5 Ways How Your Commercial Business Can Help The Planet

Julie Starr • October 15, 2021



Commercial businesses can make their property more eco-friendly by installing various types of green technologies. Whether it is renewable energy, metal roofing, lighting, rainwater collection systems, or electronic technology, green technologies are beneficial to the environment and helpful to potential customers.

Here Are 5 Ways How Commercial Businesses Can Help The Planet:

Metal Roofing

Metal roofing is an efficient way to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial businesses. Metal roofs are made up of recycled aluminum, steel, or copper materials that would otherwise be landfilled.  U sing metal roofing for commercial buildings can reduce greenhouse emissions by as much as fourteen metric tons per 100 square meters of roofing. The reduction in emissions reduces the demand for fossil fuels and contributes to cleaner air and water. This has several benefits for business owners who want to make their properties more environmentally friendly:

  • These types of roofs also have excellent insulation, so buildings require less energy for heating.
  • The reflective metal panels collect less heat for the establishment, cooling it naturally during hot days.
  • Roofs are easier to maintain without requiring regular re-painting.

Renewable Energy

Another way commercial businesses can make their property more eco-friendly is by using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power.  In addition, with today’s easy access to information, anyone can research new green technology which has been made available to consumers.

For example, many people may not know that photovoltaic (PV) panels are available that allow homes and businesses to produce their own electricity, thus creating minimal dependency on traditional utility companies while also having lower electric bills. 

These types of technologies will only become more popular in the near future because they help build a more sustainable world, which is beneficial to everyone.

Lighting

Businesses can protect the environment by using energy-efficient lighting. LED light bulbs are becoming popular because they use less electricity than traditional light bulbs and last much longer.  They also heat up slowly, so they don’t burn out as fast . Rather than changing a bulb every year or two, an LED bulb could last between 10 – 20 years before it needs replacing. This reduces the number of materials needed for production, shipping, and disposal while saving the company money in long-term costs.  In addition, green technology helps businesses create eco-friendly buildings that are beneficial to both employees and customers alike.

Electronic Technology

There are many electronic devices that are made without toxic components, which are harmful to our health and the environment.  The best way to lessen your carbon footprint is by recycling cell phones, computers, TVs, and other electronic devices instead of throwing them away when you upgrade. Many people don’t know that it’s possible to sell old electronics for cash or trade-in.

Rainwater Collection

If businesses want to make their property more eco-friendly, they could invest in a rainwater collection system. These types of systems can collect up to 100 gallons of water per inch of rainfall; this means one inch of rain could fill up 1000 gallons of storage space!

If businesses rely on normal tap water for their needs, these stored waters could be used for landscaping purposes like irrigation or exterior cleaning windows (which would require less soap). Not only would this save money on tap water bills, but it would also decrease plastic water bottle usage, which is harmful to the environment. 

In Conclusion

By taking the initiative and building green , businesses are making their property more eco-friendly which is beneficial for their business as well as the future of the planet!

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.