Corporations that alter their business practices to be more environmentally friendly have a lot to gain. Besides the many benefits to the environment, going green can provide an excellent boost to a company’s public image and reduce its energy costs.

Employee Shuttles/Car Pool Benefits

By offering car pool benefits, a business can encourage their employees to reduce the company's carbon footprint. Some businesses offer as little as a prime parking space, while others pad employees’ checks with a bonus when they agree to carpool. There are some large businesses that are able to provide employee shuttles to transport their workers to their place of business without the big environmental impact of multiple vehicles traveling back and forth each business day.

Reduce Waste

Providing recycling containers is just one way a business can help encourage its employees to think green. Reducing the amount of waste that ends up in these containers is the better way to be environmentally conscious. Many companies are finding ways to run paperless; or at least greatly reduce the unnecessary use of paper products. This is also a wonderful way to reduce the cost for these types of wasted office supplies. If paper is necessary, consider using recycled goods that can continue to be recycled so that the paper does not end up in a landfill. Another idea is to provide reusable coffee mugs and water containers and encourage employees to use them instead of disposable foam or plastic ones.

LED Lighting

Changing over to LED lighting in a large office building may seem like a big investment at first, but the energy savings produced over the years will more than make up for the money spent up-front. LED bulbs are energy efficient, last longer, and do not contain toxic mercury sometimes found in CFL bulbs.

Programmable Thermostat

One easy way for a business to conserve energy is to use a programmable thermostat. Many people fail to use their thermostat correctly or don't bother to learn how to program it. When the thermostat is set so that energy is being conserved at times a business is not occupied, such as during holidays or weekends, it can significantly reduce the energy bill. According to an expert from Kele, these can reduce a businesses’ heating costs by about 25%, when used correctly. Many energy companies offer lowered rates when certain hour restrictions are respected, so this may be another way to conserve energy and increase profits.

With a little research and education about sustainable business practices, employers can save energy and money while still running a profitable company. There are many small changes that businesses can make to produce a big difference in the environment.