Sustainable Flexible Work Toolkit

Building a Sustainable Home Office for Your UC Work

• Ergonomics & safety: Your comfort & health should be a top priority in your home and work office; taking regular breaks to stretch and look away from your screen can reduce stress and improve overall well-being.

Check out UC Berkeley’s ergonomics resources & recommendations, along with approved ergonomic items.

• Go digital: Instead of buying a printer, use online services supported by campus like Google Drive and Dropbox -- learn more about options.

• When in the office, use the available networked printers.

• Scanners or mobile apps can convert your files into a digital format instead of physical.

• Adobe Acrobat, which has a scan tool, is available through the UC Berkeley software catalog.

• Adobe Scan's mobile app is free for everyone. FAQ

• Utilize UC Berkeley’s clean-out carts if you’ll be throwing away large amounts of paper while working on campus. 

• Campus shredding services are also available for confidential documents.

• Use what you already have. Instead of shopping for new pens, pencils, and notebooks, look around your house and see what items you already have. 

• When you purchase something new, try to combine your orders or shopping trips.

• Search for sustainable products in BearBuy you will find options for office supplies, furniture and more from UC.

• Consider visiting the ReUSE store in the basement of MLK or the ReUSE stations in Barrows Hall for secondhand office supplies.

• Buy electronics & office furniture second-hand or refurbished. This can help reduce waste and save money. 

• Public Surplus keeps a rotating inventory of items open for auction to the UC Berkeley community.

• UC Berkeley Property Management offers a variety of items, ranging from lab equipment to in-store furniture surplus items.

• To find discounted furniture, shop secondhand at thrift stores and websites.

• To recycle your own electronics, find local e-waste recycling centers

• For recycling UC-owned electronics, reach out to UC Berkeley Property Management

• Purchase ENERGY STAR appliances whenever possible. Visit energystar.gov and browse through certified products and appliances that save you energy and money. Note: when purchasing UC computers and related equipment, sustainability requirements are included such as EPEAT and ENERGY STAR.

Saving electricity

• Sustainable lighting: Lighting accounts for almost 20% of our home electricity usage - sustainable lighting choices that can save energy and money.

• The Million LED Challenge is dedicated to providing energy-efficient lighting to all.  LED light bulbs can reduce carbon emissions and are durable for long-term use. UC students, staff, faculty, retirees, and alumni can purchase light bulbs at nearly half the price of online competitors via the secure Million Light Bulb Challenge website and have them shipped to your home.

• Use Natural light. Instead of using artificial light, save money and energy by opening a window and opting for natural light.

• Computer equipment can account for up to 10 percent of office energy usage. Learn how to activate power management on your computer

• “Reduce vampire energy.” Up to 20% of your power bill can come from items that are turned off but still plugged into the wall. Unplug chargers and other electric appliances that are not in use. 

• Consider investing in a smart power strip. They stop supplying power to a device when it isn’t being used, keeping your energy bills to a minimum.  

Reducing waste

• Composting services: If you live in Berkeley, you have access to city-wide composting services. Read more about food waste and organics collection.

• If you do not live in the City of Berkeley, find local composting policies and locations at FindAComposter.com.

• Alameda County waste reduction: For those located in Alameda County, StopWaste Alameda has a plethora of general and Alameda-specific waste reduction resources. See their at-home resources

Rebates to Save Energy, Water, and Money

• Electricity rebates can decrease your household energy consumption as well as your bills. PG&E, as well as other service providers, offer a multitude of rebate programs. 

• PG&E offers rebates on qualified energy-efficient products, as well as home improvements, that are easy to apply for after installation: see current appliances with rebates here and check out their SmartRate program. 

• The PG&E Energy Savings Assistance Program provides financial reimbursement for energy-saving home improvements for qualifying customers. 

• Discover ways to save energy at home, based on whether it's warm or cold weather, through PG&E here.

• Join a community energy program, such as East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), non-profit energy providers that invest in communities and support renewable energy. See joint rate comparisons between PG&E and EBCE to find a clean energy plan to fits your budget.

• For those who do not live in the East Bay, PG&E has additional information about accessing other community renewable programs.

• Water rebates can save you water and money. Check out more at calwater.com and socalwatersmart.com.