Do one thing: Small steps to make your business more green

Maybe your business isn’t ready for a full green transformation, but small steps now can get you greener right away. As well as strengthening your appeal to eco-conscious consumers and candidates, you’ll cut your energy and tax bills (green incentives are among the most significant business tax credits and deductions). And with all-time-high energy prices (gas just exceeded $4 per gallon!), a little goes a long way.

Below, learn how to make your business more green, one small step at a time.

Switch to smart lighting

LED lightbulbs use 75-80 percent less electricity, last 25 times longer, and – over time – cost a whole bunch less than incandescent bulbs. Install timed motion sensors to save more. And go for desk lamps instead of lighting entire floors.

Use a digital thermostat

What if a device knew your temperature preferences and the daily rhythms of your office? What if it could plug into local weather data and make proactive adjustments? That device is a smart thermostat. It can slash 10% off your energy bills and it’s cheaper than you think. 

Replace energy-gobbling equipment

Refrigerators built in the 1970s use five times more electricity than high-efficiency ones. If your fridge is past its best, replace it. A greener one may be pricier, but the economic and environmental savings add up. Ditto computers and other dated equipment. You don’t need to replace everything at once. But think of the long-haul when it is time.

Stop wasting paper

The pandemic forced companies to digitize much of their admin, but the ‘paperless office’ remains elusive. Everyday printing still costs companies as much as $725 per year per employee.

• Don’t print internal meeting agendas, use both sides of paper, or send to the cloud rather than print where possible.
• Shift to e-billing for customers and electronic payslips for employees. (It’s more secure, anyway.)
• If you must direct-mail your customers, cull your mailing list regularly. Or do an email blast instead.
• Buy recycled paper. Its climate impact is 100 times lower than virgin paper.

Ditch single-use everything

Replace paper towels with hand dryers, source sustainable local goods, and encourage your employees to use reusable containers and bottles.

Repair or recycle. Don’t replace.

Americans produce nearly 300 million tons of trash in a year, much of it reusable. Electronic waste is the fastest-growing stream. It typically gets shipped to the developing world, where toxic components leak into the soil. Companies like Dell and HP have e-waste recycling programs where you can earn money back on your old electronics.

Embrace hybrid working

Letting your people work from home takes cars off the highways and cutting our carbon footprint. It also means annual savings for a typical employer of about $11,000 per employee who works remotely half of the time.

Do an energy audit

Buildings make up about 40% of the country's energy usage. Even before the current spike, the average American spent around $2,000 annually on energy bills ($200 to $400 of which was lost to inefficiencies). Many states do free energy audits to help you find out where you’re losing money; some even help with the cost of any needed repairs.

Clean up your cleaning supplies

Why expose yourself to harsh toxins and other chemicals when natural biodegradable cleaning supplies are readily available? The next time you run out, choose a more environmentally-friendly option. Most stores bulk-sell green cleaning supplies for much the same prices as their toxic cousins.

In summary, start small, take baby steps, and sustainability will pay for itself.

Read our blog to learn more about green business and other top trends shaping the world of work, including Green game changers: getting ready for the future of work and  How to: update your resume with skills for the green economy.