Sustainability, eco-friendly, environmentally friendly, we have all heard these phrases. They are buzzwords all over the globe right now, and business owners must take these ideas to heart. If a business falls behind in the green agenda and does not take global warming issues seriously, it risks damaging its reputation. Ultimately this can cause a loss in revenue. Some companies have been known to spend millions on becoming more green. However, for small and medium business owners, it doesn’t have to be so expensive. Going green in the office space is a great way to show your employees and visitors, such as investors, that you are socially responsible and happy to help with the green drive. Here are a few ways you can make your office space more green:
Add Office Plants
There are many reasons why adding plants to the office environment can be advantageous. First off, visually, it looks like a nicer place to work, and may sway talent your way. Plants are a great natural way to improve the air quality of the office. They can remove harsh chemicals such as benzene as well as carbon dioxide. This is a great way to keep your staff and yourself healthy. This means that if you use an electronic air purifier, you may be able to minimize its use. Plants can also keep the temperature in the office down, so you don’t need to use that air conditioning unit as much. Additionally, plants can increase the productivity of the employees as plants have a calming effect. So adding plants is a win-win for all involved.
Recycling Points
If your business does not already have separate bins for all the recycling items, such as cardboard, paper, and plastics, then you really should invest in recycling bins. This is an easy enough initiative to implement and won’t take people long before they get the hang of using them.
Maximize Natural Light
Natural light reduces your reliance on lighting and light can be increased into the office in many simple ways. First, position mirrors on walls so that can rebound the light across the office. By doing this you will also have the added benefit of making space feel larger, so it feels less claustrophobic for your employees. Go for light-colored paint on the walls with a glossy finish to increase the light rebounding effect. Add skylights where possible. You can swap doors for ones with windows to increase the flow of light around the building. The more light you have in the office, the less your electricity bill will be.
Save Water
Saving water is becoming a more and more pressing issue om modern society. Every business and individual must take this fact to heart. As a business owner, you should lead by example and have a conversation with your team and see if anyone has any idea on how they can save water. By hosting this conversation, you are making the team aware that water is an issue. In the office, you can change all your taps to water-efficient ones that restrict water flow in the kitchen and bathrooms. You can also install a dual flush toilet system and advise staff on how to use them. You can purchase more water-friendly dishwashers and ensure that they are only used once full. You should ensure that any water leaks are fixed as a matter of priority. It may also be an idea to use Polymaster Tanks which are more sustainable and reduce greenhouse gasses. In regards to air conditioning, ensure these are switched off when you go home. Also, if at all possible, use fans instead.
Use Eco-friendly Suppliers
Take a look at the suppliers you use regularly and see if there is any scope to swap for more eco-friendly ones. This could be especially easy when it comes to your stationery supplier. Instead of your staff using a disposable pen, perhaps it would be better to use refillable ones, or even pencils, meaning less waste goes to landfill.
Solar-Panels
Don’t waste the free space on your roof, have a look at installing solar panels. The outlay may cost you a bit, but you will save on electricity in the long run. You may even be able to sell some electricity back to the grid as you will be a micro-generator. Also, having solar panels on the roof gives your business that eco-friendly and sustainable look. Anyone who passes by can see this. Going green is a positive change and one that no one can argue with.