When speaking of sustainability, green is most definitely the new black! It isn’t only the world giants who are aiming to make the world a better place; Australia is playing an important role in it too. Diverting their attention to the greener aspect of things, business owners of today are looking for means to make their offices environmental-friendly and greener. But a green workplace doesn’t necessarily mean an organization has reduced the use of paper. It also accounts for having a lighter ecological footprint, productive workplace and a healthier workplace environment which is beneficial for your business’s bottom line. Going green doesn’t have to be chore; instead, it should be a practice that results in long-term benefits for all. The small changes you make today will greatly impact the lives of your future generations. So, let’s promise to leave them a better place to live in than how we found it.

If you, as a business owner, don’t know where to begin from, City Switch Green Office, established by the government, can help you. It is a specially designed program solely dedicated to educate Australian businesses and commercial tenants who aim to incorporate greenery into their residences and offices. Multiple awareness programs, training sessions, and workshops are organized that encourage buildings and their owners to opt for green and energy-efficient retrofits. Statistics show that so far, the program has boasted $10.4 million as annual benefits to participating businesses.

So how can you, as a business, go green?  Read on to find out:

1.      Introduce Some Greenery – Literally:

Plants for your office space are highly recommended. Not only do they add greenery, they also encourage a green lifestyle. Indoor plants improve air quality, brighten up the work space, emit oxygen, reduce air pollution, create a fresher environment to breathe in, and eliminate odour.

2.      Go Paperless:

Also referred to as becoming “paper-limited”, it helps businesses chunk down the use of paper in exchange for technology. Going paperless demands that paper wastage be stopped and files and document organizers become virtual. It is, by far, one of the most environmental-friendly decisions. Thankfully, many companies in Australia have started to ponder upon this. If you think about it, less paper also means reduced stationary expenses in the longer run.

3.      Turn to the Cloud

The cloud is a centralized location that stores data, ensuring that it is accessible always from anywhere and on any device. Similarly, to my point above, when companies invest in cloud-based solutions, they are reducing documentation costs whilst making it safer and secure. Energy and physical spaces both are also reduced when processes go online.

4.      Power Down:

As an employer, and a good one, it is your duty to ensure that before everyone leaves the office, all electrical devices are shut down. Leaving them open or on sleep mode accounts for a significant amount of wasted energy. If you are seriously looking to cut down your costs and making your workplace greener, make sure all fax machines, coffee makers, printers and desktops are turned off. This will chomp down the carbon footprint at the work place. To practice more efficiency, always set your computer on energy saver mode when going out for a meeting or lunch.

5.      Recycle:

Even if you have placed recycling bins in your office, there is no harm in going the extra mile by educating your employees about its benefits. Ensure that all containers, paper, water and plastic items find their spot in the recycling bins, all of which later gets properly recycled instead of being trashed into landfills for natural decomposition.