If you’re running a business, it’s in your interest to emit as little carbon as possible. For the most part, modern customers don’t want to buy from carbon-intensive companies if they can help it. Moreover, modern workers don’t want to work for them, either.
You might suppose that financial concerns might factor into both tendencies more than environmental ones – but the fact is that many green measures will actually make your business more profitable, by driving down the cost of energy.
Insulate the premises
Install insulation throughout the premises. If there is loft space make sure that it has insulation to at least 270mm. Make sure that cavity walls are insulated, too, and that all windows are at least double-glazed, if you can get the necessary planning permission. If you’re working with an older building, then you might run into problems as you make these improvements. So a little bit of foresight is required, but the investment is almost always worthwhile.
Upgrade your heating system
The age, condition and quality of your boiler will have a significant impact on the efficiency of your heating. The same goes for the attached pipework. If you’d like to improve your energy efficiency further, then you might look into improvements like heat pumps. Air-source heat pumps are more affordable, but ground-source ones are more efficient over the long term.
Install solar panels
Solar panels come in many different kinds. For the most part, you’ll be deciding between photovoltaic and thermal panels. It’s worth doing your research when it comes to both efficiency and the kind of panel you need. If you’re using a lot of electricity, it might make more sense to opt for photovoltaic panels.
It’s also critical that you find a competent installer since a poorly-installed panel might not generate the same amount of energy – and it might even cause you problems. Look for specialists in solar panel installation.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
There are many great reasons to recycle. But recycling, in many cases, imposes a heavy energy burden. It costs energy, after all, to break down cardboard and make more of it. A better approach would be one that prioritises reducing your consumption. If you’re shipping items to customers, for example, you might look into new methods of packing those items, which use less in the way of materials, but still keep the products themselves intact.