Many grassroots efforts to help the environment starts at home. However, it is also important to get companies and organizations involved. After all, many of us spend a major part of our day in the office. However, many offices do not have practices that help minimize damage to the environment.
Creating a sustainable office space starts with the leaders in the organization. It will require significant investment and the collective effort of all employees to have any positive impact. Taking these steps does not cost a fortune either.
Before we outline the things that you can do to maintain a gree office space, let’s take a look at the benefits of considering renewable energy.
But what exactly is sustainable energy?
A majority of energy sources these days come from fossil fuels. These are sourced from the ground, which is usually carbon-based. Unfortunately, extracting these resources creates a huge amount of waste that contributes to the many damages to the environment.
Sustainable energy is considered clean and renewable as it does not need carbon materials. Typically, they are obtained from natural resources such as the wind, sunlight, or the ocean. Energy from these sources usually does not produce any waste at all.
Here are some of the advantages of using renewable energy and sustainable efforts in the office that you can implement immediately:
1. Significant reduction of carbon footprint
For decades, the amount of carbon dioxide has been increasing in the atmosphere. The significant amount of carbon dioxide is causing global warming due to the trapped heat. This results in stronger typhoons, frequent tornados, worse winters, drought, and more. Sustainable energy produces little to no emissions, which means we can continue our daily lives without harming the planet. Additionally, the sources of renewable energy do not deplete, unlike oil, coal, or natural gases.
2. Reduced cost on saved energy
Aside from choosing better sources of energy, the company can also set up processes that improve the overall efficiency of the business. These processes, in turn, save the company costs that would otherwise go to waste. Simple things like making sure computers and other devices are off when not in use can contribute to the overall savings of the company.
3. Better company image
Consumers are getting more and more environmentally conscious. Aside from taking their own steps in saving the planet, they also tend to support companies that align with their ideologies. Your company can gain a better image by actively promoting and implementing better processes. There are organizations that recognize and certify companies with such contributions to the environment, making it easy to let the public know of your achievements.
4. Potential tax rebates and exemptions
Depending on the locality and government policies, tax rebates and exemptions are awarded to companies that make a significant effort in reducing their energy usage. Furthermore, corporations that install solar panels can put excess electricity back on the grid. This may make your organization eligible for a federal government tax rebate and even deduct the installation of solar panels.
5. Safer electricity system
Using renewable sources of energy such as solar or wind, often have a safer system. Aside from the typical power breakers or power resistors, the steady flow of energy in renewable systems are least likely to experience surges. This makes it much safer than connecting directly to the grid.
Adopting renewable energy need not disrupt your company’s business processes. You can slowly adopt the best practices until your organization is able to accommodate bigger efforts. Full cooperation between the leaders and the employees is required to have any significant effect on the environment.
