Energy conservation has become an essential part of doing business. The American Council for Energy Efficiency states that office equipment has some of the highest electricity consumption rates at 7% of the total commercial electric power. Businesses must, therefore, find ways to minimize the amount of energy utilized to not only save money but also reduce carbon footprint. Many opportunities exist for entrepreneurs to drive their companies towards green business.

Equipment Use

Your enterprise can save energy by switching to laptops instead of desktops. Computers are necessary in every office building, but that doesn’t mean you can’t minimize the amount of power they use. Laptops consume less power than desktops plus they don’t have to be plugged in all the time.

For other office equipment like photocopiers, printers and POS systems, always buy energy-rated products. Provide proper maintenance to ensure that all devices are running optimally for maximum efficiency. Installing energy efficient lighting fixtures is effective as well. Occupant sensors can help turn lights off and on, which eliminates wastage.

Green Company Culture

It’s not enough to have energy efficient light bulbs and proper insulation in your commercial premises, the people who work there must do more to build an eco-friendly business. Adopt a corporate culture that encourages energy conservation in every form like going paperless.

Employees can use emails, phones plus other messaging apps for communication and apply electronic signature for important documents. Workers should take advantage of the power management settings on computers to save power when machines are idle. Reducing office waste is another concept that can help your enterprise develop a more eco-friendly culture.

Energy Efficient Buildings

For a company that owns a building, LEED certification is one way to turn the entity eco-friendly. Commercial property owners are steadily moving towards green construction by using materials, designs, and operations that are sustainable. A good number of business premises are now LEED certified, and your enterprise can rent space in one.

The Green Globes rating system is another recognized standard that you can use to gauge the sustainability of your commercial building. Industrial businesses can also do their part by implementing environmentally friendly solutions in their operations such as green transformers from a provider like Solomon Corporation. From offices to factories to hotels, business owners can earn Energy Star status and ensure that their premises conserve energy as much as possible.

Everyone has a responsibility to save energy and company management can implement various ways for individuals to pitch in. Simple actions like unplugging laptops and phones once they charge can help your company with its energy efficiency efforts.