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  1. There are a few tips that you can use for making recycling easier in your office. Situation The first tip is to survey the current waste management situation of your company. Before you add any additional recycling measures, then you want to assess the situation. This is the best way that you are going to be able to create a plan of action for executing the recycling initiatives into your company. Therefore, you are going to need to try to understand how much waste your company is going to go through during the week. This will allow you to see how much of the waste can be recycled. Simple The second tip is to make the process of recycling as simple as possible. This is one of the best ways that you are going to be able to encourage recycling inside of the workplace. Therefore, you will need to make the recycling places convenient for the employees along with being accessible. The bins are going to need to be located throughout the workplace. Consider talking to a dumpster rental company to make sure you have all the bins you will need. It is also important to label the recycling bins so that the employees are going to know exactly what they are supposed to be putting inside of the bins. When they don't know, there is a good chance that it will just go in the trash. Reminders The third tip is to make sure that you post regular reminders for the employees about the recycling. There are some people who are going to have a passion for recycling, so they are going to go out of their way to recycle items. But there are some people are going to feel indifferent about the recycling, then they are probably not going to think about recycling. These are the people who are going to need the reminders more than others. They need to be aware of that recycling is a part of the business. Competition The fourth tip is to foster some competition among the employees when it comes to the recycling inside of the workplace. Competition is one of the best ways to get your employees to do things. It is important to remember that people don't like being told what you want them to do but they are going to love to win. The competition will need to be an interactive experience for the employees. You should keep constant updates on the competition so that you can alert the employees of who is actually winning the recycling competition.
  6. 4 Ways A Green Office Leads To Green Profits By now, the idea of going green in the business world is probably thought of as an overused cliché. However, you don’t have to live in Southern California and drive a Prius to reap the benefits of green business practices. In actuality, many of these business strategies save money in addition to lowering your company’s impact on the environment. Below are four examples you should seriously consider adopting. Go Paperless One definite way to slash costs is to abandon printing. You should be aware that the average printing cost per employee in an office is $725 per year. If you have a lot of employees, that’s a lot of money. Thankfully, nearly everything you can do with paper documents can be replicated and even improved upon with digital files. There’s really no reason to continue using paper at all. Update Your Lighting Lighting is something else that can save you money when you go green. Compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs, energy efficient lights can use anywhere from 25 to 80 percent less energy to provide the same amount of light. They also last a lot longer as well. This includes CFL, LED and halogen incandescent lighting. Upgrading to energy efficient lighting is one easy way to go green and save money at the same time. Update Your Plumbing Similarly, energy efficient plumbing fixtures can save you a decent amount of money. They use less water to operate. Since you are likely using city water, they can certainly save money in the long run. Installing a solar water heater from companies like Clearwater Plumbing can also help to lower your reliance on other much more expensive heating options like a traditional furnace that uses either electricity or natural gas to heat a home. Obtain Energy Audits Lastly, you should consider getting energy audits every year or every other year. This audit performed by a third party can tell you all the ways you are wasting energy and electricity in your office and the rest of your business as well. After making adjustments, you’ll have a much more efficient operation that wastes far less energy. Overhead such as your utility bills will shrink as a result. Overall, while going green may be a cliché, that doesn’t mean the trend is ever going away. Energy efficiency can do far more than help the environment. It’s also a cost cutting measure that increases efficiency and lowers overhead expense. Consider different ways your company can go green and save money at the same time.
  7. When you are the owner or manager of a company, you will want to use environmentally friendly methods to dispose of waste. Here are some ways to implement a plan to get rid of various types of waste in a way that won’t harm the earth’s air, water or soil. Schedule a Consultation with an Environmental Expert If you don’t know how to throw waste away in the appropriate ways, then have a consultation with an environmental expert. A knowledgeable environmentalist can create a plan for your company after walking through its buildings to see what type of waste is made by your manufacturing and office processes. Develop a Written Plan for Your Company’s Waste You should develop a written plan for the disposal of the various types of waste made by your workers and machinery. This can take time because you must understand how much waste there is and when it is made. With a written plan, you will understand where your problems are concerning waste such as having a lot of paper and cardboard to get rid of or having dangerous chemicals that can pollute natural waterways. Are You Recycling Cardboard, Wood and Paper? Today, it is possible to recycle almost any type of material, and in many cases, you can make a profit from recycling certain items. Rather than only throwing trash into dumpsters, learn how you can bundle cardboard, wood and paper for pick up by companies that offer you money for the items. By completing a search on the internet, you can find an assortment of recycling plants in your city so that you can save money and the environment. Contact Scrap Metal Services Scrap metal is one of the items that you can make a profit from by collecting it correctly in dumpsters or wastebaskets so that it is accepted for cash. By recycling metal, you are protecting the earth from the damages of additional mining along with the pollution made by trucks transporting metal ore to smelting plants. Scrap metal services buy a variety of types of metal, including copper, steel or brass. Filter Your Company’s Wastewater Filtering your company’s wastewater can save the environment, and in many geographic locations, you must remove chemicals and pathogens from the water that your company disposes. Using industrial-strength filtering devices is one of the best ways to clean wastewater, so contact a company that designs water-filtering systems. Create a New Plan Once a Year Once a year, you should create a new plan for disposing of waste, making sure to follow the guidelines that are required by local and federal government agencies. Consider creating a proper initiative by announcing any changes that will be done and getting employees involved. This will help get your company on the same page and get them excited to save the company money while saving the environment.
