March Madness means one thing to my sons and husband and something entirely different to me. March marks the onset of my worst allergy season, and a marked increase in tissue use. This year I decided to break free of that habit and say goodbye to my chapped face forever by purchasing a couple of lots of vintage hankies on eBay. Maybe they are collectible, but to me they are my night time security - having a drawer full of someone’s Grandma’s hankies in my night stand is gentler on my face AND the environment. And it makes me feel good.

There are some very obvious environmental benefits to working from home, such as reduced vehicle use, less demand on devices like curling irons and hair dryers, and fewer fast food fixes. I know that we compost more and consume more of our left overs as well, as compared with the days when I worked outside my home. Environmentally conscious activities take commitment and time, and somehow I have more of that now that I’m not burning up the miles like I used to.

Other green-oriented measures include:

• using green cleaning products
• when remodeling to create home office workspace, search for used materials to reuse, such as countertops, fixtures, etc.
• when building new homespaces, use LEED architects

But what about all your computer and other electronic equipment? Any idea how much energy these consume?

Public Eye Blog references the current administration’s recent recent executive order requiring “95 percent of federal computers to meet the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Computer Standard.” This blog post, “It’s Not Easy Being Green,” discusses some of the ramifications for manufacturers of electronica.

Just Google EPEAT to see what all is happening with that legislation. For consumer level guidelines, go here: EPEAT for Individual Consumers. For a list of manufacturers who have begun the move toward EPEAT compliance, look here: EPEAT for Companies.

So. It’s almost April, the month where we observe Earth Day. Time for the second Technology Recycling Contest.

This month, instead sending new uses for technology, just contribute your tips for how YOUR office got green.

As always, the winner gets a dozen homemade cookies from ktcosmos (me) AND will be recognized here on Loosely Speaking, too. Now c’mon. Cookies from a Grandma? What could be yummier?

Deadline: April 25, 2007. Leave your submissions via comments.