10 Ways to Green Your Business and Save Money
by Erich Lawson
There are gains to be earned by a business that actively engages in conserving the environment. Apart from promoting a better world, you can save thousands of dollars by cutting down on energy costs while making your business more attractive to the masses and more so the eco-conscious group. Here are 10 ways in which you can green your business and through that, save money:
Shift to PCW
Post-consumer waste (PCW) products such as paper and paper packaging are made entirely from the recycling waste paper we directly place in our trash cans like say, shredder waste. Making an active decision to only go for PCW-labeled supplies for your businesses will definitely have a positive impact on the environment since the manufacture of PCW-recycled paper consumes 45 percent less energy than the manufacture of paper from raw materials.
Utilize Biodegradable Cleaning Products
There are various environmentally friendly cleaning products that you can make use of within your business other than chemical-based ones. These biodegradable cleaning agents made from natural materials do not contain harsh toxins which are not only bad for the environment, but also bad for the people handling them. Considering there are many stores that sell green cleaning products in bulk, you can get really good deals on this and thus save money.
Go Green Personally
There is a choice that you can make and that is to opt for the greener products for your personal care. Green personal care and beauty products are far superior in terms of promoting better health for their users and a less polluted environment while costing relatively the same or less.
Go for LED and Compact- Fluorescent Lights (CFL)
Replacing your standard incandescent bulbs with LED and CFL bulbs can save your business a lot of money over time for each. Even though LED and CFL lights have a considerably high purchase price than normal bulbs, they use significantly less energy and last longer. With such fixtures in your business, you will save money and conserve energy.
Upgrade Outdated Equipment with Modern and Greener Models
You are bound to make long-term economic savings and a significant positive impact on the environment when you invest properly in modern energy-efficient equipment and appliances such as the office copier or shredder. Energy Star equipment and appliances do have labels that can help you asses their efficiency and therefore you can tell just how much you will be contributing to the environment.
Have an Energy Audit carried out for your Business
An energy audit will help you find all the loopholes through which you lose energy-dependent resources such as heat. The Department of Energy says that by just sealing cracks and other leaks around your office, you can reduce your heating and cooling bill by as much as 20 percent. Some states offer free energy audits and even pay for the recommended repairs, so you can take advantage of that to green your business more.
Employ Alternative Energy
It is possible to get green power from local utility providers in areas with such options, and all you will need to do is sign up for it. Alternative, energy generated from geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind, plant matter, and other renewable energy resources go a long way in helping curb the degradation of the environment. Signing up for it will put your business at the forefront of such a noble cause.
Cut down on Your Transportation Emission Footprint
Having hybrid vehicles and those that use alternative fuel in your business will certainly show your commitment to the good of the environment, to both your customers and your counterparts. Also making use of bikes and public transport will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your business and in the long run, save you money. An industrial trash compactor will certainly cut the required trips for hauling waste to recycling plants.
Recycle
Play a more active role in recycling by going the extra mile and thinking outside the box. Install a trash compactor in your premises to streamline the handling of various waste products, have different recycling bins for different materials, and go for used furniture and other office fixtures instead of new ones. All this effort will pay off by reducing the load of waste that ends up in landfills.
Go Green Online
There are Web hosting companies that actively take part in activities that are geared towards a better environment. They utilize renewable energy, participate in tree planting, buy carbon credits, and so on. Using such companies for your business website goes towards their contribution to a better world, and hence yours.
Author Bio:
Erich Lawson is passionate about saving the environment through effective recycling techniques and modern innovations. He works with Compactor Management Company and writes on a variety of topics related to recycling, including tips and advice on how balers, compactors, and shredders can be used to reduce industrial waste. He loves helping businesses understand how to lower their monthly garbage bills and increase revenue from recycling.