Environmental Challenge
By connecting to broadband, you stand to improve your business performance. Broadband is generally an eco-efficient investment, however, it can result in higher energy use. In Cornwall, we value our environment and actnow is leading the way to try to minimise additional energy use through use of IT. Here are some handy tips for making sure your business is as eco-friendly as possible and to make you more efficient at the same time.
1. Save energy
Switch off your computer and printer whenever you are at lunch or in meetings and always be sure to turn them off overnight and at weekends. If your computer needs to stay on then at least consider turning the monitor off.
2. Use your equipment wisely
If your computer has the USEPA ‘Energy Star’ or another ‘power save’ feature, make sure it is activated as equipment is often set up with it disabled.
3. Save fuel
Cut down on meetings and use time more effectively by using phone, video and web-based conferencing whenever possible. Encourage your staff to work from home – with broadband, your people will work smarter and faster. Think about investing in a GPS navigation system to save getting lost and wasting fuel when travelling by car, and look at the other travel options including bus and train.
4. Save paper
Before hitting the print button, double check that you do really need a paper copy. Print only what you need. Fit a duplex unit on your printer so you can double side your printing and share printers between colleagues.
5. Buy environmentally friendly kit
When you are buying new equipment, look out for TCO’95, TCO’99 and TCO’03 Displays – world leading environmental labelling for office equipment, offering lower energy consumption
6. Recycle
Don’t throw out old computers – recycle them through Computers for Charity or a similar organisation
7. Use the Web
There are lots of different ways in which you can reduce your impact on the environment. Have a look at the following web sites
- www.carsharecornwall.com to find the perfect lift and save money
- www.whatgreencar.com if changing your car, is there a green option for you?
- climatecare.org or other reputable carbon offset calculators
Or have you though about purchasing from some of your suppliers online and letting the postman deliver them to your door. There is no need to head off in the car to buy them. Similarly for a lot of banking tasks there is no need to visit the branch office - just logon over the internet.
