Tips For Running a Sustainable Small Business

August 9, 2022 By Anne

If you’ve started a business at home, then you might be concerned about how you can maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle while working. The good news is that working from home can already be a more sustainable option, especially if you consider the fact that you cut down on the commute to and from work.

However, there is always room for improvement and always a good reason to improve how environmentally friendly you are, whether you’re at work or relaxing. Here are some ways to do so.

Use Natural Light Where Possible

When you’re working, it’s important to make sure that you’re in a well-lit environment. This is better for your productivity and your health. Sitting at a bright laptop in a dark room can lead to eye strain, as can trying to work in dim environments.

However, bright lights can increase your energy usage. One way to get the best of both worlds is to take advantage of natural light. If possible, work near windows and in bright areas of your home, allowing you to cut down on the need to switch the lights on. It’s also better for your health, as most people feel better in sunlight.

Sustainable Packaging

If your business involves creating and sending products to customers, then you can immediately improve your sustainability by switching out the packaging. If possible, use less packaging. You should also switch out plastic packaging for recyclable or biodegradable materials, like paper or cardboard.

Instead of bubble wrap or polystyrene, use biodegradable packing materials, such as paper or soybean packaging that can be composted. This also looks better for your customers, who will notice your efforts.

Solar Power

The downside to working from home is that you use a lot more electricity. One way to cut down on your energy bills is to use solar energy, a renewable power source, to keep your home charged.

Use the best solar company you can find to produce your electricity. You can be assured that the energy you use is clean and you could save a great deal of money. The sun is a fantastic natural source of power, so it seems a shame to let it go to waste.

Eco-Friendly Office Supplies

Every office needs supplies, but with a little bit of research and effort, you can make sure that the supplies and stationery you use are more eco-friendly. Use recycled paper and supplies made with recycled materials.

If possible, use natural and biodegradable materials for your supplies and furniture. When purchasing furniture for your office, look for second-hand options. This way, you’re saving the environment and a few dollars.

Reuse and Recycle

Unfortunately, every office will produce a measure of waste. This waste might end up in landfills, where it pollutes the ground and water in an area. However, if you’re discerning about what you throw out and when, you can reduce the amount of waste that you produce. Only get the materials that you need and reuse or recycle wherever possible.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

5 Benefits of Going Green for Your Home

August 8, 2022 By Anne

Via pexels

The world is quickly becoming more and more interested in going green, and for a good reason! There are countless benefits to making your home more environmentally friendly. This blog post will discuss five of the most important benefits of going green. From decreased energy bills to improved air quality, there are many reasons to make the switch! Keep reading to learn more.

1) Going green can help you save money on your energy bills.

One of the most common motivators for going green is saving money. And it makes sense – by using less energy, you’ll inevitably see a decrease in your energy bills. There are a number of ways to make your home more energy-efficient, from installing solar panels to investing in Energy Star appliances. Companies like Abe Issa solar will provide your home with the best solar-powered essentials on the market. No matter which route you choose, going green is sure to put some extra cashback in your pocket each month.

Via pexels

2) It can also help you save water.

Another way going green can help you save money is by decreasing your water consumption. This is important not only for your wallet but also for the environment. There are a number of ways to reduce your water usage, such as installing low-flow fixtures or collecting rainwater. Not only will you be saving money on your water bill, but you’ll also be doing your part to conserve this precious resource.

Water conservation is important for another reason – it can help reduce the strain on local water supplies. In many parts of the world, fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce. By reducing your own water usage, you can help preserve this vital resource for future generations.

3) Going green can improve your air quality.

Another important benefit of going green is that it can improve the quality of the air inside your home. This is especially important for people who suffer from allergies or asthma, as poor air quality can exacerbate these conditions. There are a number of ways to improve the air quality in your home, such as investing in an air purifier or planting some houseplants. By taking these steps, you’ll be able to breathe better – and you’ll also be doing your part to protect the environment.

4) It can help you lead a healthier lifestyle.

When you live in a green home, you’re not only helping the environment – you’re also helping yourself! Living in an eco-friendly home can lead to a healthier lifestyle. For example, if your home is well-insulated, you’ll be less likely to catch a cold or the flu. And if your air quality is good, you’ll be less likely to suffer from allergies or asthma attacks. By making some simple changes to your home, you can improve your health and wellbeing.

