April 22 marks the 45th birthday of Earth Day, which is honored simultaneously around the world through a broad range of events and activities. Every year, Earth Day focuses more attention on reasons for “going green.” Companies large and small increasingly recognize that ecofriendly initiatives are often friendly to the bottom line as well as the environment. What changes can you and your employees make to benefit the environment, your stakeholders, and often your wallets, too? Here are some ideas: Look for ways you and your employees can cut back on driving to work. The obvious ones are carpooling, public transportation, and ever-popular telecommuting days. You can also encourage employees who live nearby to walk or bike to work. Sponsor “lunch-ins” to save everyone gas and money. Pizza days and bring-a-dish days are great for camaraderie, too. Use energy-efficient equipment wherever possible. Laptops, for example, use much less power than desktop computers. Don’t keep all equipment powered up all the time. Use power strips or “hibernate” mode to save energy when equipment is not in use. Save water. Detect leaks and get them fixed. If you maintain a landscape, use rocks, natural areas, and drought-tolerant plants (called xeriscaping) to cut back on water consumption. Other conservation measures include using high-efficiency plumbing fixtures and keeping water pressure under 65 psi. Save paper by storing, distributing, and sharing information electronically. Invoices, applications, and even legal contracts can be electronic. Get everyone on board with placing waste paper, plastic, and aluminum cans in recycling bins. Use rechargeable batteries to save money and to keep toxic materials out of the landfill. Use tap water, water bottle filling stations, or water services to slash the waste inherent in buying bottled water. Recycle old equipment. If you can’t sell functioning equipment, donate it to needy organizations. Use refillable cartridge programs offered by office supply stores for laser and inkjet printers. Reduce reliance on air conditioning with ceiling fans. In addition to saving money, they can add a decorative touch to lobbies and other rooms. Ask your employees for their ideas on going green. Let your customers know what you’re doing to celebrate Earth Day every day. There’s no limit to ideas for making your business greener and planet-friendlier, often with positive impacts on the bottom line.
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