Each and every year, many people start January with a long list of unrealistic resolutions they know will be difficult to stick to. From losing weight to changing careers, there are plenty of classic resolutions people take up. If you’re a business owner, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your own resolutions for the year ahead. While you may also be thinking about losing weight or taking up a new hobby, it’s important to think about what you want your business to achieve this year too.
With a new year approaching, lots of companies and offices are looking to set new goals for the coming year. Many businesses set financial goals and focus on employee performance and satisfaction, however, there are a few other areas you may want to focus on improving too.
With each year that passes, the impact we as human beings are having on the environment becomes more and more clear. Today, many people are taking the steps to lead a more eco-friendly lifestyle – but why should this stop in the home? In 2021, businesses all across the country are making it their mission to go greener – and there’s plenty of reasons why you should get involved too.
Going greener not only ensures you’re doing your bit for the environment as a business owner, but it can also save you money too. In addition, you could even attract new employees and clients to your business; today, many people prefer to work with sustainable and eco-conscious companies.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to improving sustainability in the office, we’ve got a few great places to start.
Reduce energy consumption
The best place to start is with energy consumption. It’s no secret that offices require a lot of power to operate. From lighting to technology, your workplace likely uses lots of energy on a day-to-day basis. There are plenty of ways you can reduce energy consumption in the office; here are three simple ways to start:
- Replace traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. LED lights are far more environmentally-friendly than traditional light bulbs and will save you both energy and money.
- Switch off unnecessary equipment. It’s not uncommon for devices and equipment to be left on standby at the end of the day, but it’s important all equipment is turned off when not in use. Even standby mode wastes energy and could be causing a spike in your energy bills.
- Switch to laptops. 2020 has made remote working the norm, so you’ve likely dished out a few laptops to employees here and there. However, it’s worth considering switching to laptops completely. Not only does it mean employees can easily move between working from home and in the office, but it will reduce energy consumption in the office too.
- Turn the thermostat down. Turning the thermostat down in your office by just one degree can reduce your energy consumption without making too much of a difference to the temperature.
Go paperless
Today, more and more companies are going paperless. There are huge benefits to switching to a paperless office; firstly, your office will be so much more tidier and organised (you can finally get rid of those cabinets full of paperwork and notes floating around the office!) and secondly, you can cut down on using unnecessary paper! Tablets, laptops and mobiles are more than common in the workplace these days, so there really is no need to print as much.
Replace meeting notes with downloadable versions, send over important information in documents over email and make it your mission to cut down on paper in the coming year. Plus, you never have to worry about losing an important piece of paper again!
Stop using single-use cups
It’s important employees stay hydrated while they work and installing a water cooler is the perfect way to ensure everyone has access to cool water. However, it’s important to stop using single-use cups and instead encourage employees to bring their own refillable water bottles with them. Each year, huge amounts of plastic end up in waste, damaging the environment and causing problems for habitats all across the world. Instead, ask employees to bring their own refillable cups and bottles to cut down on single-use plastic. If you have a canteen, encourage employees to bring refillable coffee cups with them too.
Recycle properly
Lots of offices claim to be passionate about recycling, but in reality, they just have a small recycling bin in the corner and that’s it. It’s important you communicate the importance of recycling to your employees, whether it be through small reminders over email or signs. A simple poster near the bins explaining what can and can’t be recycled will encourage your employees to be mindful of where they put their waste and ensure as much is recycled as possible.
Assess your suppliers
The start of a new year is the perfect time to reassess your suppliers. Your business is likely always in need of supplies, from desks and furniture to general office supplies, but it’s important you get eco-friendly suppliers on board. When searching for suppliers, always look for brands and companies that are passionate about the environment and strive to do what they can to reduce their environmental impact.
Maximise natural light
There are pretty much endless benefits to welcoming as much natural light into your office as possible. From boosting the mood and productivity levels of your employees to making the workplace look brighter and more inviting, natural light can quickly and easily transform your workspace. Maximising natural light is also a great way to reduce your energy bills; without the constant need to turn the lights on, you could see huge savings in your bills.
There are plenty of ways to maximise natural light – even the type of blinds you use can make all the difference. If you work in a commercial building that doesn’t get much natural light, why not consider installing skylights? Skylights are a great way to filter natural light into a room that lacks a large window or feels dark and dingy.
Mitchell’s: Facilities Management Services in Gloucester
At Mitchell’s, our experienced and skilled team provide complete building management packages. We offer a huge range of comprehensive building services and are proud to be a one-stop shop for all of your needs. Whether you need assistance wiring a new commercial building or your heating system needs replacing, we’ve got you covered.
Our team specialises in air conditioning installation, electrical design and installation, bespoke heating system design and installation, professional refrigeration systems, maintenance support and more. We work closely with each and every one of our clients to produce the best possible results every time, always exceeding our customers’ expectations.
We can provide you with technologically advanced facilities management systems in Gloucester to ensure you and your team stay ahead of the curve and make sense of modern developments. We’re always on hand to sort any issues you may have and will ensure your building is in top condition and ahead of the competition. For more information about our services, visit our website.