Ways To Make Your Construction Business More Sustainable

Julie Starr • August 10, 2022



Sustainability is essential in every industry but is necessary for the construction industry. Construction businesses have a huge environmental impact, and it is necessary to find ways to reduce that impact. The following blog will discuss ways to make your construction business more sustainable.

Use Sustainable Materials

Using sustainable materials is one way to make your construction business more sustainable. Sustainable materials are those that have been sourced in an environmentally friendly way. They also have a low impact on the environment when they are used and disposed of. Some examples of sustainable materials that can be used in construction include bamboo , recycled plastic, and straw bales.

Using sustainable materials is not only good for the environment, but it can also be good for your bottom line. Sustainable materials often cost less than traditional construction materials, and they can help you save money in the long run.

Another benefit of using sustainable materials is that they often have unique properties that can make your construction project better than if you had used traditional materials. For example, bamboo is stronger than steel, and straw bales have excellent insulating properties.

Using sustainable materials is a great place to start if you are looking for ways to make your construction business more sustainable.

Use Renewable Energy Sources

You can lessen your reliance on fossil fuels by using renewable energy sources for your construction business. There are several ways to do this, such as installing solar panels or wind turbines. Not only will this help the environment, but it can also save you money in the long run.

Another way to use renewable energy is to invest in electric vehicles. This is a great way to reduce emissions and save on fuel costs. You can even install charging stations at your construction site so that your workers can charge their vehicles while they’re working.

What About Your Construction Equipment?

Just like your construction vehicles, the construction equipment you use daily can also significantly impact the environment. If possible, try to purchase energy-efficient models and be sure to maintain them properly so they don’t release harmful pollutants into the air. You should also consider investing in solar-powered options as they become more available. Not only will this help reduce your carbon footprint, but it can also save you money in the long run.

Implement A Recycling Program

Another great way to make your construction business more sustainable is by implementing a recycling program . Construction projects generate a lot of waste, which can be recycled. By recycling construction waste, you can reduce the amount of material that ends up in landfills and use some of the recycled materials in future projects.

In order to make your recycling program successful, you will need to educate your employees on what materials can be recycled and how to recycle them properly. You should also set up separate bins for different types of recyclable materials.

In conclusion, you can make your construction business more sustainable in several ways. Sustainability is essential for the environment and for your bottom line. You can make a real difference by using sustainable materials, using the right equipment, investing in renewable energy, and recycling construction waste.

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.