How To Put Some Green Into Your Business
HVAC systems (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) account for 40 to 60 percent of the energy used in U.S. commercial and residential buildings.
Be sure to change or clean your HVAC filters monthly during peak cooling or heating seasons.
Dirty filters cost more to use, overwork the equipment and result in lower indoor air quality.
To optimize efficiency, also consider installing a programmable thermostat that tells your systems to kick in one hour before your staff arrives in the morning and shut down after normal business hours.
Check Your Shell
Even in newer buildings, the exterior of your office requires regular audits to determine whether insulation and weather stripping are doing their job.
Gaps around doors and window frames should be filled with caulk, spray foam or batting.
Weather stripping that is missing, hard or cracked should be replaced and door sweeps under exterior doors will keep the cold at bay.
To track and assess energy and water consumption in your office, and benchmark your performance relative to similar buildings nationwide, try Energy Star’s online portfolio manager tool.
Good Will
There’s no doubt that going green can save your company some serious cash, but there are other equally important perks to consider as well – namely the good will it garners among customers, business associates and employees alike.
As a business owner, Duarte says he doesn’t advertise his restaurant as eco-friendly but word definitely gets around.
“If someone asks why we have LED lights at the table instead of candles we tell them, but we don’t shove it down their throats,” he says. “Once the customer learns we’re benefiting the environment it creates loyalty and that has a great multiplier effect in terms of public relations. It’s a win-win situation.”