Home Makeovers - Office/Garage

by Amanda Wills

Office
Problem: I literally have mountains of paper.
One of the biggest space hoarders in any office is files. Hundreds upon hundreds of contracts, reports and applications in file cabinets can take up an entire wall of space in your office.

Reassess what you really need in hard-copy form. Many of these documents can be scanned and saved in electronic form. Shred, bag and recycle the sheets of paper. The most important thing to remember here is to back up any information you load onto an external hard drive with password protection. You can go digital and still be safe.

 It may seem like a ton of work, but it's worth it. Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees, two barrels of oil, 4,100 kilowatts of energy, 3.2 cubic yards of landfill space and 60 pounds of air pollution.

Problem: Nothing is “green” or efficient.
According to the Department of Energy, office equipment accounts for 16 percent of an office’s energy use. The use of computers, printers, copiers and fax machines adds up, but simply turning your computer’s sleep mode on when you’re not using it can save energy. Here are some other energy-saving tips you can implement:

Turn the machine off when you leave the office for the night.
Activate sleep mode for printers, copiers and fax machines so they’ll sense inactive periods.
Consider consolidating these machines by purchasing a machine that performs multiple office functions.
If you’re looking to purchase new office equipment, look for ENERGY STAR qualified products to cut down energy use and pollution.

Problem: I just can’t concentrate in my workspace.
Organization plays a key role in productivity. A clean space allows for more creativity and better concentration. But if you’re still in a jaded funk after organizing your office, a fresh coat of paint may do the trick and get you back on track.

According to Freshome Interior Design, color and mood go hand-in-hand. Blues and greens are great for reducing stress and relaxing. But if you’re looking for a burst of creativity and energy, paint one wall a shade of red or orange.

Earth911 consulted Behr paint to find out more about the color trends for 2010. “Whether light or dark, clean or muted, traditional or contemporary, new concepts in style take shape at the beginning of a new decade,” according to Behr’s 2010 Design & Color Trends report, noting that contrasting shades are tops this year, and that these palettes relate directly to “a world bursting with change, innovation and diversity.”

Garage
Problem: I have boxes of stuff I never use.
The garage is where products go to collect dust. You don’t plan on using them, but you store them in a corner “just in case.” Sporting goods, books, old electronics – all these items can be reused by someone else, reducing the need to manufacture new products.

 Due to the various types of cleaning products, there are several methods for properly disposing of them. Household cleaning products that are hazardous should be properly disposed of by household hazardous waste (HHW) facilities.

They don’t call it a garage sale for nothing. If you moved all your junk from the garage out to the driveway, you may be surprised what gets sold. Use sites like Craigslist and Freecycle or scout out a second-hand store to get a tax write-off.

Problem: It’s too cold.
Yes, this is an energy-sucking problem. The garage is probably one of your least insulated rooms in the house. It will be coldest in the winter, and warmest in the summer.

Minimize this impact by keeping any doors closed that connect the garage with your house. This will keep your energy costs down for heating and cooling your home.

Also keep in mind that extra appliances, like spare refrigerators and freezers, can take a toll on your electric bill. A refrigerator uses almost five times more electricity than the average television.

Rather than combating constant temperature fluctuations, assess if you really need a second refrigerator. If so, perhaps a smaller unit for beverages will work better than a full-size cooler.

Problem: I don’t know what to do with all these chemicals.
The garage is a popular spot for hazardous products like motor oil, freon, gasoline, pool chemicals, etc. If you’re housing these items, make sure they are properly stored in their containers. If you need to get rid of any old supplies, don’t dump them in the trash. Check for a local household hazardous waste collection event hosted by your municipality, or look for other ways to properly dispose of these items with Earth911’s recycling database.

emailed w/permission from Earth911.com