From Guest Blogger Hannah Whittenly: Conscientious Business–Top Tips for a Greener Office Environment

GE Ecomagination Launch, Munich 

Going green can have a significant impact on your brand and its bottom line. While there may be upfront costs to install new lights or other materials, the long-term savings from these changes will more than negate them. Let’s take a look at how you can reduce your office’s carbon footprint and make an impact on the community it operates in.

Cut Down on Electrical Usage

Going green may be as simple as turning off the computer when it is not in use. You could also turn off the copier, office television or anything else that may be wasting energy when not in use. While it may not seem like a big deal to unplug a computer, unplugging 50 computers after the office shuts down for the day could save hundreds or thousands of dollars in energy costs.

Reuse and Recycle Whenever Possible

Taking easy steps such as using both sides of a piece of paper can dramatically reduce the amount of natural resources an office consumes. Buying recycled paper, using glassware instead of paper cups and buying natural cleaning products can also make it possible to cut down on waste. In most cases, making these changes will save money and help the Earth without requiring drastic changes to anyone’s work routine.

Let Employees Work from Home

Allowing employees to work from home one day a week means that the office may not need to be open that day. Alternatively, you could allow groups of workers to rotate which day they work from home, which still reduces the amount of energy and other resources an office uses. It may also help workers to use less gas commuting to work, which may further help the environment.

Install Led Lights

There are many advantages of using LED lights, like those from LED Lighting Wholesale Inc.—such as their longevity and the fact that they use less energy compared to standard bulbs. This can save both money and time because an employee won’t have to replace a light bulb when he or she should be closing a sale. LED lights can last for up to 100,000 hours, which would take several years to go through even if you ran the lights all day and night.

You should take steps to make sure that your office is running as efficiently as possible. Therefore, be on the lookout for simple ways to reduce paper and energy usage without inconveniencing your employees. This can make your employees more productive while helping the company’s brand at the same time.