Image Credit: Fotolia
Whether you are the owner of your own business or are in charge of managing an office workplace, there are a few simple changes you can make for your company to help with going green. With a bit of planning, effort and hard work, any business has the ability to go a bit more green for the sake of the environment and the world around us.
Go Paperless
Rid the use of paper from within your office when you want to help your business with going green. Ridding paper and transferring information, documents and paperwork to an electronic format is necessary if you want to cut down on supplies and wasting paper each day, regardless of the size of your current company.
Upgrade Appliances and Equipment
Consider upgrading appliances and equipment in your office workplace to reduce the amount of energy you are using each day while also saving money monthly. Look for appliances labeled “energy efficient”, equipment which shuts down when not in use, and machinery which runs off sustainable energy.
Use LED or CFL Lighting Throughout Your Office Workplace
Upgrading all of the lighting within your workplace is another way to go green with simple changes that are affordable and can help with saving money and energy simultaneously. Upgrading all of your home’s light bulbs to CFL lighting or LED light bulbs is a way for you to ensure you are conserving as much electricity as possible when working at all times, regardless of the number of employees you have working in the same vicinity.
Turn Off and Unplug Electronics
If you are looking for inexpensive ways to make your business more environmentally friendly, you should start by turning off and unplugging all electronics when they’re not in use. Simply unplugging electronics when they are not in use has the ability to cut down on the overall amount of energy you are using regularly, which helps to reduce your overall bill if you do so consistently over time.
Prevent Excessive Water Usage and Potential Chemical Leakage
It is also important to take preventative measures to ensure you do not have excessive water usage throughout the office from all employees and those who use the space each day. Installing energy-efficient toilets and taking measures to stop potential chemical leakage is also a must if you are working within the manufacturing industry and managing a workplace. Leslie Thurston, a developer of Covac cooling tower coating backs, says that industrial leakages are one of the biggest causes of water pollution and that all businesses can do their part for the environment by making sure all their leak-preventing equipment and materials are regularly inspected and updated.
Review Your Energy Usage Report Frequently
Be sure to read and review any energy usage reports you receive frequently when monitoring the amount of energy you are using in your office workplace each day. You’ll be able to notice patterns, after a while, and identify which of your green efforts are succeeding and areas which could use improvement.
Emma Sturgis is a freelance writer living in Boston. She writes on a variety of things, most often real estate and education. When not writing, she enjoys reading, rock climbing, and film noir. Twitter: @emmasturgis2
