Cordless Desk Lamps

Make your home office green

Electronic equipment

Maximise natural lighting by using the sun's energy to brighten your office. You don't need any building permissions to install this Solar Mate panel (£239.99) from Nigel's Eco Store. Even in dreary old Blighty, it will store between 8-11 hours of light for its bulb. Screensavers save the screen, not energy, so switch off your monitor (which uses twice the energy of your PC) altogether when you go for lunch, as well as the PC itself. British Eco make it easy with these Bye bye standby plugs (£19.99 for intrdouctory pack), which allow you to control your equipment wirelessly from up to 30 metres away. Handy for those forgetful days.

Make business calls on this Siemens Gigaset digital cordless phone (£49.95) from John Lewis, which claims to use up to 60% less energy than regular cordless phones. For more ideas, read the Eco-design handbook for homes and offices (£16.95) from the Design Museum shop and get up to speed with what else you can do.

Junk Mail

Almost 50% of all catalogues sent by post are never opened, yet nearly 62 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used every year to produce them. Get yourself removed from junk-mailing lists by registering with the Mailing Preference Service.

Printing and paper

Print only the information you really need from a document, and also print double-sided, using the smallest font you can and switching your printer to ‘draft’ output to save ink. Make sure you recycle your print cartridges using one of the many post-it-back schemes, and use chlorine-free recycled paper. For every tonne of paper that is recycled, we save 17 trees, 42,000 kilowatts of electricity, 26,000 litres of water and 27 kilograms of air pollutants. Do your filing and store documents in these award-winning recycled lever arch files (£2.45 each) from the Natural Collection.

Meetings and communication

Install video-conferencing facilities (easily achieved via the use of a webcam), so you can keep in touch with clients and the office without having to travel.

Electrical efficiency

Use energy-efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 per cent less energy and last 10 times longer than traditional bulbs. For desk lamps, choose miniature compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This Ocean energy saving lamp (£95) from Hidden Art not only looks stylish enough to impress clients. Choosing electrical equipment with an energy-star label could cut your electricity bill by up to 80 per cent. The Energy Star logo means that the energy consumption of an appliance is below an agreed level in stand-by mode.

Don't leave chargers running

Switch off the charger for your mobile phone, batteries, camera and other equipment when you've finished charging. If you don't it will draw almost as much energy as when it is charging, and you will generate 35-70 kilograms of avoidable carbon dioxide each year. It's estimated that 95% of the energy used by mobile-phone chargers in the UK is energy wasted in this way. Charge mobile phones instead with this Trevor Bayliss eco-pro charger (£21.95) from Ethical Superstore. Environmentally-friendly laptop chargers are currently in development – watch this space for Samsung's fuel-cell dock, which promises to power a laptop running eight hours a day for an entire month without recharging.

Cut heating costs

Working from home might seem like a good, green idea, but extra carbon emissions created by heating and powering your home office may outweigh the savings you make by not commuting. Research suggests that a full-time home-worker emits 2.3 tonnes of CO2 annually, compared to 1.7 tonnes for the average office worker, partly due to the additional use of electricity and heating. So in those months where you can't enjoy working in the garden, make sure you only have lights switched on in the room you are using, and use a portable heater rather than keeping radiators on all over the house.

Love gadgets? Don't let them spoil the environment. Read our guide to buying the latest tech toys that happen to be green too. Get a stylish office with classic Florence Knoll furniture she revolutionised the post-war coporate look in the US.

About the Author

Annie Deakin is a fashion expert and editor at mydeco.com dining table, garden furniture and crockery.

