Going green isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a growing trend not only for individuals but for businesses as well. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, they tend to search for companies that share those values and make efforts to follow sustainable business practices. But what kinds of steps can you take toward sustainability? Here are a few tips that might help you, as well as some additional information on the sustainability of commercial solar system solutions.

Search for Sustainably Manufactured Goods

Whether you’re looking for materials to manufacture your products or simply need more printing supplies for your office, consider searching for sustainably manufactured goods to fill your business needs. For example, rather than purchasing new printer cartridges, look into refillable cartridges; this option cuts down on the waste created every time you throw away an empty printer cartridge. You can also look for suppliers using recycled plastics and metals instead of raw materials for their manufacturing processes. By looking beyond your own practices and working with other businesses that practice sustainability, you’re extending your reach and supporting like-minded companies that care about the environment.

Recycle Everything You Can

Recycling is hardly new, but far too few businesses go beyond putting a recycling bin alongside trash cans in the office. Try to make recycling an active part of your business rather than a passive one. Encourage employees to collect cans by rewarding them for the ones they recycle in the office; make it a competition and offer prizes to the top recycler. Look for ways to recycle other products, like your old office equipment, furniture, and more. There are even recycling options for old carpets and building materials if you renovate your office space.

Make Your Office More Eco-Friendly

While switching to renewable energy is an excellent way to protect the environment (more on that in a minute), reducing your power consumption in the office is always a good idea. Doing so will ensure that you are consuming less energy than your renewable energy source is producing and can still help you save money by allowing you to install a small system. Here are a few ideas to make your office more efficient in its energy and water consumption:

  • Switch to more energy-efficient LED lighting.
  • Install water-saving fixtures like low-flow toilets.
  • Install motion sensors for lights so they’re not left on in unused rooms.
  • Apply tinted window film to reduce heat increase during the summer.
  • Ensure all computers are shut down at the end of the day.
  • Encourage employees to put computers into power save mode when they leave their desks.

Each of these actions is incredibly simple, but when combined together, it can make your office more efficient in both your water consumption and your energy consumption every day.

Consider Going Paperless

While recycling paper is a great thing to do, it’s far better to reduce the amount of paper you use, to begin with. Digital data largely drives today’s business world, so going paperless can help modernize your office while also making it more eco-friendly. Digital document management systems can help you scan and organize your existing documents efficiently; then, moving forward, you can opt for electronic forms and documents instead of printed ones. This reduces your environmental impact while also cutting down on your printing costs—a win-win situation.

Add Solar Power to Your Building

Renewable energy is growing in popularity for both residential and commercial properties. If you own your office building, you can add a rooftop solar panel array that can power your building, so you no longer have to rely on traditional energy sources. While commercial solar power systems are generally larger and more expensive than most residential systems, they can also save you more every month. Commercial buildings tend to use a lot more power than most homes—hence the need for a larger system—but that means you can make significant cuts to your monthly costs by switching to solar energy.

Of course, this is not a decision you should make on a whim or without doing extensive research. You’ll need to ensure that your solar power system is appropriately sized, not only for your continuous power needs but for any surge power demands you might also place on it. Many businesses utilize high-powered equipment, requiring an extra surge of power to get started. If you don’t account for surge power when designing your system, you’ll likely experience issues with starting up some of your equipment.

If you intend to add solar power to a commercial building, you need to work with a professional solar installer to design and install your system. This can help you avoid issues with sizing and give you the peace of mind that everything has been installed properly.

Choose Sustainable Solar Products

You might assume that anything as green as solar power would automatically be sustainable, but it’s important to look at all aspects of the products you choose for your business. Many solar panels are resource intensive and create carbon emissions during manufacturing. While it’s virtually impossible to eliminate waste and pollution in any manufacturing process, you should look into solar companies that utilize sustainable manufacturing processes for their solar panels. A few examples of companies making strides in sustainable manufacturing include Soren, BioSolar, and ROSI Solar.

To learn more about various solar panel manufacturers or to get the help you need designing your commercial solar power system, contact The PowerStore, Inc., today. We can provide you with the information you need and estimate commercial system costs based on your building’s energy consumption. Give us a call today to speak to one of our solar experts and learn how we can help you design a commercial solar power system that meets your needs.