Via pexels

5) Reduce waste and live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Another benefit of going green is that it can help you reduce the amount of waste you produce. This is important not only for the environment but also for your wallet! There are a number of ways to reduce your waste, such as recycling or composting. By making some simple changes to the way you live, you can help make a difference in the world – and you might even save some money in the process!

As you can see, there are many benefits to going green. From saving money to improving your health, there are plenty of reasons to make your home more eco-friendly. Start making some changes today and enjoy all the benefits of going green!

Anne

How Farmers Can Help Bees

December 13, 2021 By Anne

The bee population around the world has declined dramatically over the years. In 2019, National Geographic reported a decline of almost 40% in the honey bee population compared to the previous year. US beekeepers reported high colony loss rates between April 2020 and April 2021, approximately 45.5% of the managed honey bee colonies were lost.

Bees play a crucial role in maintaining food security. Indeed, bees are one of the greatest pollinators in the food industry, contributing to the pollination of over a third of the plants that produce 90% of global food. Without bees, there would potentially not be an alternative.

Additionally, bees are instrumentation to sustainable farming, increasing agricultural produce and quality while making plants resistant to pests. Finally, they also act as active agents of environmental protection and biodiversity preservation.

Therefore, it makes sense for farmers to introduce bee-friendly solutions that can help reduce the decline in the bee population worldwide.

Unsplash – CC0 License

GMOs actually could help bees survival

GMOs are often a controversial topic in the farming industry, often blamed for the huge decline in the bee population. However, the farming reality is different. Contrary to common belief, GMOs are not responsible for bee death. On the contrary, they may contribute to greater survival in the bee colonies. Indeed, GMOs require fewer harmful chemicals and insecticides, making them essentially safer for bees than organic or non-GMO farming. We can expect in the long term science to help support the bee population through genetic modifications of both plants and bees.

So, while farmers may be the first to experiment with GMO crops, bees could benefit in the future from a similar boost to improve their survival rate.

Hay can support the bee population

Hay comes in many forms and shapes. More and more farmers are considering using plants that are bee-friendly to produce hay. It’s worth considering hay bales that come from a bee-conscious environment, so you know you are supporting bee colonies.

Alternatively, you can also create your own cattle hay using bee-friendly plants.

Farmers can provide shelters for bees

A variety of factors contribute to the death of bees, including the destruction of their habitat by human infrastructure. Yet, farmers can play an active role in the protection and preservation of bees by providing adequate support.

Indeed, shelters can make a huge difference in the survival rates. Unlike honey bees that build wax, native bees require safe nesting places in dead trees, the ground, or even abandoned burrows. Providing an area with sufficient sheltering options in the close vicinity of crops and flowering plants can help more bees survive.

Farmers can also educate

If you directly sell to consumers at a market or through a farm shop, it’s the perfect opportunity to educate them about your bee preservation activities. Helping people understand the importance of bees can also drive an interest in supporting your action.

Bees are often killed out of fear by individuals who are worried about getting stung. Educating your customers could make a huge difference in supporting the bee population.

The complex bond between farming and bees is a difficult subject to explain in a few minutes. However, the farming industry understands the role of pollinators better than anyone else. Introducing protective solutions to keep pollinators safe starts now for the future of the planet.

Anne

How You Can Reduce Your Carbon Footprint In Everyday Life

November 29, 2021 By Anne

With the world as it is more people need to start doing something to rescue their carbon footprint and become more eco-friendly to help reduce the damage that is being done to the planet. For a lot of people, they are already doing something to help be more eco-friendly and reduce their carbon footprint but for others, they may not know where to start or what can actually be done to make a difference. The first thing you should know is that you can have an impact, many people think they won’t have an impact but this collective mindset is the problem, if you can start then someone else may notice and also try and so on.

If you are looking to rescue your carbon footprint but you are unsure where to start or you are looking for more ideas, then hopefully, these tips will help you to understand what you can do to be more eco-aware and reduce the impact that you are having on the planet.

Source: Pexels

Recycle and reuse

One of the easiest and best places to start with reducing your carbon footprint is with how you dispose of your waste. More and more people are trying to recycle which is a great start but you should look to reduce the waste you are creating, this can be done with reusable water bottles, using reusable straws etc. there are lots of things you can now get to rescue how much plastic and waste you are creating. If you cannot reuse things then make sure you are recycling them correctly, too much goes to landfills that could have just been recycled and this can have such a big impact on the planet. You should also look to try and donate items you no longer want instead of just tossing it out. If you can try to fix things too instead of replacing them this can help to cut down your waste and make sure you are recycling better.