  8. Two of the biggest threats to the world today are global warming and pollution. If these threats are to be averted, action is required from all sectors of civilization. The business world certainly shoulder’s a large portion of this responsibility. Just because you own a business does not mean your impact on the environment has to be cumulatively negative. Below are a few ways companies can help to clean up the environment. Convert to Paperless One of the biggest impacts businesses have on the environment is the amount of paper they waste. Offices in the United States use a whopping 12.1 trillion pieces of paper every year. That much paper requires scores of trees to be cleared. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Anything that can be printed out can be replicated as digital files. Certainly consider going paperless at all levels of your company. Recycle As Much As Possible Many companies create an inordinate amount of waste during the production processes used to create the products they sell to consumers. This waste goes on to be buried in landfills and presents a long term threat to the environment and even the safety of human beings through contamination to underground water supplies. While it may seem like a cliché, you should try to recycle as much as possible. Obtain skip bins for recycling and research exactly how much of your waste can be shipped off to a recycling center. Purchase Carbon Offsets In some cases, it’s unrealistic for companies to have no impact on the environment due to the production processes needed to create their product or service. However, it is still possible for those companies to take action to help offset that negative impact. For the amount of carbon you release into the atmosphere, your company can invest in an equal amount of carbon emissions reduction in another location. This way, your own negative impact is negated. Organize a Carpool Another way companies negatively affect the environment is indirectly through all the carbon that must be released into the atmosphere to allow employees to commute to and from work. Consider organizing a carpool program for your employees. It can lower your employees’ impact on air quality significantly. Businesses are responsible for a good amount of the pollution on earth. They have a huge responsibility to help solve problems like pollution and global warming. Make sure your company is doing its part to solve these serious problems.
  9. More and more companies, from the largest to the smallest, are concerned with “going green.” Some of this is in response to worker and consumer pressure and the desirability of marketing to environmentally concerned customers and attracting educated innovative workers who tend to be concerned about the environment. In some countries, carbon pricing affects the bottom line and there are increasingly strict regulations concerning everything from emissions to use of potentially toxic chemicals. Perhaps the two most important reasons for going green, though, are saving money and corporate social responsibility. Paper Products Management gurus have been predicting the advent of the paperless office since the introduction of computers in the 1960s. Most companies still use massive amounts of paper. Two simple steps you can take to reduce your environmental footprint are recycling and using paper products manufactured with post-consumer waste. Make it easy for employees to recycle by placing dedicated paper recycling bins near every work space. The Environmental Paper Network has a paper calculator that shows you the environmental impacts of different paper choices. Lighting Lighting is one of the easiest ways for a company to save energy. Replacing older fixtures with LED lighting helps the environment in two ways. First, it saves energy and second, LED bulbs need to be replaced less frequently than many other types and thus contribute less to the waste stream. Rather than relying on individual employees to turn off lights, install motion sensors to ensure that you are not wasting money and energy lighting empty rooms. Energy Sources Using renewable energy sources is an important element of going green. Installing solar panels on a roof or buying energy from renewable sources are two important ways to ensure a high percentage of renewable energy and potential cost savings. Some large organizations invest in wind turbines to generate their own energy and save money. Solar Parking Lots In areas with substantial amounts of sunshine, solar canopies in parking lots are an innovation that provides substantial amounts of green energy while keeping employees’ cars cool in hot summer months. Solar parking lots also make a strong and stylish visual statement concerning your commitment to renewable energy. Green Chemicals Many companies are moving to using green chemicals in many processes from cleaning rest rooms to advanced manufacturing. To maximize the environmental benefits in chemical use, study your complete chemical supply inventory to see whether components can be replaced with greener equivalents. Managing your inventory closely, perhaps using just-in-time supply chains, can reduce wastage, helping the environment and your bottom line. You can also visit a company like Seidler Chemical for help in this regard. The Environmental Bottom Line Greening your business benefits all possible stakeholders. Employees, especially those with chemical sensitivities and other medical conditions, benefit from a greener work setting. Society as a whole benefits from preserving our environmental. The company and shareholders profit from attracting environmentally concerned customers and employees and saving many by conserving energy.
