The aim for a business to be green might be a relatively recent one, but that is not to say that it is hard to do, or that you will be at a loss for how to do it.
The truth is that there are so many ways to be greener in business. Perhaps you have slowly been thinking about what you can do to be better for the environment?
Or maybe the reasoning is a little more personal - you want to save money in business, which green ventures almost always do, or you are keen for your business’ public image to be improved.
Whatever the reason, there are so many ways to make it happen that there is no excuse not to get started today!
Turn Computers Off At Night
How many offices have you worked in where they leave the computers turned on overnight? To leave entire computer towers on overnight is a terrible waste of energy. Not only is it going to mean that you are massively overusing energy as a company, it's also going to raise your electricity bill!
So this is just about making switching off the computer part of your routine when you clock off.
In most cases it is a simple case of sending out a memo to your employees to inform them that they must turn their computers off when they leave the office. Some might ignore it or forget at first, but if you keep on, you will soon find that they do.
Why not even have a notification that pops up on each computer at around five o'clock to say turn this machine off?!
This will make a huge difference to how much energy your business uses on the whole.
Don’t Leave The Lights On
How frustrating is it to come into the office in the morning to find that the lights have been left on?
This one is slightly more difficult as everyone has to communicate with each other as to when they're leaving the office. A simple solution to this problem is to simply have timers installed on the lights, so that they turn off after a brief period of inactivity. That way, it doesn't matter if people haven’t been told or they forget, as the lights will turn off any way.
Deal With Waste Effectively
However you run your business, you're going to produce waste. That much is clear. But you can try to keep it to a minimum. The most basic concern here is ensuring that you recycle that which is possible to recycle, and that you do so in the most efficient way possible. There are many different types of rubbish removal services, and you should make sure that you are utilising the right ones in order to deal with your waste as effectively as possible. This is a part of being green that many people overlook, and yet reducing landfill is one of the most important things we should be aiming for as a society, as individuals and as companies.
The Paperless Office Myth
Is a totally paperless office really something that you can achieve? A completely paperless office might indeed be a myth, but what is very real indeed is the possibility of reducing your paper use by around 90% within a year. A simple way to start is by having a digital calender and filing system.
