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Climate is changing, and people feel the pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and lower the human impact on our environment. Much of the focus is falling on big companies, who produce far more carbon emissions than any one person, but even smaller businesses can change things up for the better. You’d be surprised how many ways your company is quietly contributing to the world’s carbon footprint.
Even if your business isn’t part of an industry that has a heavy environmental impact, how you use resources and energy can add up over the years. Many companies are changing their approach and going carbon-neutral. For some companies, this involves a massive overhaul of everything they do, but for many, it can be as simple as a few changes in day-to-day office work. Here are some simple steps you can make that will reduce your carbon footprint and take your company into the digital future.
Go Paperless
Businesses use a large portion of the world’s paper every year, and that has a heavy impact on the earth’s ecosystem. Not only does the production of paper have a heavy carbon footprint, but deforestation speeds up climate change and increases the risk of forest fires. Traditionally, companies used paper for keeping records and sending memos, which led to a staggering toll of more than one metric ton of paper for every five employees. But this is changing fast.
Many companies are switching entirely to digital record-keeping and communication, eliminating the need for much of their paper use. A paperless office can be run entirely through a centralized communications and data program, but make sure you’re protecting your infrastructure. Anything from hacking to an internet outage can endanger a company’s digital framework, so make sure your paperless office has backups that can keep you running in unpredictable circumstances.
Use Renewable Energy
One of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions is the burning of fossil fuels. From when offices were heated with an old-fashioned coal stove belching fuels into the environment to today when most offices run on a high-tech electrical grid, these facilities are running full-speed for eight hours a day or more. That’s a heavy drain on the energy grid, and the traditional office runs at a high cost to the environment – unless offices switch up their energy choices.
It may not be possible to switch entirely to renewable energy for many businesses, but there are ways to reduce carbon emissions. Depending on your office location, it’s possible to get much of your energy from solar or wind power. Solar works best in cities, where panels can be installed on almost any building. Wind power requires more infrastructure and space but can be useful for larger facilities like factories with land to spare.
Adopt Digital Communications Systems and Minimize Travel
The heyday of business travel may be a subject of nostalgia, but traveling across the country or ocean to meet with a potential client was also a drain on the environment. Today, especially with entering other countries being tricky due to public safety measures, many companies are switching to digital communications systems that can facilitate meetings from half a world away.
Not only do digital communications platforms make it easier and cheaper to organize meetings, but this environmentally-healthy method provides better security for your company. With unified communications analytics for enterprise, you can keep track of all communications and look back on timestamps and other data in the future.
Use a Smart Thermostat
It’s one of the time-honored battles of the office – who controls the temperature? Maybe one person likes it freezing, and the other wants to feel like they’re at the beach. Not only is this a recipe for office conflict, but it’s likely burning a lot of energy. Heating or cooling a large office can be a major emissions contributor, and it’s easy to ignore because it’s constantly running.
A smart thermostat can make it easy to regulate the office temperature without relying on people’s personal preferences. These thermostats use sensors to save energy and keep the office at an ideal temperature. Not only are they able to incorporate data like occupancy, but they can reduce consumption during periods of high energy use or prices.
Every business, big or small, has a role in reducing our carbon footprint. The digital world is offering solutions to old-school companies. Not only will these steps save money and energy, but they’ll create a more efficient and modern business.