  10. Many businesses are generating waste, and don’t even realize that there is a better way of handling it. Becoming more environmentally conscious is the first step to making your business more green. Here are some ways that you can work to resolve your unnecessary business waste. Excess Energy Consumption Energy consumption is a hot topic when it comes to making your business more eco-friendly. You’ve probably heard all about changing out your light bulbs for more energy efficient models. Another step that you can take is to make your business more self-reliant when it comes to your electricity usage. Install solar panels on the roof so that you can generate some extra power. Switch your servers to a cloud based system. Older servers use a lot of power to run. By taking them offline, you could dramatically cut your energy consumption. Recycle Old Electronics Recycling is a big part of becoming more eco-friendly. You probably already have a recycling program in place to deal with paper waste and other items. Consider expanding your recycling program to include your old electronic equipment. There are programs that want your old electronics. Many of these organizations are charities that give them to those that are less fortunate. You can also sell your old electronics, and donate the money to a charity of your choice. Create a Reclaimed Water Program Waste water can be a problem in many manufacturing environments. Purchasing a wastewater filtration system can help to alleviate some of your concerns. This water can then be used where it’s safe to use other reclaimed water. An example of this would include the water needed to flush your toilets. This water would in no way be drinkable, but it can go to other uses. The waste portion could be disposed of in the proper manner, while saving you some money. Convenience Items Over Reusable Many businesses don’t even think twice about purchasing disposable items. This trash is then deposited into the landfill. Creating more garbage isn’t very environmentally friendly. Replace these disposable items with reusable ones. Purchase reusable water bottles for all of your employees. Stock your break room with real plates and utensils. This will cut down on the amount of items that you need to purchase. It will also prevent more trash from entering the landfill. Focusing on reducing business waste is not only good for your bottom line. It’s also good for the environment and the image that your business projects.
  11. Ever since the Internet was commercialized back in 1990, organizations began to grow rapidly and they started to move their businesses online. However, the rise of technology has also brought enormous energy consumption and slowly but surely, large organizations started causing significant damage to the environment. Nowadays, both small and large organizations are getting more eco-friendly and are putting further effort into keeping the environment safe by utilizing green technology and green hosting solutions for their business operations. Here are a few benefits that eco-friendly hosting solutions can offer to your business. Benefits for your business Going green with technology can greatly benefit your business, regardless of whether you run a small or large business. Reduce energy costs – Green technology offers you the opportunity to reduce energy consumption and also reduce the costs on your energy bills. For instance, energy-efficient lighting such as CFLs and LEDs use 25-80% less energy than standard light bulbs and they can last 3-25 times longer. More customers – Today, consumers are more environmentally aware and they favor businesses that are green over those that aren't. In fact, businesses that utilize green technology will attract more customers. Socially responsible – Business that take care of the environment and are eco-friendly enjoy a good reputation. For example, millennials who are the largest group of consumers nowadays prefer to do business with eco-friendly brands. Green hosting benefits Green cloud services are concerned about the environment and they utilize energy-efficient methods and natural resources to maintain their servers. That's why large organizations such as Google, Microsoft and Apple are opting for green cloud computing and green hosting services. Even smaller business can switch to more green solutions such as cPanel hosting and benefit from eco-friendly cloud computing. Cloud services offer businesses a way of centralizing their servers, which eliminates the need for local data centers that consume a lot of energy. Moreover, cloud-based services offer a lot of benefits to businesses, the only difference is that green cloud computing is done in a more eco-friendly fashion. Benefits for the environment Eco-friendly hosting services not only benefit businesses, but the environment as well. By implementing the energy efficient methods for maintaining servers, green hosting solutions reduce the carbon footprint that companies leave behind and reduce both the energy and resources required to stay operational. Furthermore, green solutions also take care of proper disposal of electronic waste and proper recycling of electronics. Also, green hosting services implement renewable energy and natural resources such as solar power, wind and water to power the servers, which leads to significant decrease in carbon emissions. Eco-friendly hosting solutions enable businesses to operate at lower energy consumptions and reduce the amount of waste they leave behind. In addition, green solutions have a positive impact on businesses by improving their reputation and making them more socially responsible.
