How The Woodlands businesses can implement sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint

Energy efficiency the easiest thing to do

You might be thinking "Changing a few lightbulbs won't make a difference will it?" It can though. And it's one of the easiest ways to lower your carbon emissions and energy bill. The U.S. Department of Energy says that small changes to how energy is used can cut energy use by 30%. That's a big number! Source

Switching to LED lights is a good place to start. LEDs last longer than regular incandescent or CFL bulbs and use less energy. They also don't get hot like the sun above your desk. If you want to save money on heating and cooling think about getting energy efficient HVAC systems. These systems will keep you from having to wear a parka to work in July and still save you money on your energy bills.

Also don't forget about smart thermostats. They know when you're not home and change the temperature for you like an invisible janitor who is always on call and saves you money.

Sustainable Supply Chains The New Normal

Logistics are often a part of the conversation when it comes to sustainability. Where do you get the materials you need? How do they get there? You can really improve your green cred by looking at and changing your supply chain.

Start by getting your supplies locally. There are a lot of businesses in The Woodlands that sell everything from paper goods to lunches for the office. Buying things from your own community helps the environment and your community. Also it's easier to make sure that your suppliers are on the same page about being green.

Next let's talk about packaging. Companies can make a big difference in reducing waste by choosing materials that can be broken down or used again. Minimalist designs can help you use less packaging so you don't have to wrap things up like they're going to Mars.

Go Paperless The Change to Digital

"Only print this email if you have to." We all know what it is right? It might seem hard to move to a paperless office but with the right tools it's not as hard as you might think.

Your team can safely share and store documents in the cloud with services like Google Drive Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive. Apps like DocuSign make it easy to sign contracts electronically. It's 2023 and no one wants to wait for the mail to bring a signed document.

If you want to cut down on paper waste think about using electronic billing and invoicing. It saves trees and speeds up the time it takes to get paid. Who wouldn't want that?

Employee Engagement A Culture of Sustainability

Action starts at the top but it really works when everyone is on board. You might be the one to start a culture of sustainability but your team will make it work.

First make sure your mission and goals are clear. Tell your employees why you want to do it such as how it will save money help the environment and make things better. People are more likely to care about the "how" when they know the "why."

Be honest with them. Put into place programs like working from home. This not only cuts down on emissions from commuting but it also makes workers happier. Stanford did a study that showed that people who work from home do better by 13%. Our Future of Working from Anywhere

Water conservation Save money

Water conservation may not scream "carbon footprint " but it takes a lot of energy to pump heat and treat water. Your business can save money on energy costs by using less water.

Start with the basics put in toilets and faucets that use less water. These fixtures use less water without losing performance. You might also want to think about putting in a system to collect rainwater. This water is not safe to drink so use it for landscaping and other things.

By the way landscaping is a great time to think about how you use water. Choose plants that are native to the area and do well in the weather. They need less water than plants from other places. Ask your landscaper about xeriscaping a type of gardening that uses plants that can survive without water to cut down on the need for watering.

In the end being environmentally friendly is good for business as well as the planet. More and more customers are picking businesses that are good for the environment and The Woodlands is no different. Also as caretakers of the space we live in it's our job to make our marks light and helpful. We don't just do business we do it the right way.