Although we wish that large corporations would implement more green alternatives into their day to day, the fact is that because of their size; it simply may be impossible. However, one particular area of the business community does hold that power. The small business community is able to implement these features quicker and more efficient due to their smaller status. Not only is going green a great way to protect the environment, but it can also save a good amount of money on your yearly budget. The following list entails four inexpensive ways your business can start being greener today.

Allow People to Go Paperless

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to update your company to go green is to offer your customers or clients the ability to receive everything electronic. Often when large deals are in play, clients and vendors tend to provide both electronic and paper copies of their orders. This, of course, can really accumulate very quickly. In fact, according to The Daily Green, over 25% of our nation's landfills consist of paper. One of the reasons more companies don't follow this is because they are told they should completely eliminate paper. This, of course, is an impossible thing to do within any business. However, by actively attempting to eliminate the use of paper as much as you can is a way better strategy than trying to run a business without it.

Office Lighting

Keeping an office lit up for eight-plus hours a day plus outdoor lights that may be on throughout the night can be both harmful to the environment and to your pockets. Therefore, our second tip to update your company to a greener alternative is to eliminate the traditional light bulb. You could either invest in longer-lasting light bulbs that, although cost more, will provide you with a longer-lasting energy source, or you can invest in motion lighting. Motion lighting will essentially turn off any lights within rooms not being used. This can really help you save on your electric bills as unnecessary lights will be automatically turned off.

Window Sealing

You might be thinking to yourself that your business is pretty well insulated. However, there are areas that are often overlooked and often the major cause of lost energy. The most common are poorly insulated windows. Older buildings tend to have this issue, but over time, even new buildings will experience it as well. The best way to protect your energy costs and reduce the amount you use is to seal your windows. These sealers are easy to use and find, or you can hire a professional such as a hermetic sealing solutions provider in order to get the job done well and right the first time.

Start a Recycling Program

Even when companies opt-in for greener alternatives such as energy-efficient light bulbs or going paperless, the fact is that you will still be throwing out the trash every day. Often this trash is compiled into a single can that goes into a single trash compactor at the end of the day. Therefore, a great and easy solution to implement into your company is to start adding recycling bins in your offices. Motivate your staff to throw their trash out accordingly so recyclable items can be processed and reused in your city's facility.