  12. Issues like pollution and global warming are serious challenges. If we are to protect the earth for future generations, we need to take action now. That certainly includes action from businesses both large and small. Make sure you are doing your part by instituting green policies into your company where you can. Below are four such strategies you should give serious consideration. Make Your Office Paperless One thing offices do is waste a lot of paper. The average US office employee uses about 10,000 pieces of paper a year. All this waste leads to the clearing of forests. That means fewer trees to transform harmful carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen. However, thanks to things like email and PDF files, there really is no longer a need for paper in the modern office. Do your part and go paperless. Start a Carpool Program One of the biggest sources of pollution created by businesses doesn’t come directly from the business itself. Instead, it’s all the gasoline that must be burned to allow employees to drive to and from work. Thankfully, there is a way to change this and curb your workforce’s carbon footprint. You should consider starting a company carpool program. Employees will benefit as well since they will have to spend less on gas each year. Waste Less Water Most states in the US expect significant water shortages in the future. We will have to start treating more wastewater to make up the difference. You can do your part by using less water in your facilities. Consider installing low-flow plumbing fixtures like toilets, faucets and more that use a lot less water so more of this valuable resource can be saved for the greater community. Perform an Energy Audit Many businesses are completely oblivious to the ways they are wasting energy. Your factory, store, warehouse or other facility may be needlessly wasting energy and electricity in ways you are not even aware of. Perform an energy audit through the use of a third party. The results of the audit can then be used to lower the amount of energy your facilities are using. This increased efficiency will also do the job of helping to slash your overhead expenses. Businesses are not free of moral and ethical obligations. One of these obligations is doing what you can to lower pollution and protect your community as well as the earth in general. Hiring someone with a civil engineering degree to help analyze your companies influence can help you with this. The four strategies above should only be a starting point for going green with your company.
  13. When it comes to energy efficiency, it can really affect how successful your business is. If you require a lot of heavy equipment, he costs for maintaining them can add up quickly. This can cause you to have to take out extra capital to pay for it, tying up your potential investments. This means you could lose out on opportunities to grow quickly. To avoid this, make sure you’re monitoring your power and keeping your company energy efficient the right solutions. Dual Phase Converters When you have heavy duty industrial machinery, you need a way for it to convert its power. A single phase converter doesn’t do as much as a dual phase, meaning you overload the system and grid more. It also becomes more difficult to monitor. By having dual phase power you can have one phase providing electricity while the other measures the change in power distribution and efficiency. Switchboards In your control room, you can achieve a lot for your energy efficiency by having a quality monitoring station. Part of this station should include switchboards. Not only do they let you switch different machines on and off, but also send those signals to a central monitoring device. Flexible Transformers Having the right transformers can have a big impact on how energy efficient your business is. Items like Rogowski coils offered by Aim Dynamics are an example of coils that allow you to place your equipment anywhere that you need to while enjoy power savings. While the monthly number may seem small in the beginning, transformers can offer advantages that add up over time. Window Monitoring Your windows and doors are some of the biggest leaks of energy efficiency that you are going to have in your company’s offices and factories. Place monitoring solutions on them such as Nest that allow you to see how efficient they are. Consider replacing them for more efficient versions if necessary. Temperature Control Today’s brick and mortar businesses require a lot more power than they used to. This can be a disadvantage if you are a smaller company just starting out. It can also be difficult to deal with if you would prefer to have other items to invest in for your company’s growth. Free up additional time, resources, and funds spent on traditional power monitoring by looking into the tactics described above. It could be a major positive turning point for you and your business.
  15. While people may have once taken the environment and the earth’s natural resources for granted, those attitudes need to change. Thanks to growing world populations and increased human activity, a noticeable negative impact on the globe is certainly beginning to manifest. If these challenges are to be met and overcome, it will require action from business owners. Below are four ways businesses can help the environment. Switch to a Paperless Office One resource that is certainly finite is wood. For paper to be produced, trees must be chopped down and processed into pulp. Trees are an important part of the natural landscape and provide the world with breathable oxygen. The paper milling process also creates a lot of pollution. One way to remove these negative impacts created by your business is by eliminating paper entirely and relying instead on things like email and PDF files. Start a Company Carpool Program One of the largest sources of pollution is the automobile. In regards to cars, most vehicles on the road are commuting to and from the workplace. This aspect of work releases massive amounts of carbon based pollution into the atmosphere every single day. Someday, this problem may be solved by electric vehicles. However, currently, a more efficient way of curbing this source of pollution is by creating a carpool program for your employees. Clean up after Construction Something that can certainly have a negative impact on the environment is construction. If construction materials are left behind after a project has been completed, they can have negative effects on plants, animals, waterways and air quality for years afterwards. They can also pose dangers to human beings. Make sure to always perform a proper clean-up after a construction project. If the construction company doesn’t do a good enough job, seek the assistance of another outside firm like Alliance Demolition Services Inc. or someone similar to handle your clean up. Upgrade Your Lighting Incandescent light fixtures use a lot of electricity. They also have a habit of burning out quickly. One simple way to make your business greener is to invest in more efficient compact fluorescent light fixtures. CFL bulbs use far less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and last much longer as well. You’ll save money and lessen your carbon footprint simultaneously. Transforming your company into a green business requires a lot of effort. However, that effort is well worth it. If the planet and environment is protected, businesses will also certainly benefit. Do what you can to curb your company’s impact on the environment.
