How Your Company Can Reduce Its Carbon Footprint

Here at Fancy Hands, we often get asked how can our client's companies reduce their carbon footprint. In our latest blog post you can find some great ideas on how your company can accomplish this:

Reducing your companies carbon footprint not only helps the environment but it can build office morale and is good for your business. In many ways, it can also help you save money.

Consider your Companies Energy Usage

One of the first things you can do is consider how much energy your business uses. You can reach out to your energy provider for a better understanding of what your company uses in regards to energy. There are simple measures you can take and instruct your employees to take as well. For example:

• Turning off the lights when not in use

• Turn off computers when not in use

• Use rechargeable batteries

• Use energy-efficient light bulbs

Choosing the Right Office Supplies

Another way you can reduce your carbon footprint is by choosing the correct office supplies. A good place to start would be to look for electronics and appliances that are ENERGY STAR compliant. This could be everything from your office computers to your heating and cooling equipment and even your office refrigerator. You can also utilize websites such as the Responsible Purchasing Network which offers companies guidance on the best options of supplies to purchase.

Reduce your Office Waste

There are many steps you can take as a business owner to reduce the waste in your office. For example:

• Replace water bottles by installing a water filtration system to your office faucet (For example a Brita or Pur system)

• Purchase reusable coffee mugs for your employees

• If you are printing make sure to use both sides of the paper

• Provide lunch options to your employees so they don’t have to drive to get lunch

• Add recycling bins around the office

• Make sure to recycle any electronics (like old computers, ink cartridges, etc.)

• Buy supplies in bulk to reduce shipping and packaging waste

Additional Tips

There are many additional ways that you can reduce your companies carbon footprint:

• Adjust your thermostat and turn the heat up. If you increase the temperature by 2 degrees in the summer you can save up to 10% on your energy bill

• Open the blinds and use natural lighting

• Add a bike rack so employees can bike to work if possible

• Offer to pay for your employees gas to work if they choose to carpool

• If possible go paperless

• If possible swap a desktop computer for laptops. Laptops use 80% less power than desktop computers. 

• Use ceiling fans over air conditioning

• Remember the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

• Use a Carbon Footprint Calculator

Believe it or not, another way to help your carbon footprint is by hiring a virtual assistant. By hiring virtual assistants you reduce car usage, you will use less paper since most of the work will be completed online, you will end up using less electricity in your office and more. Let us all work together to make a better tomorrow. Learn more about how Fancy Hands can help you http://bit.ly/Fancyhands.