Go Green? Can I make a difference?

There is a lot of talk about Go Green now a days. Is there anything that we can contribute to this Go Green initiative. Well... we Indians take pride in having gossips just on any topic and so is the feeling among the general public that we cannot do anything for this cause. Well..instead of blaming the politicians, for a change let us try to look at things that can be done.Work at the IT industry needs us to spend most of our time at work place. Some times there is a feeling that we are turning into "Babus" with all talk and no action. So why don't we try and inculcate some of the Go Green initiatives at work.

Going Green at Work:

When using the real stuff, print on both sides of the page when appropriate and use misprints as notepaper. Try to choose printers and photocopiers that do double-sided printing. If your office ships packages, reuse boxes and use shredded waste paper as packing material.

Greening the Commute:

We can ease some of this strain by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, walking, or a creative combination thereof.

Work From Home:

Instant messaging, video conferencing, and other innovative work flow tools make effective telecommuting a reality. If you can telecommute, hold phone conferences, take online classes, or otherwise work from home, give it a try. It'll save you the time you would have spent on the trip as well as sparing the air. As a bonus, you get to work in your pajamas. Also, consider the possibility of working four ten-hour days instead of five eight-hour days (a consolidated workweek), cutting the energy and time spent on commuting by 20% and giving you some lovely three-day weekends

Lunch Time:

Bringing lunch to work in reusable containers is likely the greenest (and healthiest) way to eat at work. Getting delivery and takeout almost inevitably ends with a miniature mountain of packaging waste. But if you do order delivery, join coworkers in placing a large order (more efficient than many separate ones). Also, bring in a reusable plate, utensils, and napkins. If you do go out for lunch, try biking or walking instead of driving.Filter (or simply drink) tap water instead of buying bottled or canned beverages.

It will take conscientious citizens to send this message to our civic leaders. While we must currently make do with recycling, it is only one small part of waste management and we can do much better.