  17. Simple cell phones and incandescent light bulbs are being replaced this century. If you run a warehouse business, keep track of the new energy-efficient trends that are appearing. Review several components that will help you to create a more energy-efficient warehouse. Led Lighting LED lighting is the most energy efficient type on the market. In the beginning, people used fluorescent lights to illuminate their buildings, but decades later, they found out that LED lights are cooler, brighter and longer lasting. LED T8 tubes are standard in warehouses and other commercial buildings. Find a wide range of product styles from companies like LED Lighting Wholesale Inc. Repairs and Maintenance Maintain your warehouse equipment regularly and repair the machines that are not working. Repair malfunctioning parts without having to replace the entire machine. To avoid repairs in the first place, set up a regular maintenance plan every month or year. Equipment Shutdowns Turn off the lights or any machine that you are not using. Too many home and business owners leave their machines running all night when no one is using them for hours. Cut your energy bills in half by using motion detection devices, also known as occupancy sensors, that switch off the equipment automatically. Door Seals Hot or cool air that escapes from a room is a major contributor to energy loss. Air exfiltration cannot be avoided in a typical building where the doors are constantly opened and closed. Door seals prevent more air from being lost than necessary. Look for openings near the doors and along the walls. Also look for hidden openings in the ceiling and behind machines. Tell workers not to leave doors or windows open when the HVAC system is running. Energy Audits The most overlooked step to conserve energy is to run audits. You cannot increase the energy efficiency in your warehouse if you don’t know how much energy you’re saving. An audit, done by a professional, outlines the differences between taking energy-saving steps and not taking them. Some online audit tools are available, but you get a more comprehensive plan with an onsite audit. Warehouses are complex places where people work and do not just store inventory. Every day, you manage the lighting, ventilation and temperature settings and pay a huge bill at the end of the month. It’s necessary that you find ways to save energy for the main purpose of running a more affordable and efficient warehouse.
  18. In case your company has not taken the necessary steps to become eco-friendly, you need to take the challenge head-on. Taking the initiative to reduce waste and going green is a great way to becoming efficient and saving money for your business. A lot needs to be done to ensuring our working environments are sustainable for the future generations. Below are four eco-friendly practices that will help you reduce your company’s machinery carbon footprint, and save money for your business. Take Part in a Local Electronics Recycling Program Recycling your used electronics provides materials that are reusable to repair and build other electronics, and also help in building the economy. More jobs are going to be created at the same time; the environment is going to be protected. Buy Used and Refurbished Electronics Organizations can save a lot of money if they buy refurbished desktops, laptops and servers. There are times where you can save up to 50% of the cost of purchasing a new product. The interesting thing is that the refurbished products are usually slightly used or just unboxed. Consumer laws restrict manufacturers to sell products that have a company seal. Refurbished products also go through numerous test before they are resold. Pull the Plug You are not always working on your computer 24 hours of the day, depending on the type of work you do. Before you leave the office, ensure to turn off all computers that are not being used. You can use one power strip where several computers are plugged in. This will make it easier for you to ensure that no appliance is pilfering energy secretly. You can also set your computer to shut down at specific times of the night. Ensure that you save more energy by using energy saving appliances and fluorescent light bulbs that are compact, to reduce energy consumption. Go Green on Heating and Cooling Heat your office when it is occupied to a maximum of 21 degrees Celsius, and 16 degrees when it is unoccupied. Cooling and heating set points have to be set apart by 2 or 3 degrees Celsius so that the air conditioner does not turn on and off. Machine coolant on the air conditioner as well as any other company machinery needs to be checked on a regular basis so that the air conditioner functions properly, so make sure to be in contact with a company like ETNA Products Inc. Besides coolant, you can place caulking and weather strips to minimize the loss of heat from the doors and windows. Conclusion There are several ways in which you can make your business environment eco-friendly by making your office machinery eco-friendly. You need to ensure that your company understands the available options and they are aware of what is needed, and what can make a difference in the working environment. Join the movement of going green and make the world a better place.
