than needed. 

Adopting even a few of these practices in your home office setting can significantly impact the environment’s health. Do what you can, and share with your coworkers to keep environmental stewardship alive in your company!