If you're part of a virtual team, you may already be doing a lot save the planet.

After all, you're saving green house gases by not driving far, if at all, to work. You probably attend few face-to-face meetings in favor of con calls or web conferences.

On some days, you may not even leave the house. As you congratulate yourself for the great contributions you have made to the longevity of our planet, think about other steps you can take to preserve the earth, both large and small.

In this edition of Communiqué, I join Karen Jackson, Chief Innovation Officer of West Coast Green, a Residential Green Building company based in Marin County, CA, in offering some practical and powerful actions all of us can take to preserve our planet, and to make our own personal work environments more healthy, vibrant and productive. (Full disclosure: Karen is also my beloved niece and I am so proud to collaborate with her.)

Just in time for Earth Day, here are just a few ways readers can rethink daily activities to do more to create a healthier environment.

Put your car on a carbon diet.

For some of us, buying a hybrid may be out of reach. But whatever we drive, we can be more thoughtful about when and where we choose to drive. For example, instead of driving 10 miles to the gym for a workout, try slapping on some sneakers and jogging around the neighborhood or up and down stairs instead.

Or if you must run a few errands, plan one efficient trip, rather than taking several different trips. Or better yet, haul out your bicycle and get your exercise and errands taken care of at the same time!

Preserve trees and reduce toxic emissions.

Buy 100% recycled paper for most uses, which should cost no more than other paper. When you must print, use both sides. Make sure to print just the one or two pages you truly need.

Before you even turn on the printer, consider whether you really need to print any pages, versus filing the content away on a disc. Use printers that are low in toxic emissions to keep the air in your workspace healthier, and always keep the printer a distance away from you to minimize exposure.

For more information, search the web to find out how your printer fares. Get rid of junk mail at the source by contacting the Direct Marketing Association and find out your rights and options, including the elimination of credit and insurance offers.

Shut down and save energy.

According to the American Institute of Architects, only 7% of people are aware of the leading cause of global warming gases. In fact, buildings produce 48% of dangerous greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, and they consume 71% of electricity produced at U.S. power plants. Your home and office are a great place to start greening your life!

When purchasing PCs, monitors, printers, fax machines, and copiers, consider ENERGY STAR models that "power down" after a user- specified period of inactivity. Set your computer screen to sleep mode after 5 minutes versus 20. Turn off printers, faxes and lights if you won't be using them for the next half-hour or more. Learn more about "phantom loads," or leaking electricity, which is the power consumed by electronic appliances while they are switched off or in a standby mode.

Try using timers, motion sensors and dimmers to minimize energy output in frequently unoccupied areas. If possible, position your work area to take advantage of natural daylight. Not only will you use less energy to light and heat your space, but you'll reap the added benefit of extra doses of Vitamin D.

Acclimating to the weather-inside.

Avoid cranking up the heat unnecessarily by dressing in layers, or by using a small radiant heater, which heats your body directly and efficiently, rather than heating the entire room around you. Instead of running the A/C, try opening windows or placing fans around the room and keep hydrated.

Fact: 3-5% more energy is used for each degree the furnace is set above 68F/20C and for each degree the air conditioner is set below 78F/25C. Use a programmable thermostat and set the heat to 68F/20C or below during the chilly weather and the A/C to 76F/24C or above in warmer weather.

Cleaning without chemicals.

The fewer chemicals you put into the environment, the healthier both you and the environment will be. This doesn't have to mean buying expensive cleaning products or making an extra stop. Cleaning products that are devoid of harsh chemicals or toxins are prolific on the market.

Try Seventh Generation, Method, Trader Joe's or similar lines that use only natural and biodegradable cleaning agents. If you like a fresh smell, experiment with essential oils of lemon or lavender versus chemical-based, spray-on fragrances or plug- ins, which may pose a fire hazard.

Baking soda and vinegar, two of the world's best cleaning agents, can actually get you through most of your chores.

Creating a vibrant environment.

Redecorating is a fabulous opportunity to use your purchasing power to create a healthier environment while reducing your environmental impact. When choosing a paint, make sure it is either "low" or "no" VOC. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that vaporize in the air and quickly enter your body through your respiratory system.

National brands like Sherman Williams, Benjamin Moore and Yolo now offer a wide variety of "No VOC" paints in even the most common home stores, like Home Depot. Alternatively, consider choosing earth plaster as a wall covering which can absorb toxins from the air, creating a healthier and more appealing environment. Beware of new carpeting that is known to emit eye-, lung- and skin-harming VOCs as well.

Check the label on the carpet to make sure it's been tested by the Carpet and Rug Institute's (CRI) Indoor Air Quality testing program.

Repurpose and recycle.

In many parts of the U.S., you can join a local freecycle.org group. There you can easily and quickly find a new home for your old office chair, file folders, computer screen, telephone, as well as bedroom furniture, books, or clothes. Just post your offer and you'll find an eager taker who will pick it up.

You can also post your own "wanted" list so you can reap the rewards as a receiver as well. To donate old PCs and other technological devices, try the Cristina Foundation or contact your local church, which may know of organizations that can use what you have. For old rechargeable batteries and cell phones, contact Call2Recycle.com.

In addition, Big Brother/Big Sister organizations across the U.S. accept most household donations and will pick up upon request.

Reuse, don't dispose.

Break the habit of using disposable plates, cups, cutlery, bottles, napkins, food containers, and many other items we toss away without much thought.

Allow yourself to find reusable items that you appreciate and build memories with over time. If you must buy disposable items, check out Worldcentric.org to discover biocompostable options that are made from non-petroleum- based sources like corn and potatoes and are also exponentially more eco-friendly than traditional plastics, Styrofoam and paper. (They make a great conversation starter, too!). Try reusablebags.com for an online collection of bags and safe reusable bottles.

If you learned something new in this month's Communiqué, make it a point to tell a colleague or friend over the coming week and see if she or he can teach you something as well. The opportunity to create change is yours.

In the words of the Paul Hawken: "What an exciting time to be born, what an exciting time to be alive, because this generation gets to completely remake this world."

Nancy Settle-Murphy, President of Guided Insights nancy@guidedinsights.com 

www.guidedinsights.com