There are a number of reasons to be concerned with your carbon footprint as a small business. By lowering it, you can save money, help the environment, and maintain a positive reputation with environmentally-concerned clients, employees, and politicians. However, you may not know what to do to reduce your pollution. Here are some simple changes you can make to reduce the pollution produced by your business.
Go Paperless
It may seem impossible to run a business without paper. However, it can be done. Almost all of your files and paperwork can be transformed into a digital format. You will be able to reduce most of, if not all, of your paper waste this way. This can also save a lot of space in your cabinets as well as save money on printers and ink.
Get Regular Maintenance
Many people see maintenance as a suggestion as opposed to a necessity. However, it should be considered an essential part of managing any kind of business.
Burner service will ensure your boiler runs efficiently. This can help lower your heating bills and gas or electrical usage. As boilers are used for a number of different processes in various industries, this is particularly important.
Roof maintenance will ensure your roof can withstand upcoming weather. Ensuring that your roof is well insulated will also help prevent heat from escaping. This can also help reduce the amount you use to heat your business.
Finally, maintenance on your plumbing can keep your pipes running properly, even in extreme weather, which can help lower your water usage.
Use Automated Technology
Smart thermostats and smart lights have taken over small businesses due to their simplicity and ability to help people save money on utility bills. Don’t worry about remembering to change the temperature every day when the last person leaves. You can set the thermostat to change automatically. You can also change the temperature from anywhere right from your smartphone. The same is true for your lights. You can check to see if your employees shut the lights off at the end of the day. If they didn’t you can do it from wherever you are.
Recycle
Encourage recycling at the workplace by placing recycling bins next to garbage cans. This will keep recyclable waste out of the landfills. Plus, it can help you get tax benefits for your green efforts.
Use Eco-Friendly Items
There are a number of items that are more efficient than alternative options. For example, you should buy LED light bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs. You can also buy appliances with an Energy Star sticker, indicating that they meet a certain standard of efficiency. Even the building materials you choose during renovations play a large role in the amount of pollution produced.
You don’t have to go out of your way to reduce your business’s carbon footprint. By taking some simple steps, you will find a lot of benefits for yourself, but you will also find a sense of purpose knowing you helped the environment.