There are a wide variety of green initiatives that businesses can implement. For example, if you’re looking for ways to make your company more eco-friendly, you may wish to:
Make the switch to renewable energy sources
It’s now easier than ever to access green energy packages. As well as the selection of specialist green energy providers operating in the market, many mainstream providers now offer green energy tariffs that allow you to purchase all of your electricity and gas from renewable sources. This energy can come from sources including wind turbines, solar panels, hydropower stations and biomass plants. Making the switch to green energy is quick and easy, and the team here at Utility Bidder can help.
Arrange energy audits
Ofgem suggests that energy costs are likely to rise by as much as 40 per cent over the next decade. So as well as thinking about where you source your energy from, it’s important to consider how you use these resources. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to waste potentially large amounts of power as a result of inefficiencies. Spotting areas where your company is squandering energy can be difficult, which is why it may help to carry out regular energy audits. These audits monitor the amount of power you use in your workplace, and they can be accurate enough to track individual pieces of equipment and machinery. They allow you to see at a glance where you may be using excessive energy, and this can be your first step in making your premises more energy efficient. From turning down your heating and air conditioning system, to replacing inefficient appliances, to turning equipment off when you’re not using it, there may be a whole range of ways that you can lower your power usage.
Increase recycling, and reduce waste
As a business, you might find that you get through a lot of resources, from plastics and paper to chemicals. It’s important to take advantage of the recycling schemes available to you in order to prevent as much of this waste as possible from ending up in landfill. You may also be able to find ways to reduce the amount of waste you create in the first place. A big part of this is educating employees in the importance of preserving resources.
Focus on green procurement
‘Green procurement’ refers to purchasing goods and services that cause minimal environmental impact. For example, buying recyclable products and equipment that is designed to reduce energy or water consumption.
Become recognised as a green business
So that your customer base is aware of the efforts you are making to go green, it can be extremely useful to gain official accreditation that recognises the steps you are taking. For example, businesses can obtain the Green Mark, which is an internationally recognised environmental accreditation and a route to ISO 14001. If your company gains this certification, you will be provided with a set of marketing tools designed to help you promote your achievements in environmental sustainability.
Take advantage of government support
There are various forms of government support available to businesses to help make them more environmentally responsible. This includes loans and grants that can help to fund the purchase of energy efficient equipment, as well as other government-sponsored initiatives such as the provision of free business advice on this topic. The types of support open to your organisation will depend on a range of factors, including your location, the project you are planning and the nature of your business. Finding and applying for government support can seem daunting, but you can discover more about your options online. For example, you can visit the GOV.UK finance and support finder to get more information.