Switch to sustainable energy

Renewable energy has a lot less impact on our planet than fossil fuels so switching to sustainable energy is going to help really make an impact on the world. This can be done in a few ways, you can find an energy provider that uses renewable energy for their power or you could make your home solar powered. Both choices will help to rescue your carbon footprint but both have different costs. As normal with paying for your power, you will be billed as normal for the power you use.

However, making your home solar powered is more of an investment, you can purchase the solar panels and get connected for an initial cost, then you are going to be only using your solar energy to power your home and batteries should you get them for backup. You can also make money off of the solar to help recoup costs, this is done by putting any energy not used back into the power grid for other providers to use who will actually pay you for doing so, which means you can make your money back and reduce your carbon footprint.

Switch things off

If you tend to leave appliances on or on standby they are still going to be drawing power unless switched off by the plug. Even if you have a phone charger plugged in and it isn’t being used it will still be drawing some power so make sure you switch off all your devices and appliances when you are not using them, and make sure you do not have things set to standby, although this can be convenient it will still be costing you money and increasing your carbon footprint. This goes for your lights as well, a lot of people tend to go room to room and just leave the lights on, try and turn them off when you leave a room and then back on if you reenter it, this may seem minor but can help reduce your bill and your carbon footprint.

If you struggle to remember to switch off plugs or devices then getting smart tech like some smart bulbs and plugs can really help with this as you can switch them off and on with your phone and see what lights are on giving you more control over them. You can also set timers up and things like that to help make sure that things are getting switched off when they need to be.

If you struggle to reduce your carbon footprint or you are unsure how you can reduce it or go greener in your daily life, then these tips should help you to understand what you can do to be more eco-friendly and reduce the impact you are having on the planet.

Anne

3 Ways To Cut Your Carbon Footprint This Winter

October 7, 2021 By Anne

Source – CC0 License

The winter period is the coldest of the year, yet it’s the warmest in terms of how many carbon emissions are sent into the atmosphere. As a society, we’ve gotten into the habit of creating massive carbon footprints when the nights draw in. You can already think of a couple of main reasons for this, the key one being the weather. As it gets colder, we see the need to turn our thermostats up, blasting the heating for hours on end. This creates a large carbon footprint, and you can imagine how devastating this is when you factor in every household that does the same thing.

Thankfully, there are some simple ideas that will help you cut your carbon footprint and live a more eco-friendly life this coming winter. Here’s what you should do:

Wrap up warm

Put your winter clothes on and wrap up nice and warm when the temperature drops. Throwing on some jumpers and an extra layer or two will negate the need to turn your heating on now and then. At the very least, you can turn it to a lower setting, minimizing your carbon footprint.

This is also applicable when you’re in your car. You will drive more in the winter, and you will also have the heating on full blast. By wrapping up warm and wearing gloves and a coat in the car, you won’t need to turn the heating on as often. Less energy is used in your car, which reduces the emissions.

Upgrade your insulation

A lot of our homes aren’t built to withstand the cold weather. Instead, they’re built to deal with the hotter months of the year, keeping us cool. So, when the cold season is upon us, our homes leak so much heat and keep us cold.

You can prevent this by upgrading your home’s insulation. Get some spray foam insulation in your attic and between your walls, trapping more heat inside your property. The less heat that escapes, the better. Once more, this prevents the need to turn your heating on and waste energy.

Close doors and windows

Another tactic to reduce your carbon footprint is by keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible. Closing the living room door will trap heat inside that room, and the same goes for other rooms in your home. When all the doors are open, heat dissipates throughout the house, making you feel colder.

The same goes for your windows as well – if they’re open, you get the benefit of fresh air, but the downside of coldness entering your home and heat leaving it. You should open your windows briefly to let your home ventilate, but keep them shut for most of the day to retain as much heat in your home as you can.

See, you really don’t have to do anything drastic to reduce your carbon footprint this winter. It’s mainly about figuring out how to use less energy during your daily routine. This means keeping your heating off – or at as low a setting as possible.