Going green and taking steps to make your business more sustainable comes with plenty of benefits. Not only will it help save the planet, but you’ll also reduce your expenses and utility costs, boost employee morale, and attract more customers. The following are some simple steps you can take to get started on the path to reducing your business’ carbon footprint.
Reduce road travel emissions
Use efficient fuel management systems to keep track of your fleets’ accumulated fuel costs and individual transactions. This will help you cut down on fuel costs and improve your overall vehicle and driver performance. It works by collecting data that will analyze your fleet’s gas usage and making it more efficient. You can also reduce emissions by opting to use fuel-efficient vehicles, electric vehicles, or vehicles that use alternative fuel. Having an Energy Saving Trust (EST) conduct a review on your fleet may also give you more ideas on how you can make your fleet greener and more efficient.
Use energy-efficient office lighting
Your office lights can take up a significant amount of energy. As much as possible, you should use natural light when adequate. Transparent film and solar shading may help minimize glare and excessive heat if you’re using natural light. Otherwise, there are plenty of energy-efficient lighting options for you to choose from, such as LED lighting. Motion sensors can also be used to automatically switch off lights in certain rooms if they’re not in use. Dimmable lights can also allow you to make sure that your lights aren’t set at maximum brightness, which will help reduce electricity costs.
Improve your cooling and heating systems
Temperature controls can ensure that your heating and cooling systems are timed correctly and set to align with outside air temperatures. This will reduce the chances of overheating or overcooling. Don’t forget to educate your staff on how to properly use the cooling and heating units in your office to avoid any dramatic peaks in temperature. You might want to look into installing window film, especially if your office is located in an especially bright or sunny area. It will allow an adequate amount of light in while reflecting heat back out and vice versa in the winter where heat can be reflected in the office.
Reduce single-use plastic usage
Remove all items made of single-use plastic from your business model and in your daily operations. If it’s possible to substitute your plastic products with durable and more sustainable materials, then you should look into it. When it comes to your daily operations in the office, you should try to encourage employees to bring their own food and water containers as well as utensils.
Make use of renewable energy sources
Harness the power of green energy sources like solar power wherever possible. This can save your business money in the long term. Although solar panels are quite pricey to install, they’re worth it for the savings you’ll accumulate as you use it. You’ll not only be providing your business with clean and sustainable power, but you’ll also reduce electricity expenses and you may even qualify for a federal tax credit just for installing solar panels.
Getting your business to go green is as easy as that. The longer you can help the environment and keep it healthy, the longer everyone can enjoy it, and the longer your company can thrive and do business. It’s a win-win for everyone.
