How To Go Green And Save Money: Tips For Sustainable Business Practices

Julie Starr • May 6, 2022



The world is changing, and businesses need to change with it. One of the most important ways to stay ahead of the curve is by moving towards sustainable business practices. This doesn’t mean that you have to make massive changes overnight – there are many small things that you can do to start making your business more environmentally friendly. Here are some tips for going green and saving money simultaneously!

Invest In Energy-Efficient Technology And Appliances

By investing in energy-efficient technology and appliances, you will save money on your energy bills, and it’s also good for the environment. Small businesses can make a big difference by investing in energy-efficient technology and appliances. This helps to save money on monthly energy bills and reduces the business’s carbon footprint.

Some energy-efficient appliances businesses can invest in include ENERGY STAR certified commercial freezers and refrigerators, LED lighting, programmable thermostats, and energy-efficient office equipment such as computers, printers, and fax machines.

Educate Your Employees About Sustainability

One of the best ways to make your business more sustainable is educating your employees about sustainability . This can be done through training sessions, lunch-and-learns, or even hanging up posters around the office. By teaching your staff about the importance of sustainability, you’ll create a more environmentally-friendly workplace.

Some topics that you could cover in your employee education include the benefits of sustainability, reducing energy consumption, tips for recycling and composting and saving water at work.

By educating your employees about sustainability, you can create a more environmentally-friendly workplace. This will help save the planet, but it can also lead to cost savings for your business.

Location

Another way to make your business more sustainable is to choose a green location. This could mean anything from an office in a LEED-certified building to a storefront close to public transportation. By choosing a sustainable site, you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money on things like energy bills. If you are not in an area conducive to a sustainable location, consider moving to a site that is. You can use office removalists to assist in your business relocation to a more sustainable location. When choosing a sustainable location, some factors include · Access to public transportation, proximity to recycling facilities, the energy efficiency of the building, and use of renewable energy sources.

Choosing a sustainable location for your business is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on energy bills. If you cannot find a sustainable location, consider moving to an area that is.

Sustainable Suppliers

Another way to make your business more sustainable is by choosing sustainable suppliers. This means selecting suppliers who have environmentally-friendly practices, such as using recycled materials or renewable energy. By working with sustainable suppliers, you can reduce your carbon footprint and help support other businesses doing their part to save the 

planet.

When choosing sustainable suppliers, things to look for include the use of recycled materials, renewable energy, environmentally-friendly packaging and shipping practices.

There are many benefits to having a sustainable business, both for the environment and your bottom line. By investing in energy-efficient technology, educating your employees about sustainability, and choosing a green location, you can make your business more sustainable – and save money at the same time. Implementing even just a few of these tips can make a big difference for your business and the planet.

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.
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.