Earth Day is a time for everyone to be more environmentally conscious, and that includes small businesses. Reversing the devastating effects of climate change requires action on the part of both individuals and organizations, and fortunately there are many ways that your company can help.
Better yet, there are some ways that your small business can reduce its environmental impact and costs. Here are some simple tips you can follow to celebrate Earth Day and do your part while increasing efficiency.
Switch to energy-efficient machines
When replacing old electronics, choose energy-efficient models such as those certified by Energy Star. This can include not only working machines (e.g., servers, printers, and workstations) but also other electronics that your business uses (e.g., refrigerators and climate control).
Even if they are slightly more expensive, because of consistently rising energy costs, the money you will save on power bills will make up for it.
Partner with green data centers and cloud providers
Your cloud provider or data center host operates far more energy-intensive machines than you do, so if you want to lower your small business’s carbon footprint, you must ensure your partners are as environmentally conscious as you are.
Fortunately, the Green Revolution has led many data centers and cloud services providers to invest in sustainable practices and efficient machinery. Look for data centers with energy efficiency and sustainability certifications, such as LEED.
Go paperless
Advancements in document digitization and cybersecurity have made it both easy and cost-effective to eliminate paper from workflows. Not only will going paperless reduce the amount of trees being cut down, but you’ll also save money on printers as well as the energy and supplies they consume.
Some solutions to help you go paperless include:
- Automated, secure document digitization
- Automated document generation with secure eSignatures
- Secure cloud storage and digital archiving
- eForms for invoices, applications, surveys, etc.
Redesign your network and workplace for sustainability
Your machines aren’t the only things that can be costing you money. A poorly designed network or workplace can also waste energy and increase your power bills due to inefficient cooling, redundancies, and energy loss. To improve the energy efficiency of your business, consider:
- Redesigning your physical IT network for optimization and long-term savings
- Improving insulation and cooling of your work areas, server rooms, and other spaces to cut climate control costs
- Installing solar panels or other small-scale renewable energy generation systems to offset costs and perhaps even generate revenue by putting power back into the grid
- Procuring parts and materials made from sustainable or recycled sources
Encourage remote work
By dispersing your workforce, you not only cut the resource and energy consumption of your workplace but also eliminate the need for commuting. This reduces your costs, your employees’ costs, overall carbon emissions, and lost productivity that comes with commutes. Cloud-based collaboration software and project management tools are available to keep your teams in sync no matter where they are located.
Carbon offsetting
Carbon offsetting programs calculate your environmental impact and charge you money based on your carbon footprint. This money is then used to plant trees, protect forests from logging, and even capture carbon out of the air to offset your company’s impact.
Looking past the moral and ethical benefits, carbon offsetting is just good business. First, it’s difficult to turn a profit in a world ravaged by climate change. Second, the Green Revolution has led to large swathes of the public using their wallet to fight climate change. Concerned citizens gravitate toward companies who take their responsibilities seriously and do their part to preserve the Earth for the rest of humanity.
If you want greater efficiency with green business practices, you need Spectrumwise’s expertise. Contact our consulting team today, and we can provide a personalized plan that will revamp your small business’s IT network with an eye for sustainability and efficiency. You’ll be able to reduce your operating costs while showing potential customers that you care about more than just their money.
