There are countless things that your company can do to be more green - and doing so shows your customers and employees that you care about the community and the environment. (And check with your accountant department - there may be tax benefits for your environmentally friendly choices!) There are 56 eco-friendly choices you can make in this category.

Clean/replace your air filters

Check your air filters on your ventilation system every month. If you clean them regularly, you won't have to replace them often.

You can also try this: at home

Turn off your monitors

If your computers are on a network or need to be left on for remote access and can't be shut down at night, turn off the monitors.

You can also try this: for teachers, at school, at home and for kids

Choose a computer maufacturer with a recycling policy

According to a recent study by the National Safety Council's Environmental Health Center, approximately 20.6 million personal computers became obsolete in the U.S. in 1998. Of that number, only 11 percent, or about 2.3 million units, were recycled.

You can also try this: at home  But wait, there's more!

Buy unbleached brown coffee filters

They are going to turn brown anyway, right?

You can also try this: at home

Offer reimbursement for use of public transit

Don't overheat or overcool

You'll save an estimated 350 lbs of CO2 and $20 each year per 2 degrees!

You can also try this: at home

Install low-flow aerators to your faucets and shower heads

Aerators are inexpensive, easy to install and reduce the amount of water wasted. Low-flow shower heads can save an estimated 350 lbs of CO2 per year!

You can also try this: at home

Make it easy for employees to carpool

Have a sign up sheet or internal email list so that employees can easily figure out a carpool schedule that will work best for everyone.

Add “green” investments to pension portfolio

Give your employees the option to support green companies and projects through their pension investments.

Add air-cleaning plants

Plants not only brighten up a room, they help keep the air clean! Shoot for at least one 4-5 ft plant per 100 square feet.

You can also try this: at school, at work and at home

Recycle/refill printer cartridges

If you use inkjet printers, buy replacement ink and refill them when they are empty. There are also several programs that will allow you to send in your empty ink and laserjet printer cartrdiges for recycling.

You can also try this: at work, at home and for teachers  But wait, there's more!

Sponsor a clothing drive

Ask your employees to bring in their old usable clothes, or financially sponsor another group's efforts. You'll be setting a great example for your employees and the community, and it may be a tax write-off for you!

Make sure your eco-efforts aren't wasted

Verify with local waste management that recyclables are truly being recycled.

You can also try this: at work

Make it easy for your employees to recycle

Provide on-site recycling bins for office paper, shredded paper, aluminum, bottles, etc.

Adopt-a-Highway

Consider adopting a section of highway near your company - you'll get great PR out of it, and send a message to the community that you care about the neighborhood.

Organize a company roadside clean-up

Purchase recycled paper products

Check out the Earth 911 page for information on buying Environmentally Preferred Products (EPP)

You can also try this: for teachers

Cut your vampire power!

Vampire Power: Not Dracula, but the home electronics we leave on standby: TV, printer, DC re-chargers and converters… they cost you and the country almost $100 million worth of WASTED electricity each year.

You can also try this: for kids, for teachers, at school, at work, at home and for parents

Buy efficient fluorescent light bulbs

New compact fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy than a standard incandescent - and last about 10 times as long! You'll save an estimated 500 lbs of CO2 and $30 a year!

You can also try this: while shopping

Donate unused clothing and other items

Rather than throwing away unused clothing and items that are in good shape, consider donating them to your local church, Goodwill, or other charity. Many charities will even work with you to schedule a pick-up time.

You can also try this: for parents, for kids, at school, at work and at home

Minimize non-biodegradable packaging

Avoid buying food or household products in plastic or styrofoam containers whenever possible. (They cannot be recycled and do not break down in the environment.)

You can also try this: while shopping

Recycle at the office

Recycle office and computer paper, cardboard, etc. whenever possible. Use scrap paper for informal notes to yourself and others.

You can also try this: at work

Use only organic fertilizers

Artificial fertlizers contain many chemicals that aren't good for you OR the environment, and they can contribute to the pollution of the water table. You'll see (and taste!) the difference in your fruits and veggies!

You can also try this: in the yard  But wait, there's more!

Replace old equipment with Energy Star certified models

While it may cost you a little more up-front, you'll long-term benefits in your energy bills.

