Vest Pocket Business Coalition - Sustainable Business

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Sustainable Business

Looking for ways to make your business more sustainable? Ways to cut expenses? Ways to make your business a bit greener? Here are some resources and suggestions to help you out:

Save Electricity: Save money & reduce pollution

Use compact fluorescent lights where possible.
Turn off lights when you leave the room for more than a few minutes.
Turn off your computer at night or other times when it isn't needed.
If your computer has energy saving settings, learn how to use them properly.
For new purchases, make sure they're energy efficient. Look for the EPA EnergyStar symbol.
If you have high ceilings, install fans that pull air down off the ceiling. Use them in the winter to avoid keeping all your heated air against the ceiling and still being cold inside.
Shade your building to reduce cooling needs. A few trees in strategic positions can help shade your building and keep it cool. You save money on cooling, you prevent pollution by not needing the electricity and you help clean the air from burning fossil fuels.

Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle

See if you can reduce materials you use. Remember the idea of a paperless office--do you really need to print out everything on your printer? Can you print on the back of already used paper?
Reuse what you can--packing materials, paper, etc.
That half-used (printed on one side) paper is great for scratch paper or for kids to draw on.
Buy recycled materials & give them new life.
In the Salt Lake City area, City recycling (blue) cans are available. Businesses are eligible for this too. Recycle what you can to reduce the burden on our landfill and help prevent pollution.

Conserve water

Water your grounds during off-hours. If you have a landscaping company that manages this, be sure to let them know you want the grounds watered during the cooler times of day.
Don't water when it is windy.
Make sure you're not watering the road, sidewalk and your parking lot.
Use mulch on flower beds to keep in moisture (available at the city landfill at good prices).
Install drip irrigation--put the water where it is needed.
Xeriscape--use native vegitation where possible.
If you do nothing with the water at your business except water plants, flush and wash hands, do you really need a hot water heater?

Walk, bike, use mass transit or telecommute

Walking benefits you with exercise and saves your gas money.
Walk to lunch instead of driving.
Use the bus or Trax to get where you're going. Save yourself that parking headache.
Telecommute when you can, especially if it the air quality is poor. More info at www.cleanair.utah.gov.
Consider offering bus passes or tokens to your employees as a benefit.
Install a bike rack for your customers and employees. (government support may be available)

Become a SLC e2 business

Learn more about it on the City's website, http://www.slcgov.com/environment

Use renewable energy

Purchase wind power through the Utah Power Blue Sky program
Use on-site solar power. Not only does it produce electricity, but it can also shade your building to help reduce cooling needs