The green recovery continues to gain momentum, and as a second UK lockdown rolls in so are a fresh wave of global climate strikes. As environmental conscientiousness grows, businesses that want to survive the transition to a low carbon economy must learn to adapt as well. 

We’ve looked at 5 ways you can future-proof your business, increase efficiency and ultimately improve your bottom line.

Homeworking

Working remotely has exploded in 2020 with 69% of British adults now working from home in some capacity and 68% expecting to more often in future.

Many businesses are being forced to re-evaluate operations and discovering rent and utilities for office space might now be unnecessary.

While it would require adaptation, working from home presents an unprecedented opportunity for savings. Global Workplace Analytics found that, among 4,000 studies, 36% of employees would accept working from home instead of a pay rise, while IBM has reduced real estate costs by $50m by embracing remote working.

Imagine halving or quartering your rent and utility bills overnight, now imagine what effect that could have on your carbon footprint. The best part is that it benefits employees in many ways too. Whether that be time and money saved on their commute or a better work/life balance. These factors make it a much softer sell should you decide to make it widespread practice.

Going paper free

As the digital space expands, and cybersecurity improves, the role of paper in filing and communication will become more redundant and you should consider binning it all together.

Email has been the mainstay of workplace correspondence for over a decade and now new players like Slack and Zoom are entering the fray. The remote working revolution has increased general proficiency with eCommunications technology to the point of normalising a paperless office.

The benefits include a reduction in your carbon footprint, supply costs and even utility bills (when printing and shredding are taken into account). These might seem insignificant but shockingly, the average worker uses 10,000 sheets per year according to a 2018 study.

Slash your energy bills

Dramatic change might be the flavour of the week, but looking at small adjustments can be just as effective.

Taking a look at your electric and gas consumption allows you to pinpoint areas of high usage and possible savings. Heating and lighting rank highly among building costs. Lighting makes up around 16% of your electricity bill while heating accounts for 40% of non-electricity bills.

Smart meters, building insulation, double glazing and converting to LED lighting are all ways to improve your business’ energy efficiency.

On-site solar

An increasing number of firms are looking at on-site renewable energy generation from solar panels as a means to offset rising energy prices with installations continuing to increase year on year.

Moreover, alongside actively reducing your energy needs and subsequent bills, a suite of panels acts as a visual advertisement to would-be customers of your commitment to net zero.

Look to green grants

Thanks to the government’s green new deal, the market is now awash with green initiatives and grants to support businesses in becoming more eco-friendly.

The Carbon Trust is offering a Green Business Fund to SMEs that can aid efficiency initiatives in the workplace. Another example is the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme that provides tax relief for equipment purchases that are proven to save energy.

The tips we’ve already offered will go a long way to helping you meet the criteria of many green grants now available and should be considered a spring-board into more comprehensive sustainable development.

Monarch are sustainability simplifiers and can help you lay the foundations for achieving your environmental goals. With over 35 years in utility management, our vision is to help create a world where every unit of resource is used intelligently and sustainably to benefit customers, end-users and future generations.

To establish a path for future-proofing your business for the new green economy, get in touch get in touch.