4 Steps to Make Your Small Business Eco-Friendly

Making your business greener is an excellent way to stand out from the competition and attract eco-conscious customers. Being more sustainable will also boost the reputation of your brand and help to protect the environment from unnecessary stresses. On top of these great benefits, going green can also save you money by reducing your overheads, such as by lowering your energy costs. If you’re looking to become more sustainable, then here are four steps to make your small business eco-friendly.

Step 1: Book a commercial energy audit

An energy audit is a great place to start if you’re trying to make your workplace more sustainable. A professional assessor will analyze your office building using the latest diagnostic technology. You will then be provided with a report that gives you an overview of your energy performance, along with recommendations on how to make your building more energy-efficient. According to experts at buildingperformancegroup.com, some of the key benefits of a commercial energy audit include lower heating and cooling bills, reduced environmental impact, and an increase in property value. Energy-saving upgrades will also help to create a more comfortable working environment for your staff.

Step 2: Replace outdated appliances

Replacing outdated appliances with their eco-friendly counterparts is a quick and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on electricity. Modern appliances are typically far more efficient, which means they use less energy. When looking for new appliances for your office, try to pick ENERGY STAR certified appliances. Investing in the most energy-efficient models will reduce carbon emissions and save your small business money in the long-run. You should check whether your office has any traditional lightbulbs that you can replace with LEDs. Changing your light bulbs is another simple way to save electricity and save money.

Step 3: Encourage staff to be green

It is essential that you get your employees on board with your green schemes and policies. You can encourage your staff to be eco-friendly by teaching them the importance of sustainability in the workplace. Green incentives can be another great way to encourage staff to follow your green workplace policies. For instance, you could install a level 2 charger in your company car park to encourage employees to switch to electric vehicles and make their commute greener. You can also organize fun office competitions to make going green more exciting i.e. a free work lunch to the department that recycles the most waste in a month.

Step 4: Power your office with renewable energy

Switching to renewable energy will have a significant impact on your carbon footprint and electricity costs. Renewable energy is more accessible than ever and more and more businesses are taking advantage of the benefits of green energy. Solar power is one of the most popular types of alternative energy. You can have a solar panel system installed on the roof of your commercial property and start powering your business operations using the sun’s rays.  Thanks to the high demand and local government incentives, installing solar panels in Utah is more affordable and efficient than ever before. Solar electricity is typically cheaper than grid-supplies and you won’t have to worry about electricity price increases affecting your cash flow in the future.