Earth Day is celebrated every year on 22 April. This tradition began in 1970 in response to growing environmental concerns after a large oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. And over the decades, Earth Day has become a global event. One that brings together over a billion people all over the world with one shared goal – raising awareness of environmental issues and pursuing a sustainable future.

For businesses and organizations, Earth Day also offers an opportunity to raise awareness and foster environmental responsibility within the workplace. In this article, we explore the role of offices and workplaces generally in broader sustainability efforts, discuss the benefits of embracing Earth Day with practical eco-friendly practices, and give some ideas on how to organize engaging office events to celebrate this special date.

The Role of Office Spaces in Sustainability

Office environments significantly influence environmental outcomes. According to the World Resources Institute, 6.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions are emitted by commercial buildings alone, including offices. 

And although energy consumption contributes 60% of an office’s total carbon footprint, there are other office-related activities that can also be targeted to achieve effective sustainability measures during Earth Day and beyond.

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When you’re in business, you learn the importance of saving money wherever you can. It’s a matter of stability and fiscal intelligence that cannot be overlooked if a business is to remain solvent. Even the smallest changes can result in huge savings over a long-term stretch of time. Nowhere is this ethic more applicable than the lowering of the utility bills in your office. Just a few small changes can help save your office a lot of money over time.

Efficiency

Any business owner who has performed research on saving money on utilities has heard one term repeatedly: efficiency. Efficiency is one of the most important factors when it comes to saving money on utilities. Efficient appliances use less electricity to produce better results. Efficient windows and insulation allow for lower rates of thermal exchange, saving business owners on heating and cooling.

Business owners should consider hiring an efficiency expert to perform an energy audit on the office. This audit will cover all of the usual energy wasters that can be found in any office around the world. The expert will then be able to provide an actionable list of steps that can be taken to create a more efficient office space. Read the rest of this entry »