From Work Office to Home Office

So many of us are facing challenges with the shift to working at home during this global health crisis. From finding a space to work at home, managing home and family life routines, adapting to online technologies and coping with the effects of isolation, we’re all finding new ways to work. Something I’ve been thinking about lately is how I can adapt my working from home routine to be more sustainable.

These days, the majority of workplaces have implemented best practices to ensure they are choosing sustainable products, disposing of waste properly, and being energy efficient, but how do we accomplish this and continue to reduce our environmental footprint when working from home? By adapting practices from the Queen’s Green Office Certification program, Sustainable Queen’s can provide individuals with tricks and tips to green their home offices.

Sustainable Strategies for Your Home Office

The Queen’s Green Office Certification Program is designed to encourage groups of staff and faculty to investigate ways they can reduce their carbon footprint in their day-to-day operations by making more sustainable choices. This program is aligned with the Queen’s Climate Action Plan, aimed at the University being carbon neutral by 2040. Sustainable Queen’s is currently in the process of updating the Green Office program to increase uptake, making this a perfect time to engage staff from their home offices, as many of the sustainable choices outlined in the program can be easily transferred to a home office. 

Follow these tips to ensure your home office is a sustainable space:

Energy Tips:

• Power off your laptop/computer, monitor, printer and scanner at the end of your workday, during lunch or when not in use

• Switch off lights when leaving a room

• Use power bars to eliminate phantom loads

• Enable energy saving functions on your computer equipment

• Make use of natural light by opening curtains and positioning your work space near a window

• Lower the set point of your thermostat. Dress comfortably and adjust your layers before adjusting your thermostat

Waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle

• Only print if absolutely necessary, ensure you are using recycled paper

• Reuse paper for note pads

• Ensure proper use of grey and blue recycling bins, use the Kingston Waste Look Up Tool for help!

• Make the most of your green bin and compost food waste and many other items.

• Properly dispose of old E-waste, hazardous waste, textiles and other items by visiting the City of Kingston website.

Travel – Efficient Errands:

• Do all your errands in one run if possible

• Offer to grab groceries for family members while grabbing your own, reduce the amount of trips

• Bike/walk to the store if this is an option

 Wellbeing – Create Some Zen in Your Space:

• Spend time daily outside, getting fresh air is create for your physical and mental wellbeing

• Invest in indoor houseplants to add some greenery to your space. There are many places in Kingston such as The Plant Shelf and The Jungle that will deliver your new plants to you!

• Use natural cleaning products for your space – a little vinegar, essential oils and water goes a long way!

• Decorate your office space with items from around the house that aren’t being used, or things that may be collecting dust in your basement