Guest post by Samantha Higgins

Every entrepreneur looks to spend as little as possible for the running of their business. Going green has been hailed as one of the best ways to cut business expenses significantly. However, some business owners do not yet understand what "going green" involves and are still wallowing in a sea of unnecessary costs.

Don’t worry if that sounds like you because today, we’ll show you five ways to save money while you are trying to go green.

1. Use green energy

We can’t talk about going green without mentioning the need to save on energy costs. And while there are various energy sources you can embrace as a business, green energy sources can help you cut significant energy expenditure.

To start with, you can install solar heaters/panels on your premises so that you do not use a lot of electricity. You can then use solar energy for lighting and running light-duty machines. In addition to using alternative energy sources, replacing traditional electrical appliances with modern, energy-efficient appliances is always a welcome move. For example, you can replace incandescent bulbs with either compact fluorescent lamps or LED bulbs and realize substantial annual savings on energy.

2. Go digital

Paper-based communication is still thriving in some industries despite the availability of advanced communication channels. Although paper is one of the most recycled items in the world, going digital on communication is one of the easiest ways for businesses to reduce costs. The advantage here is that digital communication channels require a one-off development fee and low maintenance costs. Further, you can learn how to create an app for your business and bypass all the costs.

After going digital through a dedicated business application, you can channel all communication through the app and reduce paperwork. The advantages of the switch are virtually unlimited. And while you are at it, unsubscribe from all hardcopy newsletters and correspondence, so that other companies use less paper for printing these items, too.

3. Use recycled paper and ink cartridges

Going digital will reduce paperwork significantly. However, some things might make it almost impossible to eliminate paper usage. Still, it is possible to go green by opting to use recycled paper for printing. Luckily, major paper manufacturers offer recycled paper in various sizes and for different office use cases. Making the switch will not affect your documents' quality in any way, and you will be doing your part to support a greener work environment.

In addition to using recycled paper, you can also cut expenses by using refillable or recycled ink cartridges with your printer. Making the switch can help you save more than 70% on cartridge and ink costs.

4. Allow remote work

Before the Coronavirus epidemic, the world knew little about remote work. You probably thought only freelancers could work from home. You were wrong. Working from home has significant benefits in your going green journey. First, your employees will not commute to work each day, which may reduce fuel use and less carbon IV oxide in the air.

Since the start of the pandemic, only a few companies have reported a decrease in productivity. However, this cannot be entirely blamed on remote work because people are battling stress, illness, and mental health issues. Post Covid-19, productivity will not be an issue if work is well coordinated. There has been a lot of buzz about some businesses continuing to allow at least some employees to work from home all or part of the week even after the pandemic has ended.

5. Remove plastics from the break room

Allowing remote work reduces the number of plastics in the breakroom since only a few employees work-in every day. However, it still is not a perfect solution. It would be better if you can find alternatives to bottled drinks. For instance, you may want to install a water dispenser instead of stocking bottled water. Brewing coffee for the team is also a reasonable step towards eliminating plastics from the break room. If you have a coffee maker that uses pods, like Keurig, offer employees the option of reusable, washable pods that can be filled with ground coffee.

Another valid option would involve providing your employees with branded water bottles and lunch boxes to carry their meals and drinks. Besides eliminating costs, you would be helping ro reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment and perhaps even generating a little extra publicity for your business or brand.

Final thoughts…

From adopting green energy sources to simple things like removing plastic bottles in the office, there are many different ways you can go green in your work environment. If leaving something out of your budget has a positive impact on the environment, it is an excellent add-on to your go green plan. Allowing remote work and reducing paperwork through a digital application are some easy ways to save on business expenses and create a more eco-friendly workspace.

Samantha Higgins is a professional writer with a passion for research, observation, and innovation. She is nurturing a growing family of twin boys in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She loves kayaking and reading creative non-fiction.