Introducing green practices into your business is good for your bottom line, both in terms of saving money and as a marketing tool in letting the world know that you care about your community and your impact on it. Surprisingly, few people know some of the simple practices that can make a big difference in how green they are operating. Most folks think of green as installing expensive systems when, in truth, it is the minor changes that make the big differences.
There are multiple other ways that green makes sense for your business. Some are obvious like recycling cans, paper, ink cartridges and anything else that is recyclable in your community. If you don't know where to recycle, contact your city government's waste services department. It is even possible that someone will come pick up recycled products from your place of business if you have enough volume.
Another service that your city and/or utility company may offer is an energy audit. Someone comes to your establishment and checks it for energy usage and possible ways you can save. You get a detailed report that is usually free or very inexpensive. From the report you can get ideas for cost-saving measures that you can implement in your business.
Electricity is one of the biggest culprits in running up your bills. Make certain that lights are off and electrical equipment is powered off at night. Even when electrical equipment is not being used, it is using a small amount of electricity. There are power strips available at most big box stores that essentially "unplug" your equipment when you turn them off. When you consider how many pieces of equipment are plugged in at your business, this can make a significant difference in your power bills.
Many businesses use partially recycled paper and/or print double-sided whenever possible. Any time you can recycle something personally it is good for the environment and your budget. Ditto for using reusable products for eating, drinking, cleaning and any other activity in which you would use a disposable product. Not only will you save significantly on purchasing new disposable items regularly, but this could be an opportunity to place your name or logo on reusable products that can be given out to customers as a public relations and advertising measure.
This may sound like heresy, but how much does your business spend on direct mail or newspaper advertising? How much business do you really get for that expenditure? And, how many of those mailers and papers go directly into the trash? Not only are you contributing more waste to the environment, but you aren't getting your message out. It is possible those advertising dollars could be much better spent on a strong Internet presence, which is non-polluting and reaches a far larger audience. You are being green, most likely spending less, and getting your message out. Sounds like a win-win situation.
Most importantly, involve your employees. You may be surprised at the ideas they have and their willingness to contribute. Green is a rapidly evolving movement with new products and methods surfacing constantly. You will find customers who develop loyalty to you simply because they know that you operate a green business. It doesn't have to be a lot all at once. Take a few steps in that direction at a time, and learn what works and doesn't work for your business as you try new things. In the long run the rewards will be well worth it.
