5 Ways Your Business Can Go Green

Many small business owners are looking at how to operate in an eco-friendlier way. Not only is going green good for the environment but it can help your business save money, help streamline operations, and show customers that you are responsible and forward-thinking.

Today, there are several technological innovations that have made it easier than ever for businesses to be more eco-friendly without harming operability. There are several ways that you can make your business more environmentally sustainable. The following ways well help you take the right steps to conserving the planet for the future.

Renewable Energy

Solar panels are a great option to install and is becoming an affordable option. The time that it takes to break even is largely dependent on where your business is located. With proper maintenance, a solar panel system can be one the best ways for small businesses to minimize ecological impact while cutting down on operational costs.

A great benefit from having solar panels installed is that business owners can save as much as 80 percent on their electric bills. It might seem expensive at first to have solar panels involved but in the long run it is going to end up saving you a lot of money. Review your costs and figure out your “break even” point. If installing a new energy-saving feature costs a certain amount up front, but your monthly bills go down as a result, how long will it take to pay for itself? Depending on the investment, it may even make sense to finance the initial cost, using a business loan or line of credit.

Go Paperless

Reducing paper waste is another small way to make an eco-conscious decision. Using email to communicate with employees, clients, and customers is something everyone does. You can conduct communications and pay bills through digital channels to not only be sustainable but also it will help cut expenses.

It is easier to avoid using paper nowadays by using email newsletters, updating your company’s website and social media posts. Digital project management tools can also help eliminate lots of paper from your office while increasing employee productivity.

Go Remote

It is no secret that cars produce a ton of air pollution so letting employees work from home will help reduce emissions. Even if they work one day a week at home it can make a difference.

Digital communication has allowed many companies go remote. Applications like Zoom and Google Suite allow for teams to collaborate in real time online. With all the technology these days, small businesses are able to conduct business-as-usual without having employees be present.

Track Energy Consumption

The Internet of Things, or IoT for short, is one of the more exciting ways that small businesses can use technology to go green. “IoT” refers to a network of machines outfitted with sensors that send information to a central database. The data is analyzed and translated into information that people can use to determine how the machine works. With this in mind, there are numerous ways loT can help small businesses get into a green routine. Some manufacturing companies are using loT sensors to monitor heavy machinery performance which helps predict malfunctions and avoid the costs associated with big repairs.

Consider Doing Away with Your Storefront

Having your products or services available online is one way to potentially reduce your impact on the environment. If a business does not have a physical office space, it would eliminate 100 percent of the cost and environmental impact of using water, electricity, and gas.

Even for a business that does not completely go digital, reducing the number of people who have to drive to-and-from a storefront to get their hands on a service can help limit the carbon footprint made by that business. Practicing environmental awareness can result in savings and benefits future generations.