Nicki LOVES Social Media!

 I have recently started reading the eWeek magazine that I have been subscribing to for a while now. It's a weekly publication that comes to me via snail mail.

In the magazine, you can find information about topics such as hardware, software, social media,mobile technolgy, and many other things in the tech realm.

 In the latest article, their "10 Steps to a Greener Office" caught my eye. Every day, we do things that harm our earth. Here are some simple ways to change our destructive paths:

• Ditch your styrofoam cups, paper plates, and plastic utensils. Provide or have staff bring in reusable kitchenware. 
• Where available, use mass transit systems and bikes. Not only will you save money on gas, but you will also help with the emission problems.
• Turn off lights when they aren't in use. When leaving the office, turn lights off. Also, set your computer to sleep after 10 minutes of no activity, and power them down at night unless IT is doing maintenance or back-ups.
• Watch that paper. Do you really need to print that email? Use older documents that you don't need for faxes, and if you do need to print that email, do it on paper that you were going to throw away when applicable.
• Recycle. You can recycle almost anything; phones, ink cartridges, toner, fax machines, computers... Try buying re manufactured when you can. Also, recycle newspapers, magazines, and plastics. Be sure to designate appropriate bins for each. Here is a resource from the State of Indiana: http://www.in.gov/recycle/
• Increasing efficiency. When you purchase new electronic items, be sure to check the energy star ratings. 
• Web and video conferencing. Save time, money, and the ozone by utilizing web and video conferencing when possible.  We have used Go To Meeting, and it works very well!
• Work from home! Most professionals today have high speed internet at their home.  Have your IT department set up a virtual private network, and allow your staff to work from home when possible!
• Greenery. Decorate the offices with plants. Plants not only spruce up workspaces, but they also absorb indoor pollution!