Question from Job Seeker:
I have been reading a lot about green offices and the impact they could have on my productivity as a working professional. The issue is my employer is far from being really environmental friendly. Do you think I would be able to do on my own? Where do I start?

Answer from Bayt.com HR Guru:
Allow us to first congratulate you for your proactivity. Going green will indeed not only help you take part in preserving the environment as an individual but also boost your morale and productivity as stated in a recent poll conducted by Bayt.com by 88% of working professionals in the Middle East. The fact that your employer has not yet adopted green practices does not mean you cannot take the initiative yourself. Start by doing the below:

- Adopt a green lifestyle at home: You cannot hope to go green at the workplace and get people to follow your lead if you are not adopting a green lifestyle in general. Going green at home is not a strenuous task. Top green rituals to keep in mind are: using recyclable paper shopping/ grocery bags, recycling magazine and newspapers, turning off the lights before leaving your room/house, buying foods locally, substituting a car ride for a bike ride or a walk whenever/ wherever possible, steering away from the laundry machine and letting the sun do all the work for you instead. Make sure your kids are aware at an early age of the benefits of a green lifestyle and guide them gently to follow your steps. These habits will be kept with them for a lifetime and will also be carried along to the following generation.

- Depend on daylight while you can: You’re present in the office for at least 8 hours a day- meaning natural light could easily be engulfing your space for at least half of your day. Think twice before putting the lights on and make it a point to turn them off every time you step out of your office. In case the sun does not really have a way to your office, are eco- friendly light bulbs an idea you could possibly pitch to your management?

- Reduce paper waste: Go digital and avoid printing. If you are left with no other alternative, print on both sides (and set your printer on “draft” as default mode) keeping in mind not every document/ e-mail or article needs to be printed out. Remember to suggest using recyclable paper (or at least get a set of recyclable paper that you can personally use).

- Bring your lunch in a reusable container: Take the time to cook your food at home- preferably local and /or organic- then pack it in a reusable container along with reusable plates and cutlery. Keep in mind that deliveries always leave packaging waste behind- and are rarely healthy for you. Post-lunch Coffee? Aim for reusable coffee filter.

For more Tips on how to go green in the office, read through this article about going green on Bayt.com Career Center: http://www.bayt.com/en/career-article-8261

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