Install showers for people who walk or bike to work

Encouraging your employees to be more active and reduce pollution!

Consider laptops over desktops

Lap top computers for employees use up to 90% less energy than desktop machines.

Install LED exit signs

They're longer lasting and more energy efficient than conventional exit signs. They cost about $70 to retrofit, and you can save up to $24 per year, per sign, not to mention the maintenance savings.

Recycle everything you can!

You benefit either directly or when local taxes are kept lower by reduced disposal costs.

You can also try this: at home, at work, at school, in the yard, for teachers, for kids and for parents

Check the numbers on the bottom of plastic products

On the bottom of every plastic product, (including body lotion bottles, soda and water bottles, contact lenses, etc.), there is a number printed that corresponds to the kind of plastic used. If there is no number, the item isn't recyclable.

You can also try this: for kids, while shopping, at school, at work and at home  But wait, there's more!

Insulate your walls

Insulating your walls and ceilings can save an estimated 2000 lbs of CO2 per year, and up to 25% of your monthly bills!

You can also try this: at home

Replace your windows with energy-saving models

New, energy efficient windows can save an estimated 1000 lbs of CO2 per year!

You can also try this: at home

Caulk and weather-strip

Poor insulation leads to huge amounts of energy - and money - going out the window (and through the walls, etc.) Caulking and weather-stripping can save an estimated 650 lbs of CO2 per year!

You can also try this: at home  But wait, there's more!

Sponsor an endangered species

You can also try this: for teachers

Sponsor a child in a developing country

You can also try this: at home and for teachers

Print company advertisements on recycled paper & use soy ink

Offer healthy food choices in the cafeteria

Be sure to offer choices rich with fruits and veggies, and include vegetarian/vegan selections. Healthier eating means healthier employees, a reduction in obesity and sick-days!

In the cafeteria, offer unbleached and unrefined sugars, flours and grains

Be green when you clean

Purchase only eco-friendly cleaning supplies, and avoid/limit disposable cleaning products.

You can also try this: while shopping

Shop green! Buy shade-grown, organic coffee

Shade coffee provides habitat for birds, bats, butterflies and other wildlife in tropical countries.

You can also try this: at home

Install air filters on your furnace

Keep the air in your building cleaner - you'd be surprised how our air quality affects our health. The cleaner the air, the healthier your employees will be!

Install energy efficient A/C and heating

Look for heating and cooling units and systems with a high Energy Star rating. You'll prevent wasted electricity and benefit from big decreases in your monthly energy bills.

You can also try this: at home

Encourage healthy lifestyles

Offer incentives for employees who bike or walk to work.

Create a walk/bike path

Your employees will feel better and be healthier for it!

Offer to match your employees donations

Encourage your employees to give to good causes by setting up a donation matching program for environmental charities.

Plan a community event

Coordinate an event at work, at your school or within your community that helps raise awareness about environmental issues such as recycling, waste reduction and conservation.

You can also try this: at school, at work, at home and for teachers

Install low-flow toilets

You'll use 1.6 gallons per flush compared to a standard toilet which used 3.5 gallons. For an investment of about $145-$165, you'll see big long-term savings on your water bill.

You can also try this: at home  But wait, there's more!

Avoid products made from endangered trees

For a list of trees on the endangered list, visit the Rainforest Action Network's endangered trees page.

You can also try this: while shopping

Don’t protect the almighty dollar more than the planet

Make sure your dedication to the health of the global ecosystem doesn't take a backseat to your bottom line.

Research vendors environmental practices

Make sure your vendors are committed to environmentally healthy practices. If not, take your business elsewhere.

Support projects that are ecologically sound

For example, deforestation vs. hydroponics

Commit to changing current poor practices

Clean up toxins and other hazards, and make a commitment to never dump waste

If you can’t do the research, fund it

Research alternative forms of energy

Create a prairie or native wetlands on-site

You'll be providing a place for wildlife to thrive and giving your employees a place to unwind during breaks.

Fund the future

Set aside corporate funding for environmental issues: preservation of natural habitats, reduction of fossil fuels, etc.

Make our planet your mission

Commit to a mission statement that involves protection of our natural resources.