Bright ideas for going green

Making a few small changes can have a big impact on your practice's utility bills and the environment:

> Encourage team members to turn off the lights when they leave a room.

GETTY IMAGES

> Turn down the heat or the air conditioning by one degree and save big money on yearly electric costs.

> Shut down computers and turn off power strips at the end of the day.

> Turn off computer monitors when they're not in use.

> Fix dripping faucets.

> Make the switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs.

> Print on both sides of a sheet of paper, on the back of old faxes, and don't print every e-mail.

> Collect soda cans and other recyclables in your employee break room.

> Stock the break room with reusable dishes and silverware.