Yes, you read that right! Creating a “green” environment for customers is jumping higher on the priority list due to the increasing popularity of sustainability practices in homes and other businesses. Paul Damico, president of Moe’s Southwest Grill, recently changed his business to incorporate more sustainable practices, which has resulted in higher sales, more customers, and great savings on maintenance. Their new restaurant look includes CFL and LED lighting, changes to the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system. Damacio stresses that even though the upfront cost may be high, the changes will ultimately save energy and money. They also offer hormone-free meats, organic tofu and other “green” food practices. A few environmentally friendly changes have gone a long way at Moe’s Southwest Grill.
Greenwala’s “10 Ways to Go Green with Your Business” article gives some ideas to incorporate green business practices into your daily company routine. Check out these five, and then read the rest of the article here.
– Lighting: We are glad this is number two on the list! Invest in LEDs. They’re so efficient they’ll put cash right back into your wallet. They also have a brighter, more uniform light, so they are less likely to give your employees headaches and gripes. Better lighting also means better looking food for restaurant owners. You don’t want that salad to look like it came out of a bag, do you?
– Printing: Do you really need to print off that email? Probably not. Printing uses tons of paper and ink. Greenwala suggests organizing your information in Google Docs.
– Turn the computers off at night: All it takes is hitting that “shut-down” button and you can save energy overnight!
– Recycle: Keep recycling bins around the office and encourage employees to use them.
– Upgrade your appliances to ENERGY STAR: If you need a new dishwasher, coffee pot, microwave, or whatever it may be, think about getting an efficient ENERGY STAR product.
Every little change helps the environment. Do your part today!
