|
Apart from it now being a legal requirement for businesses to reduce and prevent waste where possible, there is most definitely a strong focus amongst business owners to go green across the board either for ethical reasons or because quite simply it can be cost effective to do so. In this lens I would like to explore just some of the ways businesses large or small can go green. Reducing Energy Consumption This is an easy place to start. Not only is this good for the environment it is an excellent way to reduce overheads. By using energy efficient light bulbs, making sure all equipment is turned off at the end of the day and not just left on standby. Turning computers off at the end of the day can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%. If possible encourage the employees to turn off equipment during the day too when it is not being used. Reduce Your Paper Trail Become a paperless office or virtually paperless. Yes it is possible. Think about it. These days there really is no need to use so much paper. It is incredibly easy to send electronic invoices and any kind of statements by email thus saving trees, time and of course the money that would have been spent on stationary! When you receive these documents there is also no need to print them out. Just make appropriate folders for them and store them on a cloud server so you don’t clog up your computer. Invest In Solar Power For bigger companies who have huge electricity overheads it could be beneficial to use solar power to create some, if not all of the energy you require. Of course you will have to have the necessary roof space required to install the panels but if you do then it really is worth looking into as the UK government has recently introduced the Feed-In Tariff which means it is possible for you to earn money for every unit of electricity you use as well as being paid for electricity you produce but don’t use by selling it back to your electricity provider. You could be environmentally friendly and actually make money from it at the same time. This obviously depends on the size of your system, when it was installed and who installed it so do some research first. If you don’t want to pay for your solar panels in the first place then find out about companies who are prepared to install and maintain your solar panels for free. The only drawback is that they keep the Feed-In Tariff and you don’t get to make any money from the energy you create. You will of course still benefit from free electricity, free panels and a clear environmental conscience! Green Business Waste Collection Business waste collection really is more about management than just collection these days. It’s about processing the waste from your business in an efficient and often environmentally friendly manner. Demonstrating to customers that you are ethical and responsible when it comes to your waste collection can do a lot to boost business and many companies are now trying to achieve ‘zero waste to landfill’ status to get the edge over their competitors. This means that all their waste is sorted into recyclables where possible and the small amount of waste left is actually used to create energy. Of course, most companies do not have the time or resources to do this themselves so employee a waste management company to do the job for them. Going with the green movement has never been easier. Whether you are a small or large business there are financial advantages to going green making it not only the best moral choice you could make for your company but the most lucrative too.
Related Articles -
environment, recycling, business,
| 
