How & Why Sustainable Energy Should Power Your Business

Julie Starr • Jun 16, 2021



We have an incredible shift in the consumer culture of our countries. Lately, the wave of eco-consciousness has overtaken every part of our society. It’s been a long time coming and finally, governments and regulators are paying attention to how consumers are changing. Customers nowadays will be happy to pay more for sustainable natural products rather than cheap and polluting products. The eco-friendly movement has swept into the corporate side of the business too. One of the main focuses is to power businesses, using green energy instead of the methods of old. Here are some of the ways which are gathering pace.

Old but new

Crude oil and natural gas are the two most popular energy types for businesses. Although they are going to be made obsolete by electric methods, they are still very much needed. For one thing, they are cheap and their pollution can be controlled. Modern sustainable oil and gas energy services seem to have cracked the code. This company produces oil and gas using greener methods, which has helped them to stay ahead of the competition. They now supply 5 billion cubic feet a day, to over 700 industrial clients. If you need oil for your business assets such as cargo ships or other types of freight, make sure it’s sourced sustainably. This will allow you to market your business in a more eco-friendly light, which could help to retain customers. 

 

Manufacturing and solar energy

It will come as no surprise to you that manufacturing uses a lot of energy. The main power for manufacturing plants is electricity. However, this electricity is made by oil and gas plants. Rather than wait for other companies to become eco-friendly, you should try to install a hybrid energy approach. Solar PV panels on the roof of your manufacturing plant could help to cut costs, and make your business far more sustainable. By the end of 2016 , solar power officially became the cheapest energy source in the world. In fact, Tesla’s new gigafactory will be powered completely by solar power , such has the technology advanced so quickly. Nowadays, there is no excuse why large flat surfaces on industrial facilities do not have solar panels.

Wind power

If your business is located in rural parts of the country, wind power is never far away. Wind power is a very common energy source for many rural business types, such as those in agriculture, manufacturing, warehouses, and product test sites. You should find out if wind power is being offered near your premises by checking the renewable energy map of your country. It’s quite common for wind power to be one of the first energy options offered to businesses in rural parts, because of its location. Wind power may be stored for city use and may not be used as readily as gas or oil. So as a business, you get priority of wind energy supply.

You need to invest

There’s no other way to get eco-friendly energy off the floor and around the world unless businesses that need energy invest in it. Businesses cannot expect to wait around and hope the government will get their act together and fund green energy projects. This is why Tesla and other major companies are taking on the challenge by themselves. This way, they get multiple advantages such as:

  • They own the IP of new sustainable energy. If you create a brilliant new solar panel to power your business, other businesses will want that tech. Why not sell it to them while owning the rights to the tech itself? This is a great return on investment.
  • You also avoid penalties that governments will impose on polluting businesses. Not to mention, since you are not asking the public purse to be opened for your energy needs, you also get a favorable seat at the government’s table. 
  • The bottom line is, if your business becomes energy self-sufficient, you protect yourself from all sorts of harm. Volatile market prices in oil and gas won’t affect you. You will not have to rely on another energy business to power your business. You’re less likely to be at the mercy of power cuts, etc.

There is no excuse why you cannot utilize green energy for your business needs. Whether you’re in manufacturing or just have offices, you should seek to find out what type of eco-friendly power options you have. The sooner you invest in green energy, the sooner you can make the transition from ‘old’ unclean power to future-proof energy.

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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