Motivate your Office to Go Green in Five Steps

Increase your green impact by getting your colleagues on the eco-smart track with these 5 fun ways to get everyone to give a dang about the planet.  Or, at least, to act like they do.

1. Competition
   Getting people to move fast can be as simple as telling them they’re in a race.  Start an office-wide competition to see who can reduce their carbon footprint the most in a two-week period, or who can go for the longest stretch without printing out an email.


2. Kudos
   Even a colleague who doesn’t know what “sustainable” means knows the different between getting something good and not getting something good, so motivate people to act by bribing them with something great for going green.  Talk to your supervisor about setting up special benefits, like designating a prime parking spot for carpools, so that being eco-friendly doesn’t have to be its own reward.


3. Punishment
   The other side of the motivation coin is a little darker, but can be effective in its own way.  If being extra-nice won’t cut it, try setting up some gentle but firm consequences for eco-baddies.  For example, anyone leaving their office lights on overnight might have to “pay” for the deed by going door-to-door down the hall, collecting recycling from the rest of the crew.


4. Make it Easier
   Set the stage to make it seriously easy for your co-workers to make green choices.  Set up a reuse station for office supplies, or hit your keyboard and ask everyone to join you in adding a green email signature to their outgoing notes.


5. Lead by Example
   The best green motivation for the people around you is seeing you act green and love it.  Show off how great your new eco-smart lifestyle changes are, and when they see how you’re saving money, how you’re looking great, and how you’re reaping all the other rewards of going green, your colleagues will naturally fall in line behind you.

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