| You are eager to join in the green movement | | | | (5) Change all of the light bulbs in your home |
| and are looking to make your home office more | | | | office from the traditional bulbs to energy-saving |
| environmentally-friendly. Follow these suggestions | | | | compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). They save |
| to be well on your way to a green home office. | | | | much more energy, which will lower your family's |
| (1) Donate your functional used desktop and | | | | electricity bills, and they last ten times longer than |
| laptop computers and printers to charitable | | | | regular bulbs. |
| organizations, such as the Salvation Army, the | | | | (6) Remove yourself from junk mails lists. |
| Goodwill, the United Way or a local homeless | | | | Register your name and information with the |
| shelter. Alternatively, phone your local school | | | | relevant local, state or national marketing |
| board and see if they would like your old | | | | association to stop receiving junk mail. |
| computer or printer. | | | | (7) Purchase your stocks, mutual funds and other |
| (2) When you are in the market for a new | | | | investments with reputable green companies. |
| computer, either for personal or business use, | | | | Environmentally-friendly companies are becoming |
| strongly consider purchasing a laptop computer | | | | increasingly popular in the marketplace. You also |
| instead of a desktop computer. Laptops are more | | | | have the peace of mind knowing that you are |
| energy-efficient than desktops. Make sure that | | | | investing your money wisely in companies that |
| any new computer, printer, photocopier or | | | | care about saving the Earth. |
| scanner you purchase is energy-efficient. | | | | (8) Clean your home office (ideally your entire |
| (3) Reduce the amount of papers that you print | | | | home) with environmentally-friendly household |
| from your computer. When you do need to utilize | | | | cleaners. Traditional cleaning products are laden |
| your printer, ensure that you are printing on both | | | | with toxic chemicals which are unhealthy for your |
| sides of the paper to help conserve trees. | | | | family and your pets. Many reputable eco-friendly |
| (4) Convert your home office and personal | | | | companies are producing lines of green cleaning |
| finances to be as paperless as possible. Call or visit | | | | products, which are becoming more popular. Try |
| your bank to request an online bank account and | | | | to find cleaning supplies that do not list chlorine |
| request that your bank statements be submitted | | | | and bleach as ingredients and that are labeled as |
| to you online rather than as traditional paper bills. | | | | biodegradable. Look into making your own simple |
| Call your local telephone, internet and television | | | | household cleaners with natural components, |
| companies and also request that you pay your | | | | including water, vinegar, baking soda and lemon |
| bills online and that your service statements be | | | | juice. |
| sent to you electronically. | | | | |