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With so many different products and services for customers today to choose from, setting yourself apart from the competition has never been a more important feat. With eco-friendliness and energy conservation becoming more and more important for many individuals around the world today, going green with your brand can certainly provide you with a good reason to stand out from the crowd. However, even if your efforts to reduce energy wastage in your company don’t land you on any of the top ten lists, it’s still worth considering as there are several ways in which it can help your bottom line. We’ve put together some of the best ways to make your business greener.

#1. Go Paperless:

Today, with all the digital services available to us, there’s never been a better time to start thinking about going paperless. Ideally, printing on paper should only be used as a last resort when all the digital options have been exhausted, and even then, be sure to print on both sides of the paper and make a habit of longer proof-reading to avoid having to print the document again. Emailing customers, clients and staff instead of sending letters, e-invoicing, and sending digital receipts to customers are just some of the ways in which you can cut down your office’s paper use. For more information, check out canvas.com.

#2. Invest in Greener Appliances:

Depending on the type of business that you run, you may be able to switch to greener appliances and equipment, from computers and printers to kitchen appliances and heating systems. For example, if the heating system in your office is quite old, then chances are, you’re using more energy than you need to heat the rooms. The same is true for desktop computers – since they are always plugged in, they use up a significant amount of energy compared to laptops, which can be unplugged as soon as they are fully charged.

#3. Consider Alternative Energy:

When it comes to powering your office, there are many options to consider in terms of using alternative energy sources. For example, having solar panels installed on the roof of your building will allow you to generate electricity and heat from the sun, and the best part is that this energy is free. Wind and geothermal power, hydropower and even plant matter can all be considered as viable alternative methods of creating a greener and more environmentally friendly office that saves you money in the meantime.

#4. Encourage Employees to Go Green:

As a business owner, there are several ways in which you can encourage your employees to go green, not only at work, but also in their personal lives. Helping employees to understand the benefits of using less energy will not only benefit your business; they’ll be able to apply their new knowledge to their personal lives and save their own energy and money. For example, setting up a carpool scheme can help reduce the number of vehicles on the road and benefit your employees who’ll save on gas.

How do you plan to achieve a greener office?