Reduce Your Company's Carbon Footprint

Commuting

According to The Nature Conservancy, driving accounts for 16% of the average American's carbon footprint. To shrink that figure, encourage employees to carpool, take public transportation or telecommute. New federal legislation allows employers to offer up to $115 per month in tax-free commuter transit benefits. For more ideas on green commuting, check out the Center for Urban Transportation's Best Workplaces for Commuters employer toolkit or CommutingGreen, where you can request a report that assesses the total impact of your employees' commutes.

Business Travel

Just a few flights a year can inflate your company's carbon footprint. For example, according to TerraPass one round-trip flight from New York to San Francisco emits 2,010 pounds of CO2.

To reduce the impact of your business travel, try teleconferencing instead of meeting in person. And, when possible, combine business trips to minimize the number of flights taken.