How To Make Your Business Green

Julie Starr • Jun 24, 2022



Increasing numbers of businesses are embracing environmentally friendly practices in the workplace. Among the most important green trends are renewable energy, eco-friendly appliances, and effective recycling systems. This kind of environmental stewardship can reduce a company’s carbon footprint dramatically while simultaneously lowering costs and boosting earnings. The following are a few basic techniques to make your company environmentally friendly.

Reduce Energy Usage

Energy waste can be reduced in the workplace by following a few easy steps. In addition to reducing your carbon footprint, this will also save you money in the long term by reducing your energy use. You can save a lot of energy at your company by following these tips:

  • Make the switch to energy-saving appliances and make sure all of your appliances are set to the most efficient program.
  • Use LED bulbs instead of incandescent lights wherever possible. LEDs typically use between 25% and 80% less energy than incandescent lights and last between three and twenty times as long.
  • Employees should be encouraged to unplug any electrical equipment from the wall when they leave the office or when they are not in use during the working day.
  • Reduce the need for artificial lighting by making the most of available natural light.
  • Speak to experts in your industry, such as looking into environmental consulting for the energy industry . 

Have An Efficient Recycling Program

Efficient recycling is a crucial part of any business that tries to be green. So, you should start by looking for ways to get rid of trash at work more efficiently. By doing a waste audit, you can find out how much trash your business makes, which will help you make a good recycling program. Make sure you tell your employees about your new recycling policies and teach them the best ways to be green. You also have to choose what will be recycled.

  Cardboard, paper, and plastic are common office items that can be recycled. However, it’s important to remember that many other things, like ink cartridges and equipment, can also be recycled. It is also important to keep things that can be recycled separate and store them well so they are ready to be taken to recycling centers. 

  Use Renewable Energy 

Using renewable energy is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint and harmful emissions right away. It is also a very visible way to show that you support environmentally friendly practices, and that is something customers are actively looking for these days. Also, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are easier to get to than ever before, so any business can switch. 

  Putting solar panels on your business building is quick and easy, and in the long run, you might even make money from it. This is because once you’ve paid for the initial costs of installation, you’ll have access to free energy. Because of this, solar panels have become a good investment for many businesses that want to be more environmentally friendly and save money on their utility bills.

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

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.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

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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