As BLR Legal Editor Amanda Czepiel, J.D. reported a few months ago on the BLR Green Team blog, telecommuting may not be as green as we think. However, with a few behavioral changes, telecommuting can live up to the green hype.

Here are six tips that Telecommute NewsTelecommute News recommends for reducing the telecommuter carbon footprint:

1. Turn off the lights during the day...unless you need them because your home office lacks natural light. Sit by a sunny window, and keep earlier business hours so you can work during daylight hours.
2. Combine trips. This tip isn't just for telecommuters! If you combine trips for your errands, you'll be on the road less and be reducing your car emissions.
3. Keep the television off. Some people like the noise of the television in the background, but keeping the television on throughout the day wastes a lot of energy. Instead, try listening to an online radio station (your computer is already on!.
4. Fine tune your thermostat. In the summer, turn it up a bit, and in the winter, turn it down. You can save up to 1 percent off your energy bill for each degree you adjust the temperature for the 8 hour workday.
5. Think before you print. Most likely, as a telecommuter, you are receiving documents and messages electronically. Although it is tempting to hit "print", be aware of what must be printed and what can be saved to a desktop
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6. Power down at the end of the day. When you are done working, turn that computer off and unplug your power strip to conserve energy.