5 Simple Ways to Make Environmentally Friendly Changes for Your Building

Julie Starr • February 28, 2022



Making more sustainable choices in business is something that more and more consumers are demanding from companies. It isn’t enough now to remove the use of plastic, for example, from your packaging or supplies; looking at your overall business practices, buildings, and environment can further cement your commitment and improve your customer relations at the same time. A recent study found that over 55% of people are willing to pay more for products or services from companies with a vested interest in promoting ethical or green practices . This further reinforces that consumer habits influence their spending and who they do business with.

If you are looking to make eco-friendly upgrades , it is essential to remember that to be fully sustainable; you need to use existing products where possible until they have reached the end of their lifespan or donate them to a facility that can reuse or recycle them. Then you can implement some or all of the following suggestions to your business and building.

Smart Lighting

Lighting has been a hot topic in the sustainability world for some time now. Old, traditional lighting systems are being replaced by more efficient and environmentally friendly lighting that also looks great.

What is Smart Lighting?

Smart lighting uses LEDs or other light-emitting diodes that can be turned on or off via an app or remote control. This can lead to a reduction in energy consumption which means lower bills for your business. What’s even better is that LED lights last longer and are more durable than old lighting systems, so you will not need to purchase new lights as often as before.

Smart lighting systems are computerized and connect to a grid that controls when light is on or off. This means you can set schedules for your lights so that they turn off automatically during the hours when no one is in the building. You can also set them to turn on automatically if someone walks by.

The best part about this system is that it uses sensors and motion detectors, which means it will only use electricity when necessary.

Use Asphalt for Roads and Car Parks

Road asphalt is a product that can be recycled and used as an alternative to concrete or bitumen. Not only is it cheaper than other construction materials, but it also has a lower environmental impact. Asphalt requires less energy to produce and will last longer than regular concrete. It’s one of the most sustainable building materials on the planet.

Work with an experienced asphalt and concrete contractor to apply new surfaces or pathways to external areas where required.

Improve Insulation

Insulating your business is a wise and cost-effective way to improve the environmental footprint of your building. A smart investment in insulation can reduce your heating and cooling costs, as well as boost your property value.

It’s not difficult to install insulation. Vinyl, foam, fiberglass, or cellulose are all affordable materials that can be added to walls and ceilings for increased efficiency. In addition, you might consider installing radiant barriers in attics and adding extra weather stripping around windows and doors.

The process of insulating a building or office space is an essential step in making it more eco-friendly. Improved insulation will help reduce the amount of energy used by the building during the winter months and summer months. This also saves money on utility bills for the building and the occupants. The energy savings from insulated buildings also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 20%.

Have A Preventative Maintenance Plan

One of the easiest things you can do to make your building more environmentally friendly is to have a preventative maintenance plan . That will mean regular checks and cleanings, correcting any nagging problems that may have been ignored before, and having building professionals come in regularly to do inspections. This will increase the lifespan of many parts of your building and keep your utility bill under control.

The best way to do this is to use software that can monitor and automate the process and keep detailed records. You can keep track of an asset’s age, previous issues, and maintenance history, as well as schedule any future appointments with the right software. A further advantage of using automated facility software is that it eliminates the need for paperwork orders and service requests, which tend to accumulate, get misplaced, or get thrown away. Additionally, your team’s efficiency will almost certainly improve, and you will eliminate paper waste as a result of the process.

Use Green Cleaning Products

Switching to green cleaning products is one of the easiest ways to make your business more environmentally friendly; instead of using harsh chemicals, which can impact the air quality in your building, use eco-friendly products that are safe for you and your employees. This will not only save money on long-term health care costs for employees who might be exposed to these chemicals, but it will also reduce the risk of workers’ compensation claims.

Another thing you can do is switch from disposable products to durable and reusable ones. This will help you avoid spending money on items that need to be thrown away after they’ve been used once or twice. Use refillable water bottles instead of disposable cups and coffee mugs, utensils made from biodegradable materials instead of plasticware, and cloth napkins rather than paper ones. You can even purchase durable supplies like pens, markers, and even paper, so you never have to worry about repurchasing new ones.

Conclusion

The green movement has infiltrated every facet of our lives, so it is not surprising that we see the same trend in the business world. We want to do everything we can to be environmentally conscious, and you can start by making some simple changes to your business.

No matter the size of your company, there are several small changes you can make to promote environmental friendliness.

By implementing these five simple changes, you can reduce your building’s environmental impact and make a positive difference in the world. The best part? You’ll also be saving money and time!

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.