Remote work has countless benefits, from financial advantages like a reduced need for childcare and less money spent on commuting to personal benefits like a better work-life balance.

But one benefit of remote work is often overlooked or downplayed – its environmental impacts.

Many workers care about the environment and want to make sure that the company they’re working for is eco-friendly too. In fact, 41% of U.S. job applicants said they would not work for a non-green company, according to a recent study.

Beyond the impact that an organization as a whole can make on the environment – such as committing to decreasing your carbon footprint or partnering with a local environmental group – the way a company and its employees operate can have a significant impact on the environment too.

How to make remote work eco-friendly

Another added benefit that may not be obvious is that remote workers tend to be more energy-efficient. Since they’re working from home, workers are more energy-conscious since they pay the expenses they incur.

If you want to give your home office a green upgrade and maximize ecological benefits, consider these four ways to make your home office eco-friendly, from Keith Spencer, FlexJobs‘ career expert. “By taking easy, eco-conscious steps like those outlined below, remote and hybrid workers can help the environment – all from the comfort of their home workspace,” says Spencer.

Pick eco-friendly paint

“Paint is one of the simplest ways to curate and create an aesthetic in your workspace or home office,” says Spencer.

“But the type of paint you choose is just as important as the color. Opt for brands that offer low or zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and are free of chemicals like ammonia, phthalates and formaldehyde. When it comes to choosing a color, consider selecting lighter shades, which will help reflect natural light and lower your need for energy consumption.”

Embrace your green thumb

“Fill your home office with plants, which can help to purify indoor air and emit oxygen,” suggests Spencer. “If you’ve struggled with keeping plants alive in the past, try out some low-maintenance varieties. Pothos, snake plants, and ZZ plants are some of our go-to and easy plant picks!”

Support reusable energy & cut power consumption

“Take a survey of your existing workspace and ask yourself if anything can have a smaller environmental footprint. For example, can you better practice conservation when printing by choosing recycled paper, reusable ink cartridges and limiting unnecessary paper usage?” asks Spencer. He also suggests using reusable materials when possible and reducing power consumption by turning off lights, upgrading surge protectors and buying power strips with a control plug to limit other computer equipment to use power only when your computer powers up.

Let the (natural) light in

“Be intentional about your light sources, looking to natural light as the primary way to brighten up your space and using mirrors to help maximize lighting,” says Spencer. “If you’re far from a window or have limited natural lighting, LED lights and bulbs are an excellent alternative and eco-friendly investment.”

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Read the entire article at hrmorning.com here.