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Take Care

It is important for your remote work activities and environment to promote your optimal mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

Here's some tips.

• Ensure adequate lighting within your work space (see more guidance below)
• Ensure your work space is arranged ergonomically to increase comfort, promote good posture, and reduce strain/injury (for more guidance, see EHS Today's Ergonomics Recommendations for Remote Work article)
• Reduce glare on your screen from window light to reduce headaches and eye strain
• Use plants like succulents, aloe vera, and bamboo palms to help shield or absorb the invsible harmful energy emitted by electronics (electromagnetic field or EMF)
• Limit repetitive motions like typing rapidly that can cause injury over time if not done properly
• Reduce stress with realistic goal setting, task prioritization, deep breathing and other methods
• Nourish yourself with healthy meals/snacks, adequate sleep, and regular exercise
• Take regular breaks every hour or two to give yourself a chance to stretch your legs, take your eyes off screens, and reenergize

Use Natural/LED Lighting

Natural lighting is best to use when possible within your work environment; otherwise, utilize LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting.

LEDs are highly energy efficient and consume around 10% of the power necessary to produce the same amount of light from an incandescent bulb. (Let's not even go there with a halogen bulb.) They also have a long lifespan and can be used in a variety of applications due to their low heat output and low maintenance requirement.

Finally, LED lighting generates significantly less ultraviolet radiation than other forms of lighting, reducing the risk of eye strain and skin damage that is associated with long-term exposure to UV rays.

Prioritize Eco-Friendly

Use eco-friendly goods as much as possible in your work activities and with your work devices.

Here's some examples.

• Choose products made with renewable resources like solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, tidal and wave power, geothermal energy and biofuels
• Use reusable supplies like whiteboards instead of disposable materials like post-it notes
• Use natural cleaning products instead of chemical-based ones
• Buy recycled, upcycled or second-hand goods when possible
• Buy supplies in bulk when feasible to reduce individual packaging materials
• Ensure goods do not contain hazardous chemicals or toxins

To identify eco-friendly products, you can look for certifications such as Energy Star, Electronic Environmental Friendliness Certification (EEFC), Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) registration, Environmental Choice (EC), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

You can take it a step further to study labels on goods to research their ingredients, manufacturing processes and source of raw materials.

Be Energy-Efficient

As much as possible, practice other energy efficiency measures that reduce unnecessary waste and conserve precious resources.

Here's some tips.

• Use surge protector strip(s) for all work devices to easily turn them on/off
• Use natural lighting during the day as much as possible to reduce reliance on artificial lighting and to cut down on energy consumption
• Use LED lights instead of incandescent or halogen bulbs for lighting up your workspace as outlined above
• Use energy-efficient electronics such as laptops over desktop PCs which draw more power when idle or in sleep mode than laptops do
• Use green power sources such as solar panels if available in your work area
• Adjust device display settings (such as brightness) to save energy while still providing an optimum work environment
• Turn off work computers, monitors, printers and other devices at night, when you're away from your work environment, or when devices are not in use

Dispose Properly

Reduce the need for waste disposal by improving energy efficiency, using recycled goods, and other practices outlined above.

When waste disposal is necessary, we strongly encourage you to recycle goods properly. Here's some general tips.

• Investigate and follow your local recycling practices
• Be aware of e-waste drop off locations for the safe disposal of all electronics
• Dispose of hazardous materials properly according to local regulations and safety protocols in order to protect public health and safety

You can refer to the EPA's Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle resource for additional general guidance.

For workers in our Seattle, WA area, we suggest utilizing the Sustainability Tips resource from Seattle Public Utilities. Resources like King County's Hazardous Waste Program and Take It Back Network electronics recyclers can help guide safe disposal.