Are you feeling the call to make your home-based business more eco-friendly? While making the switch to a greener operation doesn’t happen overnight, a few small changes can make the transition easier. Here are five ideas to help you get started.
Go Paperless
Embrace technology by moving your documents, storage and billing information to an online platform. Not only is going paperless an easy way to reduce office clutter, but it’s also a simple way to make your business more sustainable. If the thought of parting with your folders, file cabinets and drawers seems daunting; don't fret as services like cloud storage and Google Drive make it relatively painless to organize all your files with the click of a button. And don’t forget about mailing lists. Digitalize any updates or deals you want to share with travelers via a recurring email through services like Mailchimp to keep you and your agency top of mind.
Buy Refurbished
Newer isn’t always better. At least, not when it comes to electronics. Make Captain Planet proud and purchase refurbished, aka previously used, tech for your home office. Sure, you might not be flaunting the newest sensation from Apple, but refurbished products are often in great condition and can cost a fraction of the price. If this sounds like something you want to do, a simple search for “refurbished tech” will turn up several reliable retailers.
P.S., remember to recycle any electronic waste like old cell phones, tablets, computers and TVs at the nearest e-waste recycling location in your city.
Shine Some (Natural) Light On the Situation
Another quick tip to conserve energy is being conscious of your lighting situation. If possible, build your workspace in a bright and sunny area of your home to help utilize natural lighting during working hours. If that isn’t possible or if sunny days are hard to come by (hello, winter), purchase some energy-efficient light bulbs for your office area to keep things as eco-friendly as possible. And if you’re really serious about lighting, you can invest in motion-sensor timers to ensure no beam goes to waste.
Eat Mindfully
People love convenience. Unfortunately, that same convenience – grabbing a cup of coffee at the nearest Starbucks, picking up fast food for lunch and drinking out of single-use water bottles – results in tons of solid waste in our landfills. Curb the amount of trash you produce by being mindful of what you consume throughout the day. Make your own coffee (and please use a reusable K-cup if you own a Keurig), cook a homemade meal for lunch (maybe even take up composting scraps) and remember to purchase a refillable water bottle to use at home and on the go.
Ask the Professionals
Are you ready to get really serious? Do an energy audit on your home. During an energy audit, an inspector comes to your house to assess the energy flow and conservation of the building. Yes, this option requires more work (and cash) than the others, but it will set you and your business on the track to long-term success and sustainability.
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