From Guest Blogger Brooke Chaplan: Four Ways to Make Your Contracting Business Leaner and Greener

Contracting businesses, especially smaller ones, often operate on very lean budgets. And things can get even leaner when you are waiting on a client to pay for work that has been completed. That’s why it’s important to do everything you can to keep down costs. Here are a few ways to make your contracting business both leaner and greener.

Reuse and Recycle Materials

No matter how well you operate your contracting business, there always is going to be some level of waste with materials, so making sure that you reuse what you can and recycle as much as you can will help to both cut costs and make you greener. Some examples of reuse include cutting waste boards into door shims and keeping leftover tiles to use for cut-ins. Recycling things like copper can earn you money while also avoiding landfill fees. If you have leftover cabinets or counter tops, you can donate them to get a tax write-off while also avoiding fees to dispose of them.

Repair Rather Than Replace

The kinds of equipment that contracting businesses may need can be very expensive, so it can make more sense to repair even pricey issues rather than replace them. Some companies, like Contatore Engineering, know that a new crane can be an expensive purchase. Some of them can cost several hundred thousand dollars, so a repair that costs tens of thousands of dollars can be worth it if it will get you a few more years’ worth of use. Repairing also can be the more green option, especially if the old equipment is likely to get scrapped.

Use Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

The types of vehicles used in contracting — large trucks and other heavy equipment — are not known for their fuel efficiency. But it might be worth it to invest in green technologies, such as buying hybrids or converting vehicles to run on natural gas or propane. Such modifications can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fuel costs over the life of the vehicle.

Provide Training

Training workers in the latest techniques can help to make your business leaner and greener. For example, having workers up to date on the latest safety and chemical rules can ensure they don’t do something wrong that could wind up costing you money in the form of fines or lost work time.

Contractors often operate on thin margins, so being as lean and green as possible can help save money. Following these tips will help you to operate more efficiently and be more environmentally friendly.