Coupons4LV.com  -  Tree Hugging Frugalitarian

Lets examine the common C-fold paper towel in a little more detail. In order for it to be produced, trees must be cut. They have to be shipped to your business. They have to be purchased in large quantities and stored somewhere in your business. An employee has to un-box and load them into a dispenser. The trash must be emptied everyday, sometimes more in addition to the purchase of plastic trash bags. Unless your dispenser is filled properly every time, the towels may fall on the floor and look unsightly. Many users take way too many to dry their hands. Certain individuals will always inevitably clog up your toilets with the towels on occasion. Now you have to deal with plumbers and other maintenance challenges. 

Installing a modern high powered hand dryer (not the wimpy ones of yesteryear) eliminates lots of overhead. (Saving around $959/yr for a family owned restaurant) After you try one of these for yourself, you may want to even install one in your home! We source these dryers wholesale, if you would like a quote for your business, please contact us.

One other item to note, is to try to make sure your restroom doors open outward if possible. This enables people to avoid touching the door/handles with their hands on the way out.

Sometimes, making the decision to turn your small business into a greener running machine can be difficult to implement. Getting caught up in the day to day activities coupled with countless obligations leaves little time to spare.

I encourage you to capitalize your time by taking advantage of the dip in consumer traffic at your business. Dedicate an hour or more to review each aspect of your business where you spend money. Ask yourself, why am I doing this? Is there a better way to achieve this task or function? Does this spending activity benefit the employee or the customer? How can I reduce my spending so I can pass the savings on to the customer?

The following are a few ideas that will help to jog your mind, but each business has its’ own challenges and opportunities.

-Can I replace any lighting in the store with compact fluorescents bulbs (CFL’s) or even more efficient LED lighting?
-Do I leave the lights on in the restroom at my business? Perhaps I should install a motion sensor switch in the restroom?
-Do I have paper towels in my bathroom? Maybe I should swap them out for a next generation high powered hand dryer…
-I wonder if installed an instant hot water heater under the sink if it would save money?
-Am I using a flat screen LCD instead of an older CRT monitor at the register?
-Am I handing out plastic bags at my store? Maybe I can pass out inexpensive reusable cloth bags that have my logo/name on the side, so that I get free advertising and reduce throwaway waste…
-What is the thermostat set in my business, could I tweak it a degree or two without causing discomfort to clients/customers?
-Do I have a programmable thermostat that changes the temperature automatically when no one is in the building?
-Should I install a humidifier to make it feel warmer in the winter?
-Do I have a high efficiency HVAC system?
-Do I have a recycling bin in the store, or does everything go in the trash?
-Is the packaging of anything that leaves the store in an environmentally sensitive container. (E.g. take out containers for food are available in enviroware materials that biodegrade quickly unlike foam or plastic)
-What do I do with my cardboard?
-Do I need something for my business? Maybe I can get it locally and less expensive on craigslist.
-Do I utilize the farmers markets in the area to get locally grown produce and goods? They are often less expensive than big box stores and it takes less fossil fuel to get it to your business…
-Do I have window tint on my sunny spots to decrease heat transfer in the summer?
-Can I telecommute on certain days (or ever day) and get the same work done without driving all the way to the office?
-Do I live close to my office?
-What if I could eliminate a car in my household by biking to work? -How much would I save in fuel, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and fees?
-Perhaps I should consider meeting with my client over a WebEx instead of driving in traffic?
-Is snail mail really required for that business function? Perhaps I could email it instead saving paper, stamp, ink, fuel?
-Maybe I should follow the undeniable trend and begin to transfer my paper advertising budget to digital media?

These are just a few ideas, if you have any more feel free to add them to the list.  Enjoy the Super bowl tonight and more importantly, advertising genius at it’s finest!