The green money in the USA may make the link more obvious, but acting green can help your business’ profits. Which means that every business should be interested in being as green as possible! 

Computers
Did you know that leaving a computer on overnight can cost as much as $78 a year (and that’s not counting weekends or your actual use)? In fact, 2007 studies in the USA and UK showed corporate computers left on overnight wastes approximately 15.1 million metric tons of Carbon dioxide a year at a cost of $1,974 million AUD.

So here are some green tips are cutting back on computer running expenses: 

• Turn off the computer when not in use for a period of time, such as overnight and days off
• Keep your computer clean (yes, dust it!)
• Leave space around your computer
• Use a powerboard to turn on/off all computer accessories with the computer
• Choose energy efficient equipment whenever possible
• Turn off your monitor when not using the computer for short periods

Office supplies
Depending on your business, office supplies can take up a fair bit of your budget. Taking a green attitude towards your supplies may help save some money and maybe even require less storage space as well!

• Print on the blank side of all paper – even school notices can be used. If you have two drawers on your printer, make the default a recycled paper drawer and just use clean paper when necessary
• Use envelopes, out-of-date business cards and flyers and other paper not suitable for printing or scribbling to do lists, messages, reminders and calculations. Or use your computer or a bound book for these things instead of buying lots of notepads
• Buy recycled when possible - most recycled products are now comparable in price to new items
• Consider second hand or store damaged furniture – much of it looks like new but it is cheaper and saves creation of something new
• Always choose the most energy efficient piece of equipment possible – that includes consumables as well as running costs

Heating and cooling
When you’re working, you want to be comfortable – but what is comfortable? Research has shown that 20 to 24 degrees is optimal for sedentary workers, but you may prefer it a little warmer or cooler.

You can save energy and money by: 

• Use a ceiling fan instead of an air conditioner – it can save as much as $4.50 a day
• Open/close curtains to use solar heating and lighting – it’s free!
• Put on a jumper instead of a heater
• Blocking any droughts – a few pairs of socks across a doorway is a cheap and easy solution

Lighting
As a self-employed person, you may well work at silly hours or in a dark corner of the house so you will need to pay for lighting. Yet you can still spend less on lighting with a little effort:

• Use natural light as much as possible. Maybe you can turn the desk to face a different way, trim a tree shading a window, get a sunlight put in or tie back those lace curtains.
• Try different lighting options – a lamp may be better than an overhead light
• Turn off lights when you walk away from your desk, even for a few moments – it’s a great habit to be in
• When bulbs need replacing, use energy efficient options – a fluorescent light costs about .5 cents an hour compared to a 100W bulb costing 15 cents.
• Keep your lighting fixtures clean (yes, more dusting!) so they give off light instead of burning dust

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