5 Easy Ways to Go Green

Want to live a greener lifestyle but have no idea how to start? Forming new habits is not easy, but there are small steps you can take to practice green living. Below are some no-brainier tactics to help you become more environmentally-friendly in all areas of your life.

1. Carpool

Did you know the average cost of gas in the United States is around $4.23 per gallon? Georgia's current state average is at $3.55. Still, that's a hefty price to pay for an hour commute to and from the office. And gas isn't the only cost-saving advantage of carpooling. You'll also cut down on wear and tear on your vehicle.

Carpooling helps protect the environment as well. According to www.rideshare.com, the average car emits 1.1 lbs of carbon dioxide per mile. Carpool with one or two other people and you could drastically decrease pollution.

2. Use Your Personal Coffee Tumbler

If every day starts with a cup of Joe, you could reduce waste big time by using your own coffee tumbler. Starbucks Coffee Company encourages customers use a tumbler. Starbucks offers a 10¢ discount when customers use their own reusable mug or tumbler for their beverage in company-operated stores in the U.S. And Canada. 

3. Pay Bills Online

It's fast. It's convenient. It's green. As businesses move towards an electronic lifestyle and paperless economy, most companies now offer online bill pay. Online bill pay allows you to pay your bills from home without the hassle of mailing a check. There's no need to make a trip to the post office and you save money on stamps. You can check payment status at any time, as well as schedule payments in advance. According to Reuters, "the average American household would save 6.6 pounds of paper a year, save 0.08 trees, and not produce 171 pounds of greenhouse gases - the equivalent of driving 169 miles."

4. Reevaluate Overhead Lighting

Overhead lighting is one of the biggest energy consumption culprits. If possible, replace overhead lighting bulbs with LED or compact fluorescent (CFL) light sources. CFLs use 25% less energy and last up to 10 times longer. LEDs use about 10% of the energy and last up to 60 times longer. Place task lighting, such as a desk or floor lamp at each workspace. Dimmer switches on overhead lights allow you to customize brightness based on activities, mood, and green living. Using less overhead lighting means energy reduction, lower operating costs and environmental gain. Click here to see how Buford-based call center, VoiceNation, made smart lighting choices.

5. Turn off Your Computer When You Leave the Office

It's that simple. Shutting down your computer saves energy, lowers costs, and expands the life of your computer. According to www.thedailygreen.com, if you turn off your machine every evening, you'll save as much as $90 worth of electricity in a year. ENERGY STAR® estimates that using your computer's sleep mode or power management feature will save you $50 each year on your electricity bill. Multiply that by the amount of employees at your office and that is major cost savings.