Lockdown Day 3: Set up an eco-friendly home office
Most of us are working from home as social distancing is the only way to keep the Coronavirus at bay. Since working from home is going to be the norm for at least a month now, many people have started dedicating a separate office-space in their homes. You need not be a telecommuter or a home-entrepreneur to have a home-office, but anyone who might be doing his/her office chores at home should have a dedicated space for this apart from your distraction prone drawing room or bedroom.
‘Go green’ is the buzz word across the globe today. Many scientific researches have been going to develop means to preserve the environment and atmosphere. Eco friendly home-offices are not only your bit for the environment, but an efficient and pleasant way of doing your works. Going green or eco-friendly home office doesn’t mean in investing a lot for making changes in your rooms.
Tips to make your home office eco-friendly and green
Consume less power: Let your home office be an open airy space with lots of fresh air coming in. It not only keeps you fresh while you work, but also consumes less power in terms of lights during the day time, air condition and even fans! Air and light from nature also rejuvenate the mind and lightens the mood.
Greenery in home office: Instead of confining yourself within walls of concrete, add some green patches to your office space. If you have an attached balcony to your room, ensure that you plant some potted plants or creepers which can be taken care of without hassle. Need not worry if you don’t have an attached balcony, there are ample options for interior plants. Even adding some fortune plants on your table or on the open cub boards is a great idea.
Buy energy-efficient equipment: While you plan for gadgets and electronic devices for your home office, like printers and laptops, ensure that you buy energy star rated devices which saves energy and with less carbon emission.
Save paper & ink: In this world of email and cloud storage, you can save a lot on paper in your home office by avoiding backups in the form of files. Even if you are using paper for printers, ensure that you are making optimum use of it, by recycling. Think before printing and Save trees, save paper and even saves ink or toner.
Use eco-friendly furniture: While furnishing your home-office keep in mind to choose simple, eco-friendly ways so as to ensure the overall work environment stays calm, aesthetically enhanced and soothing, rather than a cluttered space full of files, cub boards and poor lighting.
While choosing furniture, opt for those made from natural materials like wood or recycled metal, instead of those which emits VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and with non toxic paints.
Working from home also enables you to avoid wastage of time in commuting, fuel expenses, and the working hours and schedule too can be devised flexibly. Eco-friendly home-offices are not only your bit for the environment, but an efficient and pleasant way of doing your works. Now, it is your turn to have an eco-friendly office right at your home and the aforementioned points are sure to help you to achieve it!
