From Guest Blogger Sarah Landrun: Eight Ways Retailers Can Save Energy

The whole world is going green these days, and if you run a business, you’ve likely been giving it some thought yourself. With energy costs on the rise, a lot of businesses are looking for ways to cut down their energy footprint. Embracing energy efficiency and going green doesn’t have to mean massive changes and undertaking expensive costs.

These are eight easy ways you, as a retailer, can reduce your carbon footprint and cut down on energy waste.

1. Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting

Save on energy costs and cut waste by switching out your current incandescent or fluorescent lighting for energy-efficient technology. Bring in LED bulbs or compact fluorescents to light your store instead. Each LED bulb is around ten times more efficient and lasts more than 40 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. When possible, try to use natural lighting, either to reduce the usage of artificial lighting or to light window displays and other parts of the store at certain times of day.

2. Use Greener Cleaning Supplies

If you’re the one responsible for purchasing cleaning supplies, make the switch to greener products. Less toxic floor cleaners, disinfecting wipes or window cleaners aren’t too expensive, and they help keep toxins out of the water supply.

3. Use Energy-Saving Equipment

When it comes time to buy new office machinery or cash registers, look for indicators like an EnergyStar sticker that will tell you the supplies are energy-efficient. The cost of new office supplies will be quickly offset by the savings on energy bills. To keep track of your energy usage, join EnergyStar as a partner and get your energy consumption reports sent directly to you.

4. Go Paperless

Ditch your traditional paper mailings in favor of email newsletters and offers. Or do away with receipt printers and offer the option of having a receipt emailed to a customer. By going electronic, you’ll save a bundle — and plant yourself in the digital age as well.

5. Make Bags Optional

For retailers, selling products often comes with the added cost of purchasing bags for customers to carry that product in. Consider making bagging optional, and maybe even offer incentives or discounts to customers who opt out of a bag or who bring their own. Not only will you save money on purchasing bags by having to do it less often, but you’ll be saving a plastic bag from being thrown in the trash.

6. Cut Down on Packaging and Shipping Costs

If you run an e-commerce site in addition to your brick-and-mortar location, or if someone places an order for something while in-store, you often have to ship items out to customers. Your fulfillment service is crucial in making those things happen. Choose a fulfillment service that is willing to help you achieve and maintain your goals of energy efficiency by offering specific services, like pick and pack, that cut energy costs.

7. Unplug Your Equipment

For retailers who are open every day, it can be difficult to find time to unplug. Do your best to unplug computers, printers and other office equipment every night, and if you can, unplug any window or other in-store displays that have a tendency to stay on all night. Doing this reduces the amount of “Phantom Power” that your store uses and can save you up to ten percent on your energy bill.

8. Take Advantage of the Weather

If it’s a nice day out, keep the door and windows open instead of using an air conditioner or alternate the A/C unit with fans and the open door to save energy. In the winter, invest in a good insulation system for your store. Although fitting your store for insulation can be an extra cost, you’ll quickly be saving money on your energy bills, and the insulation will last for years, continuing to save you money.

As a retailer, being savvy about energy costs and environmental efficiency can be pretty easy. By making these small changes, you’ll see the savings start to add up pretty quickly.