How to Go Green in Your Home Office // Campus Planning & Sustainability // UCI

By Carrie Metzgar | April 10, 2020

As many of us transition towards temporarily working from home, we have the opportunity to be reminded of how we think about human health and well-being in sustainable workspaces. This collection of green tips and behaviors provides simple suggestions to create a comfortable, healthy, and productive work environment at home.

When taking breaks, remember to put your computer in sleep mode. Better yet, adjust your computer’s energy settings so it goes to sleep automatically after 5 minutes of inactivity. Click here to learn how to adjust your energy settings for Windows and Macs.
Done with work for the day? Remember to unplug your devices or use a smart power strip. If left plugged in, devices can continue to use energy and drain power, leading to increased electricity bills. A smart power strip recognizes when a device is not in use and automatically cuts off power. Learn more about how smart power strips work here.
On campus, you may not have much control over the temperature within a shared office setting. At home, you have greater control over your thermal comfort, but may also want to conserve energy and save money on your electricity bill. Try setting the thermostat one to two degrees lower than usual - grab a cozy blanket to keep warm, or open a window to allow for natural ventilation when it gets a bit stuffy.

Are you used to an office with bright, overhead lighting? Now is an ideal time to make use of natural daylight at home by opening your curtains and blinds. According to studies, natural light boosts vitamin D, enhances sleep, increases productivity, and improves mood.
Even better, are you able to position your workspace to have a view of nature (trees, plants, hills, mountains, skies, water)? Exposure to nature is said to increase productivity and attention span by six percent, learn more here.
Does your workspace not have a source of natural light? No problem, try using a task light rather than an overhead light – with an LED bulb for an extra energy-saving boost.

Working from home is a great opportunity to practice waste minimization. For many of us, we may not have access to supplies we typically use in the office, including copy paper, printers, or a bulk supply of pens and highlighters. Allow this time to challenge yourself to be more environmentally conscious of your materials and supplies. Can you electronically save that invoice instead of printing it? Can you use DocuSign for obtaining signatures? And if you are really up for a challenge - can you use the same pen until it runs out of ink?
As households stock-up on groceries, many people may be finding themselves cooking in the kitchen more often than usual. This is an excellent opportunity to eliminate single-use plastics and refrain from purchasing that on-the-go lunch option. Prepare your morning coffee in your favorite mug, eat your lunch on dishware rather than a paper plate, and hydrate throughout the day using a reusable water bottle.
However, if possible, support your favorite local eateries during this time and order take-out. Ask if they can provide the food in recyclable or compostable containers, and dispose of accordingly. See here for a list of places offering free delivery during the quarantine.

Perhaps you’ve considered getting a plant or two for your office on campus, but have yet to make it happen. Allow this time working from home to be a good opportunity to green your workspace and learn how to care for your plant. Did you know? Studies show that introducing plants to the workplace lowered tension and anxiety levels by 37 percent, and reduced fatigue and stress by 38 percent. A NASA study also revealed that indoor plants can reduce air pollutants by 87 percent within a 24-hour timeframe.
Perhaps you’ve considered getting a plant or two for your office on campus, but have yet to make it happen. Allow this time working from home to be a good opportunity to green your workspace and learn how to care for your plant. Did you know? Studies show that introducing plants to the workplace lowered tension and anxiety levels by 37 percent, and reduced fatigue and stress by 38 percent. A NASA study also revealed that indoor plants can reduce air pollutants by 87 percent within a 24-hour timeframe.

Consider making a clear division between when you start and end work. Create an imaginary commute by going for a 15-minute walk before coming back home to start your work day. End your work day by doing the same to help decompress.
Make your home workspace ergonomically-friendly through simple practices, such as, placing your feet up to increase circulation, elevate your laptop to be at eye level, and use pillows for added back support. For more ideas, see here for UCI Environmental Health & Safety's ergonomic tips for remote work.
And most importantly, remember to take breaks throughout the day and do ergonomic exercises that help relieve tension in the neck, shoulders, and back. There are many online videos to guide you.