To ?go green? in your home office, consider these tips to conserve energy, and to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Austin companies large and small are contributing to the effort to ?go green,? earning Austin the title of MSN's ?Greenest City in America.? In addition to green efforts at the home office, companies recognize that allowing employees to work from home lessens the environmental impact of commuting. But, if your home office isn't environmentally-friendly, then you aren't doing your part. To ?go green? in your home office, consider these tips to conserve energy, and to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Use Energy Wisely Compact florescent lights (CFLs) provide high quality energy-efficient lighting. They cost slightly more than incandescent bulbs but last more than five times longer. Also consider task-oriented lighting (i.e. a desk lamp) as opposed to general overhead lighting. Being outside a cubicle has it's advantages, and windows are one of them?always take advantage of daylight when you can. Look for energy-efficient office equipment like computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, and more. An ENERGY STAR computer, for example, uses 70% less electricity than other models. If you can, invest in a laptop as they use a lot less energy than desktop computers. If you are not using it, turn it off! It is a common misconception that it takes more energy to turn a piece of equipment back on, but this is an outdated idea. You should also use a power strip for your equipment that can be turned off when not in use. Otherwise, if equipment is plugged directly into an outlet, it will continue to draw energy even when off. These are just a few key ways you can conserve energy; visit AustinEnergy.com for more tips. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle We've heard these three rules over and over again, but it takes a conscious effort to follow them. Before you print or make a copy, stop and think about if you really need a hard copy. You should reuse supplies like file folders, rubber bands, paper clips, etc. If it's not a document for distribution, you can even reuse paper in your printer or fax machine - simply turn it over. In addition to recycled paper, there are many other supplies made from post-consumer content including post-its, folders, notebooks, envelopes, and packing material. If and when you do have to throw paper products away, the city of Austin offers recycling so be sure to take advantage. Other items like batteries and even computers can be recycled. The Austin City Connection website can provide more information on how to get started. Another way to recycle is to purchase used office furniture. Austin business furniture can be found by scouring the local paper, but it's a better use of your time to choose from an inventory that has been hand-picked and evaluated for quality. Office Furniture Now! offers the largest on-hand selection of used office furniture in Austin. You can help save desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and more from winding up in a landfill. To make your home office ?greener? you should focus on two things: energy-efficiency, and the three R's: reduce, reuse, recycle. Only use energy-efficient equipment and lighting, and if you are not using it, turn it off. With conscious effort you can reduce waste, and reuse many items in your office. Finally, consider using only recycled paper and other supplies, and give used office furniture a second life in your home office.