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How to Save Your Business Money by Going Green

There are many good reasons for having your business go green. In addition to doing your part to help to save the planet, adopting ecofriendly practices can produce everything from a healthier work environment to a more loyal customer base.

But one benefit is often overlooked: cost savings. In fact, despite a common misconception that it's prohibitively expensive, taking the green plunge often not only has immediate cost savings, but also reduces expenses over time.

With that in mind, here are useful eco-friendly rating standards to help you get started, as well as specific green changes likely to reap longterm cost savings for your business.

 

Look for the right label

Not sure where to start when looking for green options? Use eco-friendly standards as your guide. There are more than 200 green certificationsand rating systems1 in the U.S. alone, each attesting to the environmental or energy-saving bona fides of anything from carpets to plumbing. These include:

ENERGY STAR. To earn an ENERGY STAR2 label, appliances (like air conditioners and refrigerators) must meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. Ultimately, an ENERGY STAR label means lower electricity bills, as well as a reduction in unhealthy emissions from power plants.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified. The FSC,3 a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the world's forests by overseeing and improving timber production, works to ensure that forests are managed using sustainable practices. Paper bearing this label has a smaller carbon footprint and overall environmental impact than other, similar products.

Typically, FSC-certified paper is mostly made up of virgin tree fibers from wood suppliers working to prevent pollution, plant more trees, and use other environmentally-minded methods. Products must go through a "chain of custody" from the forest to the manufacturer to the merchant, with independent third parties conducting assessments of companies.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The LEED4 certification, run by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides a framework for green building design, construction, and maintenance used for new construction and existing structures, as well as building operations and maintenance. There are multiple rating systems with four rating levels, from certified to platinum.

WaterSense. Sponsored by the EPA, which works with manufacturers, retailers, utilities, and others, the WaterSense5 label helps you find water- and energy-efficient products and services.

 

Green money-saving moves

Some environmentally-friendly changes require little upfront investment. Others may require a heftier initial outlay, but will save you money in the long run.

Here are some potential changes you could start with, both big and small:

 

Motion sensors for lighting

You waste electricity — and increase your utility bills — by leaving lights on unnecessarily. Motion sensors address that problem by turning lights on automatically when sensors detect movement, like an employee entering a hallway, and switching them off when there's no one around.

Generally installed on walls, ceilings, or upper corners, they're especially useful in common areas where many people congregate at different times and may not remember to turn off the lights.

According to the Sustainable Buildings Initiative (SBI), motion sensors can significantly reduce energy costs for lighting.6 The SBI reports savings of 13% to 90% (with an average savings of roughly 30%) depending on where the devices are installed. They also report that the devices can pay for themselves in two to three years. Some utilities offer rebates, making the payback even faster.

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Depending on where they are installed, motion sensors can reduce energy costs for lighting by 13% to 90%, and can pay for themselves in 2 to 3 years.

 

Solar energy

By installing solar systems, you reduce your consumption of carbonemitting fossil fuel-based energy. And while they're most effective when it's sunny, solar panels can still generate power (though not as much) when it's cloudy. And rain can increase efficiency by washing away dust and dirt.

While the upfront investment in solar panels isn't cheap, there are ways to reduce the cost.

Sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with your local solar provider. This can eliminate most or all of your upfront costs. Here's how it works: The provider will arrange for the system's financing and installation, and then sell you the power at a reduced rate per kilowatt hour for 10 to 25 years.7 The rate typically is lower than the local utility's charge. After that, you can extend the agreement — that's what happens most often — or you can buy the system for yourself. If you don't want either of those options, then the provider will simply remove the system and take it away.

Lease a solar panel system. This also prevents you from having a large cash outlay upfront. You'll pay a fixed fee each month, much as you would if you were leasing a car. That payment will be less than your previous utility bill was; the amount depends on your location, the installer, and the system size.

Investigate tax credits. No matter where you live in the U.S., you can take advantage of a federal tax credit8 of up to 26% of a residential or commercial system's cost if you buy it outright. Together with cash rebates, which you may be able to get from your state, municipality, utility company, or other organizations promoting solar energy, and other financial incentives they can reduce solar system installation cost by as much as 50%.9

If you buy a system outright (rather than leasing or signing a PPA), you can expect the purchase and installation costs to pay for themselves in electricity savings in three to seven years.10 After that, you'll basically have a free supply of electricity for the system's lifetime.

 

LED lightbulbs

Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, require significantly less wattage than an incandescent lightbulb. They're energy efficient and have an average life expectancy of 25,000 to 35,000 hours.11 And at an average cost of $3 to $20 per bulb, they save money over the long term. A single 10- watt LED emitting 800 lumens of light can pay for itself in a matter of months, and last for up to a decade afterwards.

 

Plumbing fixtures

You can slash your water usage, as well as your water bill, by making some changes to plumbing fixtures. Here are some simple strategies:

Install a low-flow or ultra-low-flow toilet. These require half the amount of water used by traditional toilets.

Install a newer, more efficient sink faucet. These waste considerably less water — and money — than older models.

Install a sink aerator. These inexpensive devices restrict the flow of water. They emit up to 1.5 gallons of water per minute12 vs. 2.2 gallons for older faucets.

Of course, an even simpler and cheaper solution is to detect and fix leaks regularly. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water per day.13 Some signs of a leaking pipe include corrosion on supply line fittings and valves or moisture at the joints underneath sinks.

 

Paper waste

Cutting down on your use of paper may be one of the easiest and cheapest environmentally-friendly steps you can take. Here are some ways to do that:

  • Set up computers to print two-sided copies.
  • Use the unused side of paper to print document drafts.
  • Opt for single spacing and narrower margins when possible.
  • Replace disposable plates and mugs with reusable ones.

Important disclosure information

This content is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment advice. You are encouraged to consult with competent legal, tax, accounting, financial or investment professionals based on your specific circumstances. We do not make any warranties as to accuracy or completeness of this information, do not endorse any third-party companies, products, or services described here, and take no liability for your use of this information.

  1. Ecolabel Index, “All ecolabels in United States," accessed January 28, 2021. Back
  2. ENERGYSTAR.gov, accessed February 3, 2021. Back
  3. FSC, "Certification," accessed February 3, 2021. Back
  4. U.S. Green Building Council, "What is LEED?" accessed February 3, 2021. Back
  5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "WaterSense,"accessed February 3, 2021. Back
  6. Sustainable Building Initiative, "Emissions Reduction Toolkit," accessed January 28, 2021. Back
  7. Solar Energy Initiatives Association, “Solar Power Purchase Agreements, "accessed January 28, 2021. Back
  8. NC Clean Energy Technology Center, "Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit," accessed February 3, 2021. Back
  9. Energysage, "The solar tax credit: an energy tax credit for going solar," updated January 11, 2021, accessed March 2, 2021. Back
  10. Rick LeBlanc, “Save Money with Solar Energy for Your Business," The Balance, updated June 25, 2019, accessed January 28, 2021. Back
  11. Green America, “CFLs vs. LEDs: The Better Bulbs," accessed March 2, 2021. Back
  12. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Bathroom Faucets," accessed March 2, 2021. Back
  13. Treehugger, “10 Ways to Stop Being a Water Waster ," updated January 25, 2021, accessed March 2, 2021. Back