As a business owner, you’re likely always looking for ways to make your business stand out in the community. Being able to tout yourself as an environmentally friendly business may require only a few small changes, but these can offer you great credibility in your community. Here are four easy ways to reduce your impact on the environment.
1. Ditch the tablecloths. If you run a restaurant, get rid of your tablecloths. Paper tablecloths end up in landfills, and cloth ones require lots of energy and water to keep clean. Bare tables are much more friendly to the environment.
2. Invest in good window coverings. Window coverings can keep cold air out in the winter and keep hot sun from baking your business in the summer. Protecting your business from outside heat and cold will reduce your energy usage, which is great for the environment, and for your bottom line.
3. Ditch the Restroom Paper Towels. Install hand dryers in your restrooms. Paper towels end up in landfills, and cost you far more than hand dryers. A hand dryer can dry 100 pairs of hands for the cost of one paper tower.
4. Use a programmable thermostat. There’s no reason to keep your shop heated and cooled to a comfortable temperature when you’re closed. A programmable thermostat will automatically adjust the heat and air so that your business is always comfortable when you’re open, but using less energy when you’re closed.
Making any of these changes in your business will make you far more environmentally friendly, which is a change you can be proud of. If you can make all of these, you’ll really be an inspiration in your community. Along the way, you’re also very likely to see some reduction in operating costs, too, which is always a great accomplishment.
