How Technology Can Increase The Sustainability Of Your Business

Julie Starr • June 21, 2022



Sustainability has become a critical issue for businesses in recent years. Consumers are more interested than ever in knowing that their products are environmentally friendly and sustainable. As a business owner, it is important to find ways to make your company more sustainable. One way to do this is by using technology. The following blog will discuss how technology can help increase the sustainability of your business.

1) Technology Can Help You Save Energy And Resources

One of the most important ways that technology can help increase the sustainability of your business is by helping you save energy and resources. There are several ways to do this, including:

-Install energy-efficient lighting: This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your business’s energy consumption. Energy-efficient lighting uses less electricity and lasts longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, so you’ll save money on your energy bill and won’t have to replace the bulbs as often.

-Use solar power: Solar power is a renewable resource that can help reduce your business’s carbon footprint. If you don’t have the space or budget for a full solar array, you can start small by installing solar panels on your rooftop or using solar-powered outdoor lighting.

-Invest in energy-efficient appliances: If your business uses a lot of energy-hungry appliances, such as industrial refrigerators or air conditioners, consider investing in more energy-efficient models. These appliances use less electricity and can save you money over time.

-Implement a recycling program: Recycling is a great way to reduce the amount of waste your business produces. You can start a recycling program by setting up bins for paper, plastic, and glass. Encourage your employees to participate by offering incentives, such as prizes for the most recycled materials.

2) Technology Can Help You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Another way that technology can help increase the sustainability of your business is by helping you reduce your carbon footprint. There are several ways to do this, including:

-Telecommuting: Telecommuting is a great way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint. If your employees can work from home, they won’t have to commute to work, which will save on gas and emissions.

-Video conferencing: Video conferencing is another great way to reduce travel for meetings. Instead of flying or driving long distances for a meeting, you can connect with employees and clients via video conference. This will save on time, money, and emissions.

-E-commerce: If your business sells products, consider selling them online instead of in brick-and-mortar stores. This will reduce the emissions associated with shipping and transportation.

3) Technology Can Help You Go Paperless

One of the easiest ways to make your business more sustainable is to go paperless. There are several ways to do this, including:

-Electronic invoicing: Send invoices electronically instead of through the mail. This will save on paper and postage.

-Digital storage: Store documents electronically instead of printing them out. This will save on paper and storage space.

-E-newsletters: Send newsletters and other updates electronically instead of through the mail. This will save on paper and postage.

-P2P Texting: Use a peer-to-peer texting service to communicate with employees and customers. These Kaplan Strategies will save on paper and printing costs.

4) Technology Can Help You Educate Your Employees And Customers

One of the best ways to increase the sustainability of your business is to educate your employees and customers about sustainable practices. There are a number of ways to do this, including:

-Sustainability training: Offer training to your employees on sustainable practices. This will help them understand the importance of sustainability and how they can help make your business more sustainable.

-Eco-friendly marketing: Use eco-friendly marketing materials, such as recycled paper or reusable bags. This will show your customers that you care about sustainability and are committed to making environmentally friendly choices.

-Green products: Offer green products, such as organic food or recycled office supplies. This will show your customers that you are committed to sustainability and offer products that are good for the environment.

5) Technology Can Help You Save Money

One of the best things about investing in sustainable technology is that it can help you save money. There are a number of ways to do this, including:

-Solar power: Solar power is a great way to save money on your energy bill. Solar panels can be used to generate electricity, which can then be used to power your business.

-Water conservation: Water conservation can help you save money on your water bill. There are several ways to conserve water, such as using low-flow fixtures and drought-resistant plants.

6)Technology Can Better Your Marketing Strategies

As a sustainable business, it is important to market yourself as such. There are a number of ways to do this, including: 

-Using social media: Use social media to promote your sustainable business practices. This will show potential customers that you are committed to sustainability. 

– Using a video production company: A video production company can help you create marketing materials that showcase your sustainable business practices. This will show potential customers that you are committed to sustainability and that you are committed to making environmentally friendly choices.

-Participating in green events: Attend or participate in green events, such as green festivals or trade shows. This will show potential customers that you are interested in sustainability and that you are committed to making environmentally friendly choices.

-Advertising in green media: Advertise your sustainable business in green media, such as Green America or The Huffington Post. This will show potential customers that you care about the environment and that you are committed to making sustainable choices.

In conclusion, there are several ways that technology can help increase the sustainability of your business. By investing in sustainable technology, you can reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and educate your employees and customers about sustainability.

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.