More businesses are taking an active role to protect the environment. Although this may seem like a daunting task requiring extensive amounts of time or money, it really is fairly easy to make your company eco-friendly. Here are some basic tips for going green at your business.

Reduce Utility Usage

Wasting electric, gas, and water not only runs up the monthly utility costs, but it can also strain and waste our natural resources. Switch off lights in areas that are not currently being used. Turn down the thermostat to lower levels that protect people’s health and the company assets while lowering the use of heating sources, such as gas, propane, or electric. Check the hot water tank and consider lowering the temperature to a usable but not wasteful temperature. Any electrical equipment not being at night or over the weekends can be turned off or shut down to save power.

Reuse Equipment and Supplies

If your computer begins to act up or the printer is not working quite right, think about buying a used replacement or a rebuilt model. When you buy new equipment, it costs more and also uses more new materials. Buying a used or recycled brand gives older equipment a second life to avoid wasting new materials and products that will eventually add to the growing trash collection that leads to soil and water pollution. Shop for paper supplies that are recycled, along with other office products that have been refurbished or made from eco-friendly substances that won’t harm the planet.

Clear Unneeded Debris

If your office is harboring broken machinery or equipment, don’t leave it sitting around to use valuable space and utilities. Rent a dumpster when cleaning out a new business space to get trash where it belongs. You may be able to recycle certain types of fixtures and equipment so that others can get additional use from them in other forms. Dispose of toxic products appropriately to prevent local contamination.

Buy Eco-Friendly Products

Look for environmentally-friendly cleaning products, computer supplies, and virtual storage to reduce paper use. Ask about biodegradable materials that can gradually disintegrate into the soil, air, or water. Even décor like draperies or carpets can be made from eco-friendly materials.

It doesn’t take much time or effort to operate your office efficiently while protecting the earth and our environment. Start switching to eco-friendly practices and products to keep our world green for generations to come.