Whether away or in your home now, it is important to keep air quality as fresh as possible in spaces where you spend so much time. Keep work surfaces and equipment that you touch as clean as possible and free of toxic chemicals.

Facility and maintenance studies about offices now show improved work performance with the use of well-maintained air flow systems, LED lights over vs fluorescent lighting, added natural light to work spaces, improved temperature control, and use of healthier cleaning products with fewer chemicals. There are some simple steps to take to improve the overall indoor air quality for your office space as well:

• Rotate out air filters on a regularly scheduled basis. Make sure air ducts are properly sealed and periodically cleaned.
• Clean surfaces with antistatic cloths and mild green cleaners to keep dust at a minimum and toxins away. Request cleaning companies use non-toxic cleaning supplies throughout the building – floor cleaners, surface wipes, bathroom and industrial cleaners. You breathe and ingest these all day.
• Drink plenty of water –to mitigate the impact of stale or poor air, overheated rooms, dry air, passed germs.
• When repainting offices, use truly 0-voc paints (no volatile organic compounds or toxic chemicals) to prime and paint the walls and ceilings.
• Reduce heat gain in spaces with shades, films, and screens on the windows. Films and screens can be installed inside or out.
• Reduce energy use by monitoring air temperature control by two degrees warmer or cooler. Switch away from compact fluorescent and incandescent lighting where possible to led (color and temperature controlled) lighting.
• Office equipment is now 16-20% of the energy consumed in office buildings (or added to your home). Purchase low energy consuming printers, copiers, cameras, projection systems, computers. This will also help reduce ever-growing emf field loads in enclosed office spaces.
• Use non-toxic inks, paints, glues, cleaning solvents, totally contained printer ink cartridges and toners
• Reduce waste, save money.
• Bulk order office supplies to reduce packaging
• Use backsides of paper for notes, print double sided when possible.
• Keep mailing lists current to avoid duplications, moved or closedout accounts
• Eliminate fax cover pages and ‘widows’
• Recycle and reuse fax and printer ink cartridges, recycle cardboard boxes, envelopes