Entrepreneurs: Here Are 5 Ways Going Green Will Save you Money

Julie Starr • Dec 08, 2021



Climate change is becoming a problem and continues to have a significant impact on how businesses are run. Many companies are now becoming aware of the effects of climate change and are implementing strategies to go green. Therefore, your business will significantly benefit from going green; you can save money and have less clutter in your office.

Here are ways you can save money by going green.

Going paperless

Going paperless can save you a lot of money. Consider scanning and storing all your paperwork digitally to lower the amount of paper your business uses. Also, you can inspire your workers to share documents online instead of printing them out. That way, you can eliminate an enormous portion of expenditures incurred from document management and printing papers. Also, instead of using traditional marketing methods where you will have to print magazines and newspapers, you can consider getting the help of a digital marketing company .

Low operating cost

Overhead costs are usually an enormous financial burden for any business. And as your business grows, overhead costs can turn it into one that is spending more money than it is making.  Reducing overhead costs will therefore allow your business to generate incredible results. And what other way can you achieve that than embracing green technology?

So, instead of depending on charges set by electricity companies, you can use an alternative source of energy and lower energy costs. You can also avoid inflation costs that are connected to the cost of electricity.

Tax credits

A tax credit is usually the amount of money you can remove from taxes you owe your government. When it comes to your business, tax credits can be used to improve your local environment. They can be taken from solar energy, energy efficiency, reduced carbon emission, and other strategies for going green.

Telecommuting

Is there a need for all your employees to be in the office if you have a cloud network? Thanks to technological advancements, employees can be more productive even at home. Screen sharing, video conference calls, and collaboration between employees can improve productivity and morale.

Having some of your workers working from home will allow you to save money as most of them will be using their equipment and utilities. This will then help lower your utility costs. Have your workers turn off everything that uses electricity before working from home.

Water dispensing systems

Most businesses give their customers bottled water as a courtesy. However, not all plastic bottles are bio-degradable. It is also vital to note that most bottled water is accessed from the local water supply. Typically, it is just filled with tap water. Therefore, instead of going the extra mile and using your businesses’ money on bottled water, try installing a water dispenser that your customers, as well as employees, can use. That way, you will save money, reduce waste, and save the ecosystem.

Summing Up

Your business can significantly benefit from going green. And in most cases, you can make your brand look like it is transforming the industry via improved green standards, greener offices, green technology, and lowered operation costs. Going green can also help you keep and attract more customers because an increasing number of people are willing to support socially responsible and eco-friendly businesses.

By Julie Starr 07 Oct, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.
By Julie Starr 04 Oct, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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