5 Effective Tips to Reduce Water Waste at Your Company

Julie Starr • April 6, 2022



We live in a world of waste. While you might instantly think of food and energy, water is a valuable resource that costs money. Here are some ways you can reduce water waste.

Store and Harvest Rainwater

Most water comes from filtered natural sources like rivers. But it doesn’t last forever, and you are charged for using it. But there is plenty of water that comes from the sky in most places, and you can harvest rainwater with novel technology. Depending on the tech, you could use it as drinking water, but it’s probably not worth the cost. So instead, it is best collected and filtered in industrial tanks . You can then use it for the toilets, handwashing and cleaning machines. With rainwater collection, you can decrease your mains water dependence by up to 60%.

Hire Professionals for Pipe Maintenance

Just like at home, your business will experience common issues like faulty electrics and leaking pipes. And just like home, leaking pipes are the cause of increased water bills through loss of resources. However, you can decrease the amount of wasted water by having your pipes checked regularly by a professional. Proactive monitoring will find leaks whenever they occur, reducing the likelihood of costly water pipe bursts or water-wasting long-term leaks. Additionally, you will reduce the chances of associated problems like electrical faults, dampness in the walls, and mold.

Reduce Water Waste with Recycling

Like rainwater collection, you can supplement your water source with reclaimed wastewater. Called greywater recycling, wastewater from washing applications (anything without biological hazards) can be used repeatedly for the same things. As a result, the amount of fresh water from a paid-for water source decreases significantly. And this means less wasted water and fewer expenses. Specialist companies can install greywater systems into your business (or home) for an initial fee. However, once installed, running costs are next to nothing.

Install Efficient Plumbing Technologies

Plumbing has come a long way in recent times, and many new technologies can help you save on water. For example, you might be familiar with flow-reducing aerated taps as they are used in modern home designs. But you can also install movement sensors that supply water when needed and automatic supply timers. Additionally, you can install modern fixtures such as toilets, taps, and showerheads with low-flow outlets. Low-flow outlets don’t impact water pressure but use significantly less water than older systems that allow all water through. If you have a water source that needs to be managed to see what the flow of water is like and make sure your water source is measured correctly then selecting a weir box that helps to measure a low flow will help you in this instance.

Educate Employees About Wastage

Education is vital for reducing water waste within your business. Let your employees know how they can help cut water waste. Getting everyone to reuse water bottles and turn off the taps when they’re cleaning their hands are little things that make a big difference. It might be helpful to encourage employees, customers, and visitors with informative posters. You could also offer incentives to get everyone on board, such as prizes for departments with the most saved water. Of course, not everyone will accept changes at first, but it’s surprising how quickly people adapt.

Summary

Water is a valuable resource and it costs money. However, you can become more sustainable and save a little by harvesting rainwater, recycling greywater, and educating your employees about saving.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.