How Your Business Can Be Greener

Going green isn’t just for environmentalists anymore. It’s smart business. Whether you’re running a cafe or a tech startup, making eco-friendly choices can reduce your costs while attracting customers and boost employee satisfaction. 

Being greener doesn’t mean you need to install wind turbines on the roof or reinvent your entire business model, but even the smallest of steps can make a real difference. Let’s take a look at some practical ways that your business can be more sustainable.

1. Consider solar energy. If you’ve ever thought about switching to solar, now is the time to explore it. Businesses with a lot of roof space or those operating in large facilities like warehouses or factories can tap into utility scale projects to secure clean, affordable energy. These projects generate electricity on a much bigger scale and sell it directly to businesses or the grid. By participating through power purchase agreements or leasing options, your company can reduce its carbon footprint and save money on energy bills without having to install or manage the panels yourself.
2. No waste. Take a look through your workplace and look at what’s getting tossed. Are there stacks of disposable coffee cups or tons of paper towels everywhere? Switching to reusable items, encouraging recycling and buying in bulk can reduce your environmental impact and your costs. Even better, Educating your team about waste reduction and making it easy with well labeled recycling bins or composting stations is a good start.
3. Go paperless where you can. We may be living in a more digital world, but many businesses still use way more paper than is necessary. Switching over to those cloud based systems is a good start and you can use digital signatures and send invoices by email too. Not only will you help the planet, but you’ll save on your printing, ink and storage.
4. Upgrade to efficient equipment. Old equipment may still work, but it can be an energy hog. Upgrading to energy efficient lighting, HVAC systems and appliances can reduce your utility bills and your environmental impact. Start by replacing your incandescent bulbs with LEDs, or install motion sensor lights in less used areas like hallways or storage rooms. These changes may seem minor, but over time they can make a measurable difference. 
5. Support green suppliers. Take a closer look at your supply chain. Are your vendors environmentally conscious? Are you plunging your money into sustainable products or packaging? Working with green minded suppliers helps to reduce your businesses indirect impact. It also aligns your brand with others who are committed to better sustainability, which is something today’s customers increasingly care about.

Making your business greener does not have to be overwhelming. You can start with one or two changes, like exploring solar through utility scale projects or cutting down on waste and build from there. Every step that you take doesn’t just help the environment, but shows that your customers are shopping in a sustainable business, your employees are working for one, and your partners that you’re committed to doing the best for the environment. 

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