  19. Every time you do business with a company, you’re indirectly supporting them. If you purchase from a company that’s committed to environmental issues, you’re helping to protect the environment. But if you’re providing profits to a company that’s heedless of green practices, you’re working against the environment. In many cases, the difference is not so obvious. Here are some ways to tell whether a business is eco-friendly. Internet Searches The easiest way to check on a company’s reputation is to type their name into a search engine along with a word or phrase like “eco-friendly” or “environmental policy”. If that company has any associations with green practices, something will come up, either positive or negative. Companies that are dedicated to the environment will share news of initiatives, partners, philanthropic support, and related activities. Ecologically harmful companies, on the other hand, will be linked to EPA violations, toxicity law suits, and similar accusations. Look for Evidence Some companies claim to be eco-friendly when their green initiatives are non-existent or marginal at best. It’s a baseless PR tactic. Instead of accepting such claims on the company site or social media conversations, check for things like sustainability or social responsibility releases. Truly green businesses will often publish data or reports providing documentation of their efforts. You may find links to these reports or external sites where they can be found. Claims are one thing, but fully prepared reports, especially if they have the approval of an environmental body or organization, are harder to fake. Check for Awards or Certifications You can also search the websites of reputable environmental organizations to see if the company has earned any awards or mentions. It’s easy enough for imposters to present a eco-friendly logo on their site, but a real organization will be able to verify this. If the company is making any claims for a particular cause, such as saving endangered species or eliminating greenhouse gases, find a charitable organization related to this and see if it can be corroborated. Learn About the Company Explore the company’s website to discover what kind of practices they engage in. For instance, metal companies should be using aluminum or powder coatings, such as those by Rattray Blasting & Coating, to prevent rust or heavy metals from leaching into the environment. Do a little research to understand what eco-friendly standards for its industry the company should observe and whether they’re mentioned. Don’t be shy about contacting the company directly to ask questions. If they’re proud of their green strategy, they’ll be happy to talk about it. A little bit of research will tell you whether a company really is eco-friendly. If they don’t appear to be, you should reconsider supporting them.
  20. Energy conservation has become an essential part of doing business. The American Council for Energy Efficiency states that office equipment has some of the highest electricity consumption rates at 7% of the total commercial electric power. Businesses must, therefore, find ways to minimize the amount of energy utilized to not only save money but also reduce carbon footprint. Many opportunities exist for entrepreneurs to drive their companies towards green business. Equipment Use Your enterprise can save energy by switching to laptops instead of desktops. Computers are necessary in every office building, but that doesn’t mean you can’t minimize the amount of power they use. Laptops consume less power than desktops plus they don’t have to be plugged in all the time. For other office equipment like photocopiers, printers and POS systems, always buy energy-rated products. Provide proper maintenance to ensure that all devices are running optimally for maximum efficiency. Installing energy efficient lighting fixtures is effective as well. Occupant sensors can help turn lights off and on, which eliminates wastage. Green Company Culture It’s not enough to have energy efficient light bulbs and proper insulation in your commercial premises, the people who work there must do more to build an eco-friendly business. Adopt a corporate culture that encourages energy conservation in every form like going paperless. Employees can use emails, phones plus other messaging apps for communication and apply electronic signature for important documents. Workers should take advantage of the power management settings on computers to save power when machines are idle. Reducing office waste is another concept that can help your enterprise develop a more eco-friendly culture. Energy Efficient Buildings For a company that owns a building, LEED certification is one way to turn the entity eco-friendly. Commercial property owners are steadily moving towards green construction by using materials, designs, and operations that are sustainable. A good number of business premises are now LEED certified, and your enterprise can rent space in one. The Green Globes rating system is another recognized standard that you can use to gauge the sustainability of your commercial building. Industrial businesses can also do their part by implementing environmentally friendly solutions in their operations such as green transformers from a provider like Solomon Corporation. From offices to factories to hotels, business owners can earn Energy Star status and ensure that their premises conserve energy as much as possible. Everyone has a responsibility to save energy and company management can implement various ways for individuals to pitch in. Simple actions like unplugging laptops and phones once they charge can help your company with its energy efficiency efforts.
  21. The shipping industry is a huge industry - many of our products arrive by ship or truck. The presence of these vehicles is showing up as the oil and grime that pollutes the environment. Trucks and ships will continue to pollute the air and waterways if companies do not act carefully. Learn about ways to increase the environmentally friendly impact of your shipping company. Make Fewer Trips Cut down on carbon emissions by making fewer trips. Consider getting a larger truck from a company like Arrow Truck Sales to carry more items in one haul. Instead of having your truck driver ship to one business, have him stop by several other businesses along the way. Have fewer trucks on the road to reduce the need for gas and remove air pollution. Encourage Work from Home Working from home is more energy efficient than sharing rides to work. Some workers do not need to drive in cars that use up gas and emit pollution. At shipping companies, there are logistics and office administration departments that work mostly through phones and computers. Consider hiring virtual employees who work solely online and meet the same qualifications as traditional employees. As a result, save the energy and money of having to run an office building. Incorporate Alternative Fuel Vehicles The United Parcel Service has introduced thousands of alternative fuel vehicles into their fleet. These vehicles run on batteries, biodiesel, ethanol or solar power. Drivers save hundreds up to thousands of dollars on gas every year. Making deliveries with electric or hybrid vehicles means focusing less about gas and oil. Allow your drivers to go on many trips without worrying about pollution. An additional benefit to owning an alternative fuel vehicle is the tax reduction. Vehicle owners in some states receive one or more tax credits. Some owners are also given free parking or HOV exemptions. Recycle Equipment Like countless other companies, UPS gives paperless options to their customers and recycles unwanted equipment. Place recycling bins around the office and next to printers. Give your employees the opportunity to recycle almost anything - electronics, metals, auto parts and plastics. From automobiles to building materials, the use of vehicles is necessary to ship products all over the world. With growing concerns over climate change, more companies are seeing the benefits of being more eco-friendly. For your own company, save money on energy bills while knowing that you are working to conserve the environment.
