Some of these green business practices will work for your business, and others won’t. We encourage you to pick around five of the low-hanging fruit that you can adopt quickly, will show you some results, and will help you build momentum.
- HVAC for buildings in many cities is the major source of energy use.
- Insulate the walls and the ceilings.
- Utilize weather stripping and caulking to seal around windows & doors to close air gaps.
- Consider installing double or triple-paned windows.
- Replace inefficient heating systems with heat pumps and radiant heat, technologies that effectively replace gas and oil with electricity and are incredibly efficient.
- Some states offer incredible rebates for installing heat pumps.
- Install programmable thermostats.
- There are now many reasonably priced options on the market that offer several options for times and temperatures for heating and A/C.
- LED lights continue to see dramatic growth in efficiency.
- Tube LEDs are now the standard and when installed they have saved Indie Locals thousands of dollars a year.
- Screw-in LEDs are easy to change, provide a variety of light colors, and have an exceptional lifespan compared to incandescent bulbs.
- The emergence of new LED technology for large sports or manufacturing spaces results in remarkable savings.
- Many states offer amazing rebates for installing new LEDs.
- Many environmental leaders believe that Solar Energy is the most essential way to reduce global warming.
- It is local! There are many government incentives, and solar energy companies are everywhere — many are Indie Locals.
- The efficiency of solar panels increases dramatically every year.
- Consider solar shingles if your building isn’t a good fit for solar panels.
- Utilize green transportation options.
- Develop incentives that encourage staff members to use non-motorized forms of transportation, public transportation, and/or carpools when commuting.
- Electric Vehicles are the wave of the present and future for sure.
- Federal and state governments are encouraging/requiring more EVs
- The financial incentives make it easier to purchase an EV
- EV stations are popping up everywhere — like mushrooms after a rainy day
- When possible, purchase your electricity from renewable sources — solar or wind.
- If your appliances need an upgrade, consider Energy Star options which can save you thousands of dollars every month.