Keeping energy costs as low as possible is one of the central responsibilities of owners, managers, and entrepreneurs in every industry. Whether out of financial necessity or as a way to be more socially responsible, entrepreneurs who strive to use less fuel, electricity, and other forms of energy are at the forefront of a modern movement. The goal is more effective operations, higher profits, and a more satisfied customer base. What methods do business managers and founders employ in order to minimize the use and cost of energy in the workplace?
For starters, they hold virtual meetings as often as possible and conduct hiring interviews remotely. In the transport industry, owners are turning more frequently to electric powered fleet vehicles to save on petroleum-based fuel expenses. Other popular strategies include a greater reliance on solar arrays for generating office electricity, a transition to paperless working environments, and a switch to shared workspace. The following tactics are representative of how small business owners and managers are cutting their energy expenses across the board in every major industry.
Virtual Meetings and Interviews
With the rapid growth in popularity of video meetings since 2020, owners and entrepreneurs are beginning to move to a 100% video-based meeting and interview structure. That means lower transportation costs within the company and a much easier way of conducting job interviews with potential employees. Reducing utility bills is about making dozens of small but smart choices throughout an organization. Holding virtual meetings and using virtual interviews are two of them. You can still grow your local business while operating virtually, look into the various platforms and software programs available that are designed to help business owners do just that.
Electric Transport Fleets
Perhaps the most obvious way to reduce the daily operational energy expense is to switch to a new type of vehicle propulsion. Compared to combustion engines, electric motors are not only cleaner and quieter but cost far less to operate. EVs (electric vehicles) are already gaining momentum in dozens of other industries besides transport fleets. Owners view them as an easy way to develop a totally sustainable fleet that delivers benefits related to fuel efficiency, clean emissions, and much lower costs of operations.
Going Paperless
Paperless offices have been around for a few years, but the trend is finally catching on in large swaths of the financial and IT sectors. No longer a rarity, paperless work environments help businesses save on paper, supplies, and space. The potential for economy-wide savings is huge, although it could take another five or ten years for every office to go paperless.
Using Shared Office Space
The shared commercial space concept is relatively new and has become an effective way for millions of entrepreneurs to keep rental expenses as low as possible. The technique works particularly well for owners who don’t need a full 40 hours of occupancy or who are happy to use evening shifts for their typical work hours. If you think a shared arrangement could help reduce monthly operational costs, speak with an experienced commercial real estate agent and put your name on their shared-space waiting list. When they find a match, they’ll introduce you to the other tenant and let you work out a formal, written agreement for splitting occupancy time of the same office area.