‘The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it’
Robert swan
The idea that global warming is only the problem of major corporations is totally wrong. The burden of the world lies with each adult, and even the smallest steps can make a huge difference. Even if you run a small shop in a quiet little town, you should do everything you can to help protect our environment and prevent climate change. Check out these steps to help boost the eco-credentials of your small business:
Water conservation
One of the first and easiest steps you can take as a business is to look at ways to use or at least waste less water. Fix any leaks you may have in bathrooms or kitchen areas and in any pipes under the ground- you’ll also save on your water bill.
When your company uses a significant amount of water, you may want to consider investing in a water tank to catch rainwater. This can be used for all kinds of things, such as washing company vehicles and watering any plants on your premises.
Start up a carpool
No one likes the journey to work, but when there can be many employees traveling in the same direction, it makes sense to start a carpool scheme. Work out who can travel into the place of work together, and see if they can share a ride. This not only helps the environment but cuts down on individual fuel consumption and can create an excellent bond between employees. Just remember to make sure that the people who are driving are receiving a contribution to their fuel and running costs.
Invest in other forms of power consumption
One of the most harmful things we can do for our planet is to use its natural resources to power our business. Coal and oil are not endless resources, and we’re going to run out sooner rather than later.
There are, however, other ways of generating energy that will not deplete the planet of its precious resources. They do involve some initial investment at the beginning, but not only will you help save the planet, but you will also save your business money. Douglas Healy would be able to give you more advice, but some of these could include:
Solar power: solar panels turn the energy from the sun into a form of energy that you can use in your home and business. They start paying for themselves relatively quickly, and many people find that they’re generating more energy than they can, so they’re selling it to energy companies for profit!
Wind power: this is definitely very location-dependent; a business based in a central city area probably wouldn’t find this feasible, but if you have a lot of space, a wind turbine might produce enough energy to power your business.
Water power: this is another form of natural energy to consider, depending on the space you have at your disposal and your location.
