1. Transition to a paperless office
2. Switch to reusable insulated water bottles instead of plastic
3. Be mindful about turning off the lights
4. Work remote as much as your schedule allows
5. Install heat blocking window film
Going green is the movement of our generation and doing so is easier than ever before. There are so many eco-friendly materials, reusable goods, and paperless technology that area all on the rise. The Solar Art team embraces green attitudes in our own office feel very passionate about this topic, so we have come up with a few tips on how you can easily incorporate them in your work space!
Businesses generate a ton of paper in the form of receipts, invoices, employee records, and more. These records are extremely important and need to be kept. Having them in the form of loose paper increases the likelihood they get lost and the chances are high that the paper won’t even get recycled and will eventually end up in a landfill. Switching to electronic systems not only helps reduce your carbon footprint, it can increase organization within your business. Eliminating paper checks, taking advantage of spreadsheets and databases to manage records virtually, and working with clients to send out digital copies of receipts instead of printing them are all super easy ways to go paperless. Not to mention, it's much more convenient for your employees and customers!
Single use plastic is a major problem for our planet, and disposable plastic water bottles play a big part in our plastic usage. According to Earth Day Network, humans buy 1,000,000 plastic bottles per minute and in the US, only 23% of plastic water bottles are recycled. Plastic bottles normally are only used once as they’re hard to clean and the cheap plastic doesn’t withstand many uses.
Insulated water bottles are a convenient solution to disposable water bottles. They’re available in metal, glass, or BPA-free plastic, not to mention they are a lot cuter and more durable than standard water bottles. They’re easy to clean, and they can keep your drink warm or cold for hours.
Better yet, you can go a step further and give out insulated water bottles as gifts for the office, a birthday party or for the holidays. Solar Art is really passionate about sustainability and gave all employees reusable insulated water bottles customized with the company logo as a gift at our holiday party. We have a water filter in the office so it's super easy and convenient for everyone to contribute to going green!
Electricity probably is't something we think about consciously, but it does come from somewhere and it is important to be mindful about how much we are using. With the rise of smart homes and advanced technology, our electricity demands are at an all time high.
Keeping lights on in rooms that aren't in use is a non-essential use of power that can extend to other things like projectors and computer monitors. Leaving lights and technology on makes our lives more convenient in the sense that we don’t have to turn them on and off, but it uses up electricity that you will pay for in your electricity bill. Especially during the summer, when power demand is at its peak, turning off unused tech and lights is important to preventing blackouts.
Consider installing low demand automatic lights, or making on/off switches easy to access. Here at Solar Art our lights are based off movement and turn off if there hasn't been any movement in a room for a period of time. Let your employees know to be more aware and put up signs reminding people to be more energy conscious until it becomes a habit. Saving energy is a team effort!
The typical 8-5 office model has been around for decades, but times are changing. Companies are becoming more open to working remotely, partly because of the better communication platforms that have been made and cloud management software that makes it easy to work from practically anywhere you have access to the internet.
Working remote even one day a week can save employees hours spent in traffic and can even reduce the amount of gas used. Stop-and-go traffic uses gas less efficiently and most commutes are plagued by congestion because everyone’s on the road at the same time. Letting your employees work remotely can save money and reduce pollution.
If your business can't incorporate remote work right now, then consider flexible work hours, such as 9-6 or 7-4 to avoid rush hour to still help reduce the amount of gas that's being put in the air. They will thank you for it, trust me!
Windows and skylights are the best way to take advantage of natural lighting, especially during the sunny summer months. Natural lighting also boosts moods, increases productivity and isn’t as harsh as artificial lights.
While big windows let in natural light, they also heat up our offices and can potentially raise your electricity bill, especially during the summer. Eco-friendly office spaces start with energy efficient windows. You can achieve that with heat blocking window film. Solar film blocks 99% of harmful UVA and UVB rays and can reduce heat by up to 75%, which will not only make your office more comfortable, but can also reduce your AC use.
Going green isn’t as hard as it used to be. People are more conscientious of their impact on the environment than ever before. Protecting our earth is a team effort that helps everyone. Talk to Solar Art today about how you can make your windows more energy efficient, reduce your electric bill and save money at the same time!
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