5 Ways Your Small Business Can Go Green This St. Patrick’s Day

With St. Patrick’s Day here, there’s no better time to explore the ways your small business can go green.

And you don’t have to find a pot of gold to boost your bottom line – your business can begin taking small proactive steps to save energy and money today. 

Here are five easy ways your business can begin saving this St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Recycle and upcycle

Recycling is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to become a more environmentally friendly business. By recycling a ton of mixed paper, your business can save the energy equivalent of 185 gallons of gasoline. By recycling one ton of aluminum cans, your business can conserve the equivalent of 1,665 gallons of gasoline. 

2. Turn off and upgrade lighting 

Turn off lights and unused equipment at night. Energy-efficient light bulbs — which include halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs) — can use up to 80 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than conventional lighting.

Even greener: let the sun shine in. After all, it’s free and efficient. 

3. Reduce your water use

Install motion-controlled faucets and water-saving fixtures like toilets, showers, and sprinklers. Also, be sure to repair leaking taps and pipes to avoid costly hot water loss. 

4. Take control of the temperature

Consider upgrading your HVAC system and regularly clean the filters. Using shades, blinds, and fans to manage office temperatures can help spaces feel more comfortable with thermostats set 3 degrees higher in the summer. 

5. Update equipment and appliances 

Replace old equipment and appliances with ENERGY STAR-qualified products, which can potentially save more than 45 percent of the energy used by conventional models. ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances can lower your energy bill with improved quality, durability and performance.  

Looking for more ways to help your business go green?

Check out these 50 Energy Saving Tips