When you hear the words “sustainable business” do you automatically think of all the work and money it will take to install solar panels on the roof? Do you perhaps believe that you will need to start a compost heap in the parking lot behind your business? While that would certainly be entertaining, the simple fact is that there are many different ways for a business to add some environmentally friendly practices to their daily routines without incurring huge costs. In fact, most of these tips can actually save you a lot of money.
Turn things off – Sounds simple, right? Yet every year countless businesses still throw endless amounts of money at their energy bills, with no end in sight. Take a look around. Whether you are working at home or in a brick and mortar retail establishment – guaranteed there are a lot of lights, appliances and other energy suckers that can be turned off most of the day. Always place your computer in “hibernate” mode, and while you can turn off your rack server components, you can save quite a bit of energy with your computers and laptops.
Install displacement toilet dams – If you put one or two plastic containers filled with stones into the toilet reservoirs, you will displace nearly 4 liters of water per flush. (Note: you shouldn’t use a brick for this job. This could cause problems with the plumbing if that sediments starts building up.)
Manage storm water – Most modern buildings are on or near some kind of underground stormwater detention system. This makes it possible to collect and filter the rainwater runoff and discharge it at a controlled rate. Or at least it’s possible as long as the drainage isn’t blocked. If these systems back up it can cause flooding and erosion and allow many pollutants back into the water ways. Take some time and make sure you’re ready for the next storm.
Reduce waste – Most companies have switched to email and other digital communications systems, but there is still a need for hard copies and other printouts. Whenever possible, print on both sides of the paper, use recycled paper as much as possible, and be sure to recycle what you’ve used instead of throwing it in the bin. Other options include trying to find suppliers that take back their packaging to reuse it on other deliveries.
Refurbish – Are your desks and chairs looking a little run down? You could throw them away and purchase a new set, or you could look into getting them refurbished. It’s usually much cheaper and it will reduce a huge amount of wasted materials.
Adding sustainability to your business doesn’t have to start out with some grand gestures. It you don’t need to remove yourself from the city’s power grid and rely on wind power for your needs, but you do need to keep an eye out for any new opportunities to make your business a little more green. Small steps are all it takes to get started, but if you want to get anywhere you will have find new ways to take a few more small steps. It’s actually quite easy, and once it becomes part of your regular process, you will save money as a business and reduce your impact on the environment.