Ways Companies Can Save Money By Going Green

Going green isn’t just an important moral responsibility. It can also be a savvy financial strategy. Businesses of practically every kind can reduce their overhead and pad their bottom line by upgrading key pieces of technology and making simple changes to their habits. Not convinced? Just keep reading for a minute or so. You’ll quickly see exactly what you stand to gain from making a few minor adjustments.

Five Proven Ways to Reduce Waste and Rake in the Savings

Below are five strategies we’ve come up with that are practically guaranteed to make your business cleaner and richer. Implement as many as you can (you can probably do them all), and just watch as your margins improve.

1. Switch off your incandescent bulbs, and switch on LEDs.

Lighting is one of the largest potential energy wasters in most commercial spaces, and incandescent lights are the main culprits. Fortunately, they aren’t the only option for illuminating your space. LED lights have existed for years, but many business owners do not fully understand the savings they can provide.

The truth is that LED bulbs use 70% less electricity than their incandescent predecessors. They also last up to 25 times longer. Wondering what kind of money that could translate into? Just ask Sands Las Vegas, who managed to save 10 million kWh a year by changing to LED lighting. Trust us: it’s worth it to make the switch.

2. Lose the plastic bottles.

Have you and your employees been drinking bottled water at work because you don’t trust tap water? Be cautious—you might be wasting money on a product that isn’t any better. Try checking the bottles you’re buying for the office. If they say “from a municipal source” or “from a community water system”, then guess what? You’ve been drinking plain old tap water.

Consider investing in a reverse osmosis water system for your business instead, which can effectively filter your tap water and make it safe for consumption. You’ll spend less money on unsustainable plastic bottles, and you’ll enjoy healthier drinking water at work.

3. Cut back on water.

Filtering your tap water can make it potable, but you’ll also want to reduce the amount of water you use in other areas. Using float boosters in your toilets, keeping a close eye on your water meters, and using drought-resistant grass on your office lawn can all help you avoid unnecessary water usage. While you’re at it, consider some strategies that can save water for your home as well—why keep all the savings at the office?

4. Invest in employee health and wellness.

Healthy employees are more productive employees. It should be obvious, but it bears repeating. If your staff have a healthy and comfortable environment in which to work, they’ll naturally work harder. Try planting trees outside your office windows, and cultivating potted plants indoors to produce higher levels of oxygen. It’s also a good idea to encourage your employees to exercise during the day instead of sitting at their desks for hours at a time.

5. Embrace paperless solutions.

Your business might pride itself on keeping physical records, but the reality is that those records can be both expensive and environmentally irresponsible. Paper comes from trees, after all. Keep in mind that you’re paying for more than paper, too. When you print out every document your business needs, you also have to spend money on toner and electricity for your printers and copiers. It can all add up pretty quickly, so consider cloud-based storage instead.

Environmental responsibility can do much more than simply win points with your millennial customers. It’s also a philosophy that can help your business keep more of the money it earns. Use the tips listed above to cut back in your office, and enjoy the difference it makes.