Motivate Employees to Drive less. Employees must get to work, but do they have to drive alone? Using VanPool or the Coastal Commuter program, you may be able to connect employees to a ride share to take to work and back. By utilizing tax credits built for employers and employees to utilize alternative work commutes you can both come out ahead. Coastal Commuters VanPool [PDF]
Use a smart fleet. If vehicles are required to perform your businesses work, make sure they are the most efficient for the job. You can save substantially in fuel and maintenance costs and the county will benefit from the reduced emissions.
Accommodate alternative commuters. Does your business make it easy to arrive and leave on a bike, on foot or by bus? Not everybody comes to shop via car, and shoppers who don’t will choose businesses that are easier to get to.
Choose smart appliances. Energy Star appliances can do the same work with less energy, which means lower utility bills for you with the same results. Even smaller items like microwaves and TV’s have Energy Star options that can make a difference. Energy Star
Be a Watt Watcher. Are lights and equipment left on unnecessarily? That’s energy wasted and money down the drain. Encourage employees to turn off what’s not needed, or consider installing power-saving devices that turn off equipment and lights automatically.
Energy audit. If you own or long-term your building, you may be able to make some targeted investments to substantially decrease your energy bills. An energy audit finds the places where your building could be more efficient, looking at items from door and window sealing to the efficiency of your HVAC system. With a carefully prepared audit, you can choose what investments make sense and create savings for you.
Buy products with less packaging. Less packaging means less waste. Buying in bulk is a great way to reduce packaging and get a better value.
Think Second-hand. Many durable goods can be found second-hand on Craigslist, yard sales, and thrift stores. New goods require more resources than reuse of what’s already here. You can help close the loop too. Try to repair before replacing, and when you replace an item, find a way to resell or donate the old item. Items from office furniture to printer cartridges can be bought second-hand or re-manufactured, and returned to the reuse loop after their useful life with you.
Recycle. Commercial recycling is available to downtown businesses willing to invest in the important service. Once your provider is determined, it’s up to you to support the system by buying recyclable goods, preparing waste for recycling and by purchasing items with post-consumer content to support the market for recycled commodities.
Print Smart. Printing double-sided saves money and paper. Printing the minimum number 0of copies necessary also helps keep paper waste down; of course the best minimum is zero when information can be e-mailed or presented electronically to your audience.
Take the Tap. Bottled water requires unnecessary resources for bottling and transporting water. Savannah’s water exceeds the standards that bottled water is tested for. Set a good example by making it easy for employees and guests to choose tap water over bottled.
Buy Local, & if possible Organic. Locally grown foods don’t travel as far to get to your plate. Supporting local businesses helps build our community’s capacity to respond to social and environmental issues. Use our green business directory to find which businesses are JoIN ECO Partners.
Go native. Native plants are better suited to local conditions and will require fewer resources to get and maintain. What’s more, local nurseries should be able to supply what you need.
