Spring 2007, Volume 10 Newsletter:
An Environmental Spring Cleaning!
While you are sprucing up your office and home to welcome the Spring weather, consider these very simple tips to either space for a lesser environmental impact!
Use non-toxic cleaning supplies:
Chemicals in cleaning products contribute to the toxic waste stream when they are disposed of. Keep your cleaners clean! Harvard’s FMO uses Green Seal Products that are certified green at greenseal.org.
Purchase recycled office supplies
(if you need them at all!):
When you are getting your filing in order and need a new spot to keep your 33 digit codes, consider a supply swap in your department! Many items may be waiting for the landfill when they could be put to use on your desk. If you do need to make a purchase, choose recycled!
Make it a habit to turn off the lights!
When you’re leaving any room for 15 minutes or more and utilize natural light when you can, now that we have it! Make it a policy to buy CFL bulbs for your desk lamps.
Save that paper!
While cleaning, instead of putting the paper printed on one side into the recycle bin, save for the manual feed of your printer. This saves costs in paper dramatically, especially for those documents printed on just for short-term-viewing. When you do purchase paper, make it a policy to buy chlorine-free paper with a higher percentage of post-consumer recycled content (minimum 30% post consumer content).