5 Subtle Ways to Get Your Employees to Become More Eco-Conscious

Julie Starr • March 4, 2022



It’s always the right move to try to become more sustainable, and it’s even better when you’re bringing a whole team with you on this journey. There’s this idea that in order to be sustainable and eco-friendly, you need to spend lots of money. But in actuality, it’s further from the case. In fact, the less you spend tends to be better. So there’s no need to worry about bringing this into the company budget. 

Being eco-friendly is a company effort, so everyone on the whole team should try to get involved in this. But how can it be done without forcing lifestyle choices onto your employees? These are some subtle ways to get your co-workers to be more eco-conscious at work, and who knows, this may spill into their personal life.

Begin by turning off electronics and lights that are not in use

This is one of the smaller steps that people will begin to pick up on. Most likely, people already turn off lights at home when they’re exiting a room. They may turn off electronics that they’re not using. So this can easily bleed through into professional life. Just begin doing it, and people will start to pick up on it.  Just know that this doesn’t have to include everything such as computers, your key lock box , or anything else that has high importance.

Try to lay off the thermostat

A great way to make environmentally-friendly changes for your building can include laying off the thermostat. This includes both the heat and cool air.  This doesn’t mean your employees should go to work in a hot or freezing environment. There are usually eco-settings for some of these devices. Just look into the settings. Maybe having the heat or AC kick on at a certain temperature could drastically change how much money and energy your business saves.

Go paperless

Does everything really need to be printed? Most likely, it doesn’t. While it’s okay to still have the printer or copy machine at the office, maybe try to look into Adobe as an option for filling out and signing documents. Let your employees know about this convenient method of signing documents. There are plenty of benefits to digital files. This not only reduces the paper around the office, but it cuts the clutter, and it’s very easy to access digital files from a computer or mobile device.

Encourage employees to bring their food to work

If you’re able to get rid of the vending machines in your workplace, this is one great way to cut down on plastic. But another thing can include encouraging employees to pack their lunch rather than driving to a nearby restaurant to get it. This wastes gas, energy, and then there is going to be potential food waste and other waste from the packing materials as well.  Bringing food to work saves a lot of money but it also helps the environment.

Get some plants

Plants are one of those eco-friendly decorative accents that will never go out of fashion. They boost air quality, and they look fabulous anywhere! There’s something about being surrounded in green that just makes you think of nature. 

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.