  23. Kudos to you for caring about our precious planet! As a business owner, you can protect our environment on a broad scale. One significant way is using eco-friendly equipment. By doing so, you'll reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption. You'll also save money. Here are five types of gadgets with Earth-saving features. 1. Recycled Calculators Equip your staff with calculators made of recycled plastic that run on solar power. Some devices are advertised as being free of lead and mercury. Some companies go a step farther, with packaging and instructions made of recycled paper. Examples of companies selling these gadgets are Canon, Sharp, and Staples. Canon recycles plastic from its old copiers. Staples offers one made of recycled toner and ink cartridges, keeping them out of landfills. 2. Eco-Friendly Printers You'll reduce paper waste via printers with recycled cartridges and few consumable parts. An ENERGY STAR rating indicates high energy efficiency. Color laser printers have the largest number of consumable parts. When shopping for a printer, choose one with separate toner and drum cartridges. These are the least wasteful. Ideally, purchase an ozone-free printer that uses recycled cartridges. 3. Computer Power Savers Power savers save electricity and reduce carbon emissions by powering down computers when not in use. Plug a unit into your USB port, and load the software. Then press the button before leaving your desk, and the gadget puts your computer into energy-saving mode. This power suspension is almost equivalent to turning off your machine. Upon returning, tap any key, and your computer powers up. It's estimated that using this device on a single computer can prevent 135kg of carbon emissions per year. A business with 50 computers saves at least $1,500 in electric bills and 6.8 tons of CO2 annually. These merits accrue when non-machine use averages two hours per day. Although it's possible to navigate menus to access energy-saving mode, the average employee won't bother since it's time-consuming. A power-saving device is both user-friendly and gratifying. Research cites another benefit of power-saving devices. They motivate consumers to turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use. 4. Solar Panels Solar systems are now used by 22 percent of city buildings and 5 percent of commercial buildings in the US. As a business owner, you can significantly reduce and possibly eliminate your electric bill. What you're spending on electricity now is likely much higher than what you'll pay for solar long-term. Houston Chronicle reports that installing solar panels is a sound business investment. Government incentives and lower installation costs make switching to solar economical. Most panels carry a 25-year warranty. A panel system needs little or no maintenance, working efficiently for 25 to 40 years. If your system generates more electricity than your business uses, your net electricity cost will be $0. To remain linked to the electrical grid, you'll pay a minimal connection fee, usually $100 per year. While saving money, you'll help reduce carbon emissions and air pollution. You can also use going solar as a marketing tool. Customers respond positively to eco-friendly businesses. So, how does a solar panel work? This device converts sunlight into electricity, using conductive metalloid wafers called solar cells. When light particles strike a solar cell, they generate an electric charge. Multiple charges create a steady flow of energy. Solar cells are packed into circuits called modules. One or more modules make up a solar panel. When mounted on a rooftop, the panels receive sunlight. The resulting direct current (DC) is converted to alternating current (AC) by a device called an inverter. AC then powers your lights and machines. Visit a vendor like ML Solar if you’re interested in getting solar panels. 5. Eco-Friendly Vending Machines A standard vending machine uses 3500–4000 kilowatt hours per year, consumed by refrigeration and lighting. Eco-friendly models significantly cut energy expenditure, some slashing it by half! Other features that are kind to our environment are LED lighting and energy-efficient cooling units. Motion sensors and standby mode further reduce energy consumption by 20 percent. Some companies provide remote inventory monitoring. Many vendors are now offering healthy snacks, organic coffee, hot food, frozen treats, and fresh fruit. Dual controls maintain both hot and cold foods at proper temps inside one machine. ENERGY STAR Business Support If you own a small company, consider joining the ENERGY STAR Small Business Network. As a member, you'll receive free information and technical support for reducing energy waste and costs. You'll learn business practices that protect our environment. You can display the ENERGY STAR promotional mark, showing the public your company is dedicated to saving energy. Tools from the Environmental Protection Agency help you track water and energy consumption. Expert assistance is at your disposal for improving efficiency, such as the "Ask a Technical Question" service. Resources are also tailored to the following types of small businesses: auto dealers convenience and grocery stores lodging manufacturers offices restaurants Gadgets Large and Small As a business owner, you can help protect our environment in numerous ways. Using eco-friendly equipment is one substantial way. Our world needs more Earth-minded entrepreneurs like you!
