It’s not easy being green.
But for a small business, making ecofriendly choices can help save the environment — and potentially save a bundle when it comes to costs.
Here are some tips from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency – perfectly timed for Earth Day, which falls Tuesday – on how to make your business greener.
Get in tune. Make sure your heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system gets periodic tuneups with an annual maintenance contract. Clean or replace filters to keep the system running efficiently.
Keep it cool. Blocking direct sunlight on the east and west sides of your workplace will keep the indoor temperature at a comfortable level. Trees and vegetation can work well to provide shade. Use heat-blocking solar screens or apply insulating films to windows.
Go to the light. Replace any traditional light bulbs with Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lamps, which cost about 75% less to operate and last about 10 times longer.
Have an exit plan. Using Energy Star exit signs can save up to $10 a sign annually in electricity costs and prevent up to 500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
Go through the motion. Install switch-plate motion sensors that will automatically turn off lights when employees are no longer in the room.
Beware of “phantom voltage.” Many switched-off appliances, and even power chargers not connected to a laptop, can still leech electricity when left plugged in, adding to your energy costs. Unplug them or connect them using a power strip with an on-off switch.
Conserve gas. Use vehicles with high fuel efficiency, or a hybrid. Consider carpooling, using public transportation, biking to work or letting employees work from home.
Pack it in. Assess your products’ packaging to reduce waste. Cut down on packaging materials and look for reusable alternatives to cardboard boxes.
Speak for the trees. Buy office paper with a high recycled content and use two-sided printing and copying.
Pay bills electronically, share documents electronically, use reusable paper clips rather than staples where possible, and reuse file folders and envelopes with metal clasps.
Consider nontoxic alternatives to chemicals in products and in office cleaning supplies.
Rather than replacing old computers entirely, try upgrading the memory or the processor.
