By Madelyn Lipszyc

Even though working from home or having your own home business is already a green start, there are many other things that you can do to make your home office space more eco-friendly. Here are some other things that you can do.

1. Green your printing

It is estimated that nearly 40% of the solid waste America produces each year is paper (Franklin Associates), so naturally, reducing the paper waste you produce in your home office is a quick step towards decreasing your contribution to this number and to the environment.

Businesses require paper and documents for invoices, reports, and the like. Nowadays, the internet has given us a great advantage by letting us go paperless. This makes considering the environment before printing something, the easiest way to minimize paper waste in the office.

However, going paperless may not always be practical in every situation, so if printing is really necessary, always

• use 100% post-consumer recycled paper, envelopes, binders and business cards, (Because paper is 100% recyclable, we can generate new paper from used paper and fiber sources. And, since most printers today are very compatible with 100% recycled paper, it's no hassle.)
• reuse or recycle leftover paper scraps and envelopes (even those with plastic windows), and
• use both sides of the paper whenever possible.

2. Home office supplies and furnishings

There are numerous biodegradable pens and pencils, stapless staplers, and eco-office gadgets on the market, some of which are great, although the marketing and packaging can be clunky or misleading, and not truly friendly to the environment. It is not necessary to go out and purchase these things if what you currently have is not worn. In this case, it is better to use what you have first and, if/when you do need to replace something, purchase wisely.

Using a refillable bottle, glass or ceramic mug is a great, safe way to keep hydrated throughout the workday. The plastic water bottle, and water jug cooler will become things of the past, even though some are re-used. Big water jug's plastic identification code is 7 because they are made from Polycarbonate plastic, one of the hardest materials to biodegrade or divert from landfills. While you're at it, why not have lunches on a glass/ceramic plate as well? Verterra makes some great biodegradable and reusable plates from fallen leaves at verterra.com. When creating a home office, taking hand-me-down furniture, used furniture, and furniture made from recycled materials are good options to begin with. Use a space with natural sunlight and open windows for fresh air. Also, a potted plant in the office soaks up any toxins in the air and could make your work time more enjoyable.

3. Make smart lighting and technology choices

The home office is a wonderful place for environmentally friendly tech-gadgets. Most office appliances, printers and laptops today are energy star certified and most have energy saver preferences that can be easily set from the battery power menu. If batteries are needed for an electronic device, use USB-rechargeable batteries or try to replace battery-powered devices with ones that don't require as much energy, if possible. Reduce your computer's energy usage by turning off monitors and CPUs if not in use, rather than keeping it on during lunch, overnight, or other idle times.

For those who live in urban or polluted areas, or older buildings with airborne mold spores, consider buying an energy star certified air purifier. But beware, as some air purifiers can use as much energy as two light bulbs or more. It is recommended really only for those who spend a lot of time in the office, have no access to a window, live nearby traffic or in a metropolitan area, who are asthmatic, or whose home has pollutants, dust mites, or second-hand smoke remnants. The website http://www.greenandmore.com/air-purifiers.html lists and recommends using an air filter that is energy-efficient, high performance and made from recyclable and biodegradable materials.

Use a pre-programmed thermostat to provide less heat when you are not in the office. For lighting, when light bulbs in your home burn out, replace them with new compact-fluorescent energy-saving light bulbs. Although they use 75% less energy than the older incandescent bulbs, the new energy-saver bulbs are leading to some rising health concerns like the high levels of UV radiation in unencapsulated fluorescent models, the potential to release mercury into the air, and the negative effect on people with skin conditions. Researchers and scientists are still working on new alternatives to the light problem. The best option is to maximize window usage and minimize artificial light usage.

Some other great, environmentally friendly office additions could be a solar powered clock, or solar powered charger, dock, or base for your electronics such as cell phone, ipod, or laptop. Many environmentally friendly electronic gadgets have already been featured in the Green Solutions product picks section.

4. Practice green cleaning

When cleaning the workplace, be careful not to use disinfectants or sprays that contain chemicals. They can remain with you for a long time and damage your computer, desk, skin and circulatory system. Instead, try a USB-powered mini-vacuum cleaner for your keyboard. It only uses as much energy as you're already using.

Keep in mind, that even though an appliance is turned off, it can still drain energy just by being plugged in. After spending a plethora of time in the office, one extra minute of unplugging-time will save a lot of energy. Adding a power bar could protect your equipment and is a great tool where multiple appliances can be switched off at once. Finally, remember to turn off the lights, when not in use.

Making the home office a more environmentally friendly place is not accomplished simply by purchasing green products, when nothing needs replacing. The excess packaging is what causes a lot of waste in the first place. A good recommendation is to simply get by with what works now. When you can, recycle any out of date appliances that drain excess energy in a safe way. And when business technology needs replenishing, that is the time to make green purchasing decisions. If you manage your office with these things in mind, it is possible, with better office habits, to green the future of your home business!