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What's Your Green Index at Work?

To see how effective your workplace is at turning itself green, take this easy but revealing test. When you click Submit below, you will see your Green Index!
 

 

1. Is it a policy to turn off lights when you and others leave that room or area for more than 15 minutes?
  Yes
No
   
2. Does your workplace utilize natural light as often as possible?
  Yes
No
   
3. Does your workplace use Energy Star-rated light bulbs and light fixtures, which use two-thirds less energy than regular lighting?
  Yes
No
   
Energy-Saving Aside: Did you know that artificial lighting represents more than 40 percent of the electricity use in office buildings?
   
4. Do you and your coworkers turn off computers at the end of the day?
  Yes
No
   
5. When you finish using computers, do you unplug their power strips?
  Yes
No
6. When purchasing such office hardware as PCs, monitors and fax machines, do you favor Energy Star models, which "power down" after a period of inactivity?
  Yes
No
7. Does your workplace recycle old computers?
  Yes
No
   
Energy-Saving Aside: Electronics contain metals, plastic and toxics that should be reclaimed, say experts.
   
8. Is your workplace using only recycled-content paper?
  Yes
No
   
9. Are you and your co-workers taking advantage of double-sided copying to save paper?
  Yes
No
   
10. Do you use the backside of used sheets for taking notes and leaving messages?
  Yes
No
   
Energy-Saving Aside: "U.S. businesses still use about 21 million tons of paper each year. So much for the paperless office," says Inc. magazine. "But greening up at the office isn't just about saving trees. Some companies are incorporating green practices - such as recycling office products and using energy-efficient equipment - to attract and retain workers. Sixty percent of American employees said it is important to them that their employers are environmentally conscious, according to a recent survey by Harris Interactive and Randstad USA, a staffing firm."
   
11. Does your workplace encourage aluminum and plastic recycling?
  Yes
No
   
Energy-Saving Aside: According to Alcoa, using recycled aluminum beverage cans to produce new cans allows the aluminum can industry to make up to 20 times more cans for the same amount of energy.
   
12. Does your workplace feature low-flow toilets, faucets and showerheads?
  Yes
No
   
   
13. An energy audit is usually the initial step in determining specific energy-efficient upgrade recommendations and the potential energy cost savings that upgraded energy components can generate in a facility. Has your workplace completed an energy audit?
  Yes
No
   
Cut your energy use by 75% just by switching to a laptop computer. Save even more energy by turning off the laptop at the end of the day.
   
14. Does your workplace remove oil from wastewater before it leaves your facility?
  Yes
No
   
15. Does your office use recycled paper?
  Yes
No
   
Use a power strip for anything that can be powered by a remote control or that has a power cube transformer (little black box). Turn it off or unplug it, when it is not in use.
   
16. Does your office use two-sided printing or reuse the back of used documents?
  Yes
No
   
17. Do you recycle your paper waste?
  Yes
No
   
18. Does your office use lap top computers?
  Yes
No

Thank you again for participating. Click Submit below to see your Green Index.