2 min read
Are you in a work environment that doesn’t promote sustainability? Do the people around you drive you crazy when they throw their water bottles in the trash, instead of the recycle bin? Do you wish that you could create a more sustainable mindset in your company, university, or club? Here are 5 tips to help you do just that.
1. Be A Leader...
Set an example that you would be inspired by. The people around you will be impressed by your integrity and initiative and you’ll feel a constant confidence in your role as a sustainable leader. By raising awareness about the importance of going green, you’ll become the heart of your cause. Everyone will know to go to you if they have questions about a renewable lifestyle.
2. … Or Find A Leader
Not everyone enjoys leading. And that’s okay! But establishing a sustainable culture can be difficult if your coworkers or peers do not have someone they can come to with inquiries and they don’t have anyone to guide them on how to become more sustainable.
An individual with a high level of commitment and who has excellent communication skills should be chosen to devote a portion of their time to leading, developing, and measuring sustainable practices throughout your club or organization.
3. Develop Group Commitment
If you’re part of a large organization, go ahead and create specific sustainability protocols (with the approval of your boss, of course!) in order to develop group engagement. Set goals, update reviews to include sustainable efforts, and reward people for when they engage in renewable efforts. With achievable sustainability goals, your organization will quickly adopt a renewable mindset.
4. Look Around You
Inspect the area where your company, club, or university is located, keeping an eye out for harsh chemical cleaning supplies, paints with high-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and wasteful water fixtures. Many of these items can be replaced immediately with more ecologically positive products. How about calculating the cost of a solar system? Think how happy your boss would be if she didn’t have to pay the utility bill every month!
Many businesses also have foliage, grasses, and other plants that are not native to their environment. By replacing these greeneries with endemic plants, your company will likely spend much less on gardening services.
5. Make It Easy
Making sustainability a natural and automatic part of your business or club also requires that each process is simplified. Most people are happy to recycle if it means that there’s a recycling bin right next to a trash can. Put a sign next to a light switch reminding people to turn off the lights when they leave the room, or use a timer or motion sensor. Get creative with reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Remember that not everyone is as knowledgeable about sustainability as you are… but also that not everyone cares as much about sustainability as you do. Educate the people around you, making them fully aware of the ecological benefits and rationale of a culture of sustainability, but also make it easy for people to adopt green practices, one step at a time. You might be surprised by how many people will be interested in developing a renewable lifestyle.
Want to know more about switching to solar to develop sustainably? Call us at 407.331.9077 or contact us here to get started today. We’ll be happy to help jumpstart a green culture in your business.
