INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Lift the door by the doorknob. If you can move it upward, then the hinges are likely loose. Use a screwdriver to tighten the screws holding the hinges in place. Some drafts are caused by the door shifting due to loose hinges. Because of this, before you seal the edges of your door, take a few minutes to tighten all of the hardware. If the hinge screws spin but won't tighten, it means that the wood in the hole is stripped out. You will need to replace the screws with wider or longer screws so that they can dig into wood that is not damaged. You may also need to fill the holes with wood plugs and re-drive the new screws into those plugs if there is a lot of wood damage. If your door had weather stripping previously installed, it might be damaged or deformed. Check it by running your hand around the perimeter of the door while the door is closed. Feel for air coming in between the door and the frame. Mark the areas where you feel air coming in with a light pencil mark or a piece of painter's tape. If you can feel a draft while checking areas that already have weather stripping, you will need to remove the old weather stripping and replace it with a new seal. Remove old weather stripping that is broken or ineffective by peeling or sliding it away. Then use a damp rag to wipe away any visible dirt and debris from the door frame and the edges of the door itself. This will help you attach your new weather stripping securely. Drag the edge of a paint scraper along the top, bottom, and sides of the door and door frame to remove any stuck-on debris from these surfaces. Also clean the threshold, which is the bottom of the door frame. If there are grooves along the threshold, run a nail through the grooves to scrape away any gunk that has gotten lodged in there. Then run a lightly damp rag along the threshold and door frame to ensure that the surfaces are clean. There are several different types of weather stripping available, so you'll need to decide which one you wish to use. For the top and sides of your door, wrapped foam weather stripping is durable and works well with gaps of various sizes. Weather stripping with a wooden shell is durable yet easier to work with than metal weather stripping, so it makes a good choice for someone who has no prior experience sealing doors. For the door sweep, consider using a metal door sweep with a flexible vinyl flap for greater durability. A metal door sweep with a flexible vinyl flap is also fairly easy to install, as the metal piece is screwed down and then the vinyl is inserted into it. More advanced options include storm-proof seals and roller door seals, such as brush or auto-lift vinyl seals that attach to the bottom of roller doors. If purchasing a weather stripping kit, note that most kits only contain weatherstripping for the top and sides of your door. You will need to purchase a separate door sweep. Rigid door sweeps will not work if the carpet is higher or even with the threshold. When rigid door sweeps won't work, use flexible bulb weather stripping made of vinyl. This attaches to the threshold right under the door.

SUMMARY: Tighten the hinges on your door. Check the state of the old weather stripping. Clean the areas that need to be sealed. Buy new weather stripping at a home improvement or hardware store.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Change the position that you sit in throughout the day. Stand up once or twice every hour to get a drink, get fresh air, or do tasks standing up, giving your back muscles time to relax. This can keep you from becoming stiff or tense. Take frequent short breaks rather than fewer longer ones, as this is better for your back. In general, the best way to prevent and recover from back pain is to stay active. If your back hurts, but you are able to go about your daily activities, resist the urge to stay in bed or on the couch. Maintain mobility, keep the muscles in use, and, if need be, take over the counter pain medication. Long-term rest will actually set you back, weakening your back muscles and making it harder to resume your normal tasks. Be sure to include physical activity in your routine, as well. One of the biggest things you can do to prevent back pain is to keep your back and its muscles strong through regular exercise. Most governments recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, spread throughout the week, along with strength training twice a week. Some exercises will specifically strengthen your back, specifically swimming, walking, and stretches that target your core muscles. Believe it or not, many back problems start with the feet and our shoes, because they affect the way that we walk. They are like the "foundation" of a building, our body. Bad shoes, like high-heels, can cause or exacerbate lower back pain, for example. Make sure that your shoes give your feet and back ample support, particularly if your job requires you to be on your feet for much of the day. Wear shoes that have rigid heels and mid-soles, like sneakers. Insoles and shoe inserts are also helpful. Sleep will always help in the healing process. It is the same for your back issues, particularly if you use a supportive mattress. Some clinical data suggests that a medium-firm mattress not a hard mattress provides more back relief. Find a mattress that supports the natural curves of your spine, as well. This should help you also to avoid soreness in the morning. Another suggestion is to put a pillow under your knees. Raising your knees slightly eases pressure on your back while you sleep, in fact it as much as halves it.

SUMMARY: Take regular breaks. Stay active. Wear comfortable shoes. Get a good night's rest.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Place a compost bin in your workplace kitchen or break room and your encourage workers to add their lunch scraps to it. Charge one employee with emptying your compost bin into an outdoor container on a daily or weekly basis. To make your business a greener place, put a well-labeled recycling bin next to every trash can. Put extra recycling bins in the break room, by the copy machine and in the mail room to encourage your employees to recycle rather than just throwing stuff away. Place a memo above the recycling bin telling employees what items should go in the recycling bin. This will both help prevent confusion and will inspire recycling. You will need the participation of your staff in order to become a green business. Some easy things to start recycling are paper, plastic, and aluminum cans. Make sure your staff knows where they can find the recycling bins and what goes in them by holding a staff meeting that explains the benefits of recycling in the workplace and the expectations of all employees to participate in company recycling.

SUMMARY:
Provide an indoor compost bin. Make recycling easy. Educate your staff on ways they can recycle at the office.