The quest for an eco-friendly footprint doesn’t have to end at home. If you manage an office, you have even more opportunities to make a positive change in your community and cause less environmental impact. By taking advantage of solar energy, reducing waste, and honing a “greener” office culture, you can make your workplace more sustainable while saving money. Here are a few simple ways to get started:

5 Ways to Incorporate Eco-Friendly Practices into Your Office

1. Stop Buying Disposable Cups

Many office workers use coffee to get through the day, but instead of buying cups that people will just throw out, encourage everyone to bring their own mugs, which they can wash at the end of the day and leave at the office.

2. Encourage Sharing of Leftovers

To reduce food waste in your office, create a donation box or communal section of the fridge, where staff can leave their unwanted food. That way, someone who forgot to bring lunch, or who’s still hungry afterward, can get enough to eat.

3. Utilize Motion Sensor Technology

It is not uncommon for employees to accidentally leave the tap running in the bathroom or kitchen, or leave the lights on in their office overnight, resulting in wasted resources and a bigger utility bill. To prevent this occurrence, install motion sensor technology where possible in your workplace.

4. Avoid Printing

With digital technology at your disposal, there is less reason than ever for paper printouts. Point-of-service systems, for example, don’t need to print out receipts but can email or text them instead. Whenever it is necessary to print, try to use both sides of the paper and to recycle once the document is no longer useful.

5. Use Solar Energy

To lower your reliance on dirty energy sources, get your office fitted with a solar energy system, or install a microgrid to protect yourself from power outages. You’ll save money in the long run, and have less of an impact on the environment.

If you’re interested in employing solar energy in your place of business, Golden Solar will design an efficient system for you. For over 12 years, they’ve helped both residential and commercial clients in Jefferson County, CO reduce their carbon footprints and increase their overall energy independence. Call (303) 955-6332 to request a free estimate or visit their website for more information.