5 Solutions for a Greener Office Environment

Julie Starr • August 31, 2020



All businesses, companies, and organizations should strive to find eco-friendly solutions to traditional operations. Otherwise, they risk falling behind the competition; they will see damage to their reputation , which can hinder growth and further success. For many businesses set in their ways, it can be challenging to make adjustments, considering it to be too much hassle to start over again. However, the reality is that it is never too late to work towards a greener office environment. 

No Wasted Space 

When you first research how to find office space , you don’t java the best idea of what to look for. You know how many employees you have, but what about desks, filing cabinets, furniture, and even ping pong tables to blow off steam.  This could mean you rent an office that’s too big. This will make the office look bare, but it also means you have space that you are not using, which is a waste. However, you also don’t want an area that is too cramped, as this can feel claustrophobic and hinder productivity.  Because of this, it’s always better to have too much space, so if you find pickets of the office which need something , bring some plants to sit in the corners, as this will stop the office from looking too empty while also improving air quality. 

Cut Down Energy Use 

Every office environment needs to use energy. There is no real way to overcome it. You need to consume energy for your lights, devices, appliances, and anything else essential for running the office. However, you never need to use as much energy as you do currently. One tactic that many green businesses have embraced is introducing laptops rather than desktop PCs. As these can run on batteries, you can unplug them for most of the day and then only plug them in when they require charging, which only takes an hour or two.  You can also remind people to switch off lights in rooms they are not using, or if your staff always seem to forget, timed lights with smart switches should solve the problem.

Cultivate an Eco-Friendly Culture

While many people want to do their part for the environment, you can’t expect everybody to jump on board immediately. This isn’t because they don’t want to, although some might be reluctant, but rather because it can be difficult to change old habits.  You can encourage and cultivate an eco-friendly culture within the office by offering rewards. Your staff can perform sustainable tasks like cycling to work where possible, or you can provide the opportunity for flexible working hours. By doing so, people will be more comfortable with the eco-friendly approach. You have to practice what you preach as well, though, so lead by example, and offer advice without coming across as overzealous. 

Evaluate Supplies 

For decades, offices have operated with pens, paper, filing cabinets, staples, and many other things that clutter up the office and are often thrown in the trash when finished. However, modern technology means you can begin to shift away from this.  You already have computers, while some employees might use tablets to note down ideas or plan projects. If you combine the two, you can look forward to a more eco-friendly and sustainable office environment.  Some companies go entirely digital. However, this is not possible for every industry. The least you can do is look for stationery and supplies that are manufactured through recycled materials. While other supplies might be cheaper, using a renewable resource will put your business in a better position. 

Embrace Digital  Some businesses will go entirely digital, though, even in areas that they never thought were possible. Cloud storage is the most obvious method and is a fantastic way to eliminate paper waste and redundant office space. Simultaneously, you can also look at digital meetings, remote working possibilities, and automated energy usage that you control entirely from one device. 

Technology is designed to make our lives easier, so your business may as well embrace it as much as they can. Considering the speed at which digital trends become the norm, you are always better off being ahead of the curve to save you playing catch-up later.

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.