I'm trying to get back to the paperless office?

Question

...which we had before computers. Remember the paperless office which computers were supposed to give us? Well every year I and my colleagues generate more and more papers because the more people use computers the more documents they send and the more you have to print out the stuff they send.

Why do I print it out? Not sure. Could be:

It's easier to deal with information in hard copy form.
It's easier to file it and find it again.

Whatever the reason, it's not good for the environment, or for office space for that matter. Any tips?

Answer 1

There is no such thing, nor ever will be, a paperless office. Apart from all the extra mountains of paper that computers have created a use for, what about all the polution created to produce the electricity to run hundreds of millions of PCs. Then there is all the light polution from offices and all the extra (high) levels of background radiation. All these things show what Hypocrites, Greens and Envirnmentalists are. They travel around in cars, trains (which produce more polution and damage than planes through the production of the electricity) and planes. They use mountains of paper to publicise their cause (thus destroying millions of trees) and they cause a lot of noise polution during their protests, thus scaring local wildlife away. There's only one way to look at this issue and that is to get on with it, we are going to continue damaging this planet, regardless of what the do-gooders say. We will pay high taxes to pump up failing economies, in the false pretence that it's a tax to help the environment. And before any of you "Recyclers" say anything, when you take your materials to the recycling place, do you drive your car? Most do! Environmentalists, Recyclers, vegetarians, organic food preachers etc. etc. etc. You're all the same, a big bunch of "Hypocrites!".

Answer 2

I am trying to use less and less paper at work. I email information as much as possible. I try to use the fax only when the recipient does not have email.
I also use Outlook's calender as much as possible. I can put notes in there instead of writing them on little post-its or slips of paper that get lost.
If I take a message for someone I email them the message instead of using paper. On the same note instead of keeping a paper telephone log I just switched to a digital log.
I don't think we can do away with paper all together but every little bit helps!

Answer 3

Invest in a little bit of technology and a good network server and save scanned copies of info there or any pdf files, office files, etc that client's send you or you create. If haveing a hard is easier becuase you can see the info in front of you and different info on a screen try hooking up a second monitor to your computer. Very helpful, I couldn't work without my second monitor.