20988VB - Kenroy Home - 20988VB > Desk And Piano Lamps $91.8 Horton CollectionDesk and Piano Lamps

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Pair Of 2 Black With Gold Pillar Table Desk Lamp Lamps $315.3 Pair Of 2 Black With Gold Pillar Table Desk Lamp Lamps

2 Crackled Finish w/Leaf Accents Table Desk Lamps $290.55 2 Crackled Finish w/Leaf Accents Table Desk Lamps

DLED124 - Dainolite - DLED124 > Desk And Piano Lamps $334 Dainolite Desk LampUniversal Collection3-3 Watt LED Bulbs

21397ORB - Kenroy Home - 21397ORB > Desk Lamps $91.8 Amherst Adjustable Desk LampOil Rubbed Bronze Finish8" Dia. Shade The town of Amherst, home to scholars and poets, inspires this diverse collection of lamps. Small details in the base and reeded columns give elegance and style to this family which included upscaled task lighting.

70636 - Kichler - 70636 > Desk And Piano Lamps $140 Kichler Desk LampDakota Ridge Collection1-100 Watt BulbHi-Low Inline Switch

DMBL710-OBB - Dainolite - DMBL710-OBB > Desk And Piano Lamps $172.5 Dainolite Desk LampUniversal Collection1-60 Watt Medium Base Bulb

70643 - Kichler - 70643 > Desk And Piano Lamps $198 Kichler Desk LampDakota Ridge Collection1-100 Watt BulbHi-Low Inline Switch

70680 - Kichler - 70680 > Desk And Piano Lamps $158 Kichler Desk LampCollage Burnished Copper Collection100 Watt 3 Way Bulb

70407 - Kichler - 70407 > Desk And Piano Lamps $80 Kichler Desk LampClayton Collection1-60 Watt BulbPull Chain Switch

70716 - Kichler - 70716 > Desk And Piano Lamps $150 Kichler Desk LampDakota Ridge Collection1-75 Watt BulbHi-Low Inline Switch

70715 - Kichler - 70715 > Desk And Piano Lamps $160 Kichler Desk LampDakota Ridge Collection1-100 Watt BulbHi-Low Inline Switch

70228BBZ - Kichler - 70228BBZ > Desk And Piano Lamps $170 Kichler Desk LampBlaine Collection2-60 Watt BulbsThree Way Base Switch

70651 - Kichler - 70651 > Desk And Piano Lamps $90 Kichler Desk LampKirketon Collection1-60 Watt BulbOn/Off Pull Switch

70625 - Kichler - 70625 > Desk And Piano Lamps $230 Kichler Desk LampUrban Traditions Collection2-60 Watt BulbsHi-Low Inline Switch

70658 - Kichler - 70658 > Desk And Piano Lamps $170 Kichler Desk LampDakota Ridge Collection1-100 Watt BulbHi-Low Inline Switch

DLHA567-SC - Dainolite - DLHA567-SC > Desk And Piano Lamps $149.5 Dainolite Desk LampUniversal Collection1-100 Watt T3 Halogen Bulb

DMBL710-PC - Dainolite - DMBL710-PC > Desk And Piano Lamps $208 Dainolite Desk LampUniversal Collection1-60 Watt Medium Base Bulb

DLHA567-BK - Dainolite - DLHA567-BK > Desk And Piano Lamps $150 Dainolite Desk LampUniversal Collection1-100 Watt T3 Halogen Bulb

TD560-07 - Trend Lighting - TD560-07 > Desk And Piano Lamps $171 "Braccino" Desk Lamp30" Extension BulbHalogen 1-50w BulbBulbs Included

LS-2805C - Lite Source - LS-2805C > Desk And Piano Lamps $65 Urbano Desk LampChrome/All Metal 1-15 Watt Fluorescent CFL/3U Type Bulb InlcudedE-27 Socket, On/Off Rotary Switch

LS-20925PS - Lite Source - LS-20925PS > Desk And Piano Lamps $80 Broden Desk LampPolished Steel/All Metal1-18 Watt Fluorescent CFL Type Bulb IncludedOn/Off Touch Switch

LS-2714C - Lite Source - LS-2714C > Desk And Piano Lamps $109 Platte Desk LampChrome Plated/All Metal1-100 Watt 120 Volt J/78mm Type Halogen Bulb IncludedBase Dimmer Switch

