5 Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Office Today

Julie Starr • June 3, 2022



Making a huge difference when it comes to the environment will take time. But you can reduce the carbon footprint of your office by making some immediate changes.

Focus Solely on Digital Marketing

Marketing is integral to modern business. But older marketing strategies rely on outdated mediums like newspapers, glossy mags, and even flyers. Of course, you could use printers that use sustainable materials and recycled paper. But still, you could be wasting your time. Digital marketing is at the forefront of modern advertising, and it can potentially reach a vast amount of people. Further, many digital marketing agencies work with white label marketing services . This means materials and campaign strategies come from one source, reducing waste. 

Ban Paper from the Office

You could try going paperless to reduce your carbon footprint. It sounds simple and takes time for your business to adjust. But you can implement it immediately. Rather than memos, encourage the use of email-only communication. And if more complex tasks are required, you can use fantastic collaboration apps. Additionally, you will save a ton on paper expenses, toner and ink, and the energy use of your printers. The only real work is getting everyone at the office set up on various digital systems and training them to use them properly.

Reduce the Carbon Footprint with Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles have undoubtedly been on your radar for some time now. And now, you can purchase electric scooters, vans, and small trucks . So there’s something for every business. You can start your green journey with an electric car since they emit 0% pollutants because of the battery power. So the potential for reducing your carbon footprint is enormous. Additionally, you could encourage your employees to buy EVs and carpool them. Buying an EV is as simple as any other car. Then, you could pop down to a local dealer this afternoon.

Switch to a Renewables Supplier

In recent years, renewable energy has contributed to an ever-growing amount of global electricity demand. However, time is running out, so it’s moving even faster. Still, 70% of electricity is generated by harmful fossil fuels. However, the good news is that green energy use has increased by 10% in just two years. To reduce your company’s carbon footprint significantly, you can switch to a green energy supplier. Or you could supplement your energy with solar panels to generate clean and free energy at the office for significantly reduced bills.

Partner with Transparent Brands

Transparency in business is beginning to change thanks to the public perception of corporate roles in ecological issues. New brands and startups are more concerned with customer expectations, such as ethical and sustainability practices , and are therefore more open. Nevertheless, the majority of established brands within specific sectors, such as drinks production, are yet to follow. Not surprisingly, these companies are some of the most harmful. So, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate with whom you do business as a means to a green end.

Summary

You can begin reducing your carbon footprint today. Going paperless is one easy option. And you could also consider switching to a green energy supplier or buying electric vehicles.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.