We often experience green guilt. The feeling you could and should be doing more to help protect the environment, but are often too busy to walk the talk. Living green doesn’t have to mean downsizing to a tiny house or biking/taking transit to work everyday. You can help by starting with simple things you can do at the workplace, where you may often spend more than one third of your day.

15 tips to greenify your workplace habits to save energy and resources:

• Reuse paper: once you don’t need a document any more, reuse it for notes or as packing material.
• Reuse boxes. Don’t throw them away; you can use them for shipments or to store office supplies.
• Used toner cartridges are 97% recyclable so recycle them and don’t toss them.
• Set printers to use both sides of the paper to reduce your consumption.
• Recycle paper: place a paper recycle bin next to every printer and use it. It’s also important to delegate someone to regularly bring recyclables to a center.
• Suggest replacing paper towels with air dryers.
• Go paperless: replace print outs and paper correspondence with e-mails or saved files on your computer.
• Choose used rather than new office furniture.
• Turn off all lights when you leave the office.
• Use air conditioners wisely: dress cooler instead of lowering the a/c.
• Turn off computer screensavers and check for energy saving plans.
• Use a laptop: they use less energy than desktop machines.
• Use remanufactured toner cartridges. Saves energy.
• Unplug your computer and all other devices before leaving work for the day.
• Drink your water, coffee and tea from reusable cups to stop using plastic or paper cups.

Little things count. Trying even one of these energy saving tips at your office will reduce your green guilt and give you a gold star for the day. Give it a shot.