  24. 5 Tips for Going Green at Your Office

    Going green doesn’t only show that your office cares about the environment – in many cases, it also saves you money. With the environment in its current state, businesses everywhere are beginning to develop an eco-conscience. They’re prioritizing the planet by reducing the amount of waste that they generate and relying less on external resources to keep themselves going. This isn’t only for the wealthy elite – even small businesses can implement changes that will have a positive impact on the planet. 1. Buy Used Furniture Used furniture has a lot of charm. Every piece has a personality and unique aesthetic. When you need desks or tables, consider purchasing one that someone has already loved. By using old furniture, you aren’t relying on the production of new furniture. A slightly mismatched office might even feel a little more warm and welcoming. When you can’t find something old and new furniture needs to be purchased, make sure you’re buying from a company that crafts their furniture from sustainable resources. 2. Upcycle Everything Before you throw something away, try to see it as something else. Even cardboard boxes can become something worth much more. With a little elbow grease, cardboard boxes can become things like stylish organizers. It’s a fun and creative project for the workplace that will emphasize the importance of reducing waste and becoming an innovative thinker. Every workplace could benefit from more projects like these. 3. Rely on Natural Sunlight Turn off the lights in your office in the middle of the day. Is it dark and cavernous? If so, it might be time to hit Gumtree for a new office with enough windows. Office equipment requires a lot of electricity, and you can reduce the amount of energy you consume by relying primarily on the sun for light. You may need to flip on the lights when you’re working into the evening or the weather is particularly gloomy, but most workdays won’t require an excess of electricity. 4. Ditch the Vending Machine A lot of waste goes into creating the single serving processed foods usually found in vending machines – not to mention the fact that these machines have a tendency to suck up a lot of electricity. Get rid of your vending machine and replace office snacks with fresh locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Not only are you reducing waste and supporting local farmers, you’re also encouraging your employees to make healthier choices. This is a scenario in which everyone wins, and it’s very easy to implement. 5. Go Paperless Almost all offices are going paperless in modern times. This isn’t just a green initiative – it also saves costs on supplies that constantly need to be replenished. Using document sharing services (like the free Google Docs) to share important memos with employees saves you from having to print 50 copies of the same memo. If your company uses Cloud technology, you can rely on that to keep your important backups safe. Take the things that arrive to you in paper form and scan them, turning them in to searchable PDFs. Recycle the paper you don’t need anymore. There are countless ways to reduce your paper consumption, and many of them will make your office space a little more efficient. Since an interest in green office environments has skyrocketed, it’s easier than ever to make the transition. There are countless solutions for green office spaces, and equipment suppliers often have green alternatives for the workplace. Before you know it, you’ll be saving money and clearing your conscience.
  25. A new UN study concludes that the future of companies around the globe will depend on their ability to cope with the coming consequences of climate change. Food, mining, transport, finance, and tourism industries especially will be impacted by extreme weather, the rising cost of natural resources, and a reduction in biodiversity. Companies that haven't put emphasis on reducing their environmental impact should do so now. Here are three important ways companies can get started. Smart Houses, Smart Business "Smart" homes are a new trend in technology and should be applied to more commercial enterprises. A smart building is equipped with interconnected, Wi-Fi-enabled devices that can work together to reduce energy demands. Sensors and pre-programmed devices can automatically perform important steps like turning off lights when there's no activity, turning off printers and computers at the end of the workday, or turning down AC at night or on weekends. These are small things that busy humans often forget, but automating them throughout a large facility can lead to substantial energy reduction - and cost savings - over time. A "Green" Culture A company can also reduce its environmental impact by implementing and encouraging environmentally friendly practices with its staff. This can include reducing paper use, using recycled products and materials, using permanent cups and utensils rather than disposable ones, and encouraging plants for better atmosphere and air quality. You can also find technology from companies like Stephenson Environmental Management Australia to monitor and control air contaminants. This makes for a healthier, more productive workforce while eliminating pollutants. Renewable energy infrastructures Businesses can save more money over the long term and reduce their environmental impact by integrating renewable energy sources wherever possible. Solar and wind farms can generate enough power to meet office needs. They could even be over-sized to create surplus power that can be sold back to the grid under Australia's feed-in tariffs, thus reducing the energy needs of the surrounding community. Excess solar energy could also be used to charge batteries at night that could power a data center for hours during the day. Public response is almost invariably favorable toward environmentally conscious companies, thus adding to company brand and appeal. There are some initial costs to adopting green technologies and products, but it makes perfect business sense over the long term. And as the UN study suggests, companies that "go green" sooner will benefit more later.