Business Owners Are Saving Energy in 2024 With These 8 Green Ideas

The importance of businesses saving energy is constantly rising due to increased consumer interest in green practices and escalating energy costs. 

Adding to your business’s green efforts shows you care about your community and helps drive your brand’s money-saving efforts. 

Here are some ways business owners are cutting costs, saving energy and attracting customers by reducing their carbon footprint.

1. Conduct an Energy Audit

According to the United States Department of Energy, commercial buildings waste as much as 30% of their energy. The government encourages initiatives through its Commercial Buildings Integration program to reduce building energy consumption.

Before deciding where to reduce usage, you must know where wasted power goes. An energy audit provides detailed information on issues such as poor insulation, human practices that use more energy than they should and appliances requiring significant energy to improve the situation. 

An annual audit also locates areas where the company may have grown complacent and identifies potential improvements. You’ll be able to reinstate efforts and see maximum enhancements over time. Appoint someone to monitor weak areas and build strengths as the business works toward lower net carbon emissions.

2. Give Back to the Community

Companies are going green by shoring up their local community and providing more green space. For example, adding trees around a building beautifies the landscape, provides areas for local wildlife and shades the building to reduce cooling costs. Cleaning an area takes time and energy but makes the space pleasant for all living things. 

When brands implement energy-efficient practices, they often encourage citizens to adopt similar approaches. Learn what works in an office building, and then train neighbors on how they can do something similar to reduce energy usage. One option is to encourage a community solar microgrid and invest company funds in building one. 

An example of a company saving energy and giving back to the community with greener ideas is the Clark County Rural Electric Membership Corporation. At their annual meeting, they frequently pass out LED light bulbs. They also offer rebates and information for citizens seeking renewable energy sources. 

3. Utilize and Control Natural Light

Using natural light can reduce your need for electricity. If your building doesn’t have windows, consider installing skylights and other window options. Should this strategy be too cost prohibitive, consider adding LED bulbs to low-light areas.

If your building gets too much afternoon sun and heats up fast, you can install sunshades to keep your space at a more comfortable temperature and reduce the need for expensive cooling. Adding aluminum shades to south- and west-facing windows can reduce heat gain by as much as 65%, resulting in significant energy savings. 

4. Set Sustainable Policies

Companies can also save energy by setting sustainable policies for the business and employees. Encourage workers to recycle by placing receptacles in break areas. Work together to reduce the amount of printed material. 

Adopting a cause can help, too. Look to your industry or the area surrounding you for inspiration. For example, Panasonic aims to reach zero in-house emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality. Policies they’ve implemented include recycling 99% of their waste and recycling resin. They share their efforts in press releases and on their website to encourage other brands and the public to adopt similar methods. 

While corporations and manufacturing facilities can have a significant impact on the environment, smaller brands can also help by working on recycling efforts and utilizing renewable energy sources. When everyone works together to reach net zero, ecosystems and bottom lines benefit. 

If you’re still unsure about which policies will have the most impact, gather a few like-minded employees and ask them to brainstorm ways to use fewer resources. 

5. Install a Microgrid

According to SalTec, solar generation continues to grow across the globe. Since 2016, solar energy use increased 39% and continues to rise. Business owners can save energy and go green by utilizing a microgrid during peak times. Most power companies charge a premium during certain hours. Set the microgrid to kick in during these times and use the main grid when rates are cheaper.

Most microgrids pull on renewable sources such as solar and wind. You can set yours up to utilize power from the central grid system in your area but shift over to a microgrid mode when costs are highest or there is a drain on the system due to a particularly hot or cold day.

If you generate more energy than you can use, some power companies allow you to sell them the extra energy and earn credits on your bill or receive payments. A microgrid is expensive to purchase and complex to install but pays off over time with less consumption and lower energy costs. 

6. Work With Sustainable Suppliers

A simple way to go green with minimal effort is by working alongside suppliers who have sustainable practices. Ways to do this include:

• Purchase break room supplies from a recycled paper supply company. 
• Get internet provider services from a company using solar energy. 
• Look for brands that reduce their energy consumption and support them with contracts. 

Consider every type of material your business uses in production or services and whether the product is renewable. You can improve conservation efforts by prioritizing products from sustainable suppliers. 

7. Tap Into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

Take advantage of some of the tax benefits of the IRA to upgrade your appliances and install sustainable features. Almost anything your business does to be greener has a cost. You’ll either give time, land, employee effort or money to be more eco-friendly.

However, companies can get clean energy credits for buying electric vehicles for fleets. You could also get a tax incentive of 2.75 cents per kilowatt-hour of renewable energy generated.

8. Offer Remote Work Options

A simple way companies are saving energy is by allowing employees to work from home at least some of the time. When people work remotely, they use less fuel and companies can reduce the square footage of office space to save even more energy.

Remote work is highly attractive to modern employees. The option to stay at home and save on costs and commuting may spur them to stay with your company or choose your job offer over a competitor’s. 

Setting the tone for greener practices means looking at the big picture. Even cutting down office time to two days a week can reduce energy use and help a company get to net zero sooner. You can always rent shared space for larger meetings hosted once or twice a year. 

Brainstorm Green Ideas With Your Team

Trying some of the tips above will help you save on energy. However, as technology advances and sustainability becomes more affordable, expect new methods to appear. 

Consider appointing a few employees to monitor what other companies in your area do to reduce carbon emissions. Meet frequently and brainstorm ways to improve what you’re already doing or come up with new ideas. When your company culture rewards and encourages environmental awareness, you’ll find more ways to reduce costs and improve the world.