LS-3414PS - Lite Source - LS-3414PS > Desk And Piano Lamps $108 Space Traveler Desk LampPolished Steel/All Metal1-100 Watt 120 Volt J/78mm Type Halogen Bulb IncludedDimmer Switch

LS-2345PS - Lite Source - LS-2345PS > Desk And Piano Lamps $95 Helios LED Desk LampPolished Steel/All Metal20-0.2 Watt LED Type Bulbs IncludedOn/Off Base Switch

LS-2550AGED/CP - Lite Source - LS-2550AGED/CP > Desk And Piano Lamps $126 Minuteman Desk LampAged Copper/All Metal1-75 Watt Incandescent A Type Bulb Not IncludedE-27 Socket, On/Off Rotary Switch

LS-3896PS - Lite Source - LS-3896PS > Desk And Piano Lamps $109 Futura Desk LampPolished Steel/All Metal1-35 Watt 12 Volt halogen JC/G6.35 Type Bulbs IncludedBase Dimmer Switch

LS-20921PS - Lite Source - LS-20921PS > Desk And Piano Lamps $79 Casara Desk LampPolished Steel/All Metal1-35 Watt 120 Volt GU10 Halogen BulbOn/Off In-Line Switch

TD1600 - Trend Lighting - TD1600 > Desk And Piano Lamps $171 "Linea" Desk LampAdjusts 13.5"-32" BulbFluorescent 16w BulbBulbs IncludedBulb Base T-4

LS-20606C - Lite Source - LS-20606C > Desk And Piano Lamps $116 Leda LED Desk LampChrome/All Metal 40-0.06 Watt LED Type Bulbs IncludedOn/Off Base Rocker Switch

70383 - Kichler - 70383 > Desk And Piano Lamps $118 Kichler Adjustable Desk LampNew Traditions Collection1-60 Watt BulbOn-Off Turn Switch

LS-2942PS/ALU - Lite Source - LS-2942PS/ALU > Desk And Piano Lamps $179.1 Scope Desk LampPolished Steel, Aluminum/All Metal1-28 Watt 12 Volt Halogen MR8 Type Bulb IncludedPush Button On/Off Switch

LS-2037PS - Lite Source - LS-2037PS > Desk And Piano Lamps $119 Technic Desk LampPolished Steel/All Metal1-50 Watt 12 Volt Halogen MR-16 Type Bulb IncludedOn/Off Base Switch

LS-21174BLK - Lite Source - LS-21174BLK > Desk And Piano Lamps $65 Tecnica Desk LampBlack Base with Metal Gooseneck and Matching Color Shade1-35 Watt 120 Volt JCD/G8 Halogen Type Bulbs Included3-Way LED Touch Switch

LS-306BLK - Lite Source - LS-306BLK > Desk And Piano Lamps $109 Halotech I Desk LampBlack/All Metal 1-50 Watt 12 Volt Halogen JC/G6.35 Type Bulb IncludedHigh/Low Base Rocker Switch

LS-20985BLU/FRO - Lite Source - LS-20985BLU/FRO > Desk And Piano Lamps $59 Vala Desk LampBlue Metal Body with Frost Glass Shade1-40 Watt Incandescent R Type Bulb IncludedOn/Off In-Line Switch

LS-2754PS/FRO - Lite Source - LS-2754PS/FRO > Desk And Piano Lamps $63 Skiff Desk LampPolished Steel Metal Body with Frost Glass Shade1-60 Watt Incandescent A Type Bulb Not IncludedOn/Off Socket Switch

LS-3782 - Lite Source - LS-3782 > Desk And Piano Lamps $199 Maple Jewel Desk LampAntique Bronze Body with Tiffany Glass Shade2-60 Watt Incandescent A Type Bulbs Not IncludedE-27 Socket, On/Off Base Switch

LS-2306BLK - Lite Source - LS-2306BLK > Desk And Piano Lamps $77 Halotech II Desk LampBlack/All Metal 1-35 Watt 120 Volt JCD/G8 Halogen Type Bulbs IncludedHigh/Low Base Rocker Switch

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