Keeping Your Office Space Clean And Sustainable

Julie Starr • September 4, 2024

Having an organized, clean office is more than just making it visually appealing; it is also important for maintaining a healthy, productive, and sustainable work environment. Having a disorganized and cluttered working environment can lead to increased stress, decreased efficiency, and a negative impact on employee morale. On top of this, adopting sustainable cleaning practices can help minimize the environment you have for your business.


Let's have a look at some of the tips on how you can keep your office space organized, clean, andeco-friendly


Declutter Frequently 

The first step towards keeping a clean and organized office is to declutter frequently. You should encourage your employees to regularly decrypt their desks by getting rid of any unnecessary items, old files, and papers. Try to implement a paperless policy where possible and digitalize anything that you can. Minimize the need for physical storage and help to keep the office space clear of clutter. You might want to consider setting aside a specific time each month, all week, for your team to tie you up their space. Not only will your office be cleaner, but once you are ready to hire reliable commercial cleaning experts, you can probably save money because they will not need to spend as much time cleaning the office.


Promote Sustainable Cleaning Practices 

Sun cleaning products can contain harmful chemicals that can have a negative impact on the environment and your health. Make the switch to eco-friendly cleaning products that are non-toxic and biodegradable. You should make sure that any cleaning supplies that are used are sourced from sustainable and ethical companies. In addition, you may also think about using reusable cloths rather than paper towels and microfiber mops rather than single-use ones. 


Use Sustainable Facility Management Services 

It can be demanding to keep your office organized and clean, especially if you have a large space. Preparing with a professional facility management service can help you to keep your office in top condition and keep you on track for reaching your sustainability goals. Fernic Building Solutions could be the ideal cleaning and maintenance service for your business to keep on track. They can help you maintain a healthy, clean, and sustainable working environment. 


Keep Common Areas Organized

One of the areas that tends to get the most messy is the common areas. This is because there is an increase in the number of people using the facilities. Areas like break rooms, meeting rooms, and kitchens need to be kept clean and organized at all times. It could be a good idea to designate a rotating schedule for your team so that they can make sure that these areas are tidied. Encourage your team to clean and pack themselves so that you can avoid them leaving personal items or food around. It could be a good idea to invest in energy-efficient appliances for spaces like the kitchen, too, as this can increase your sustainability as a business. 


Conclusion 

Maintaining an organized and clean office is essential for creating a healthy, productive, and sustainable workplace. Working with a business maintenance service that incorporates sustainable cleaning practices and optimizes waste management can help you create an environment that is healthy and sustainable. Start implementing these tips today so that you can improve your offer environment and support your business's sustainability goals.

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.