Going Green Without Compromising Productivity Or Profitability

Julie Starr • August 20, 2020



In today’s climate, adopting an eco-friendly approach to business is something that every entrepreneur should aim to do. Aside from the many benefits for the company, it’s a matter of human and social responsibility. Frankly, you cannot afford to ignore it any longer.  However, it’s equally crucial to ensure that going green won’t impact productivity or profitability. Not least due to the difficulties caused by the current economic climate. Here’s how to go green without falling into the red.

Reduce Energy Output

When thinking about ways to reduce the carbon footprint, reduced energy usage is the perfect starting point. Investments ranging from roof solar panels to efficient staff toilets will have a positive impact. However, it’s not all about energy usage during work hours. If you are currently using security guards, they are using various resources throughout the night. A business CCTV installation will consequently make a huge difference. It’ll also help you monitor the situation remotely. For the safety of your company, as well as the planet, this is one of the smartest moves you could ever make.

Make It Your Brand

The idea of building sustainability into your brand can take many forms. The idea of embracing digital ad campaigns is something that can actually boost conversions rather than hinder them. Many consumers actively want to buy from brands that show social responsibility. Promoting your commitment to the planet by supporting worthy causes is an easy solution that won’t impact your output. Meanwhile, packaging made from recyclable materials is another very wise move. From winning new clients to securing loyalty, an eco-friendly brand image will deliver stunning results.

Use Digital Team Communications

Great communication is at the heart of every successful business. This concept shouldn’t be restricted to customer interactions, though. Internal interactions and B2B links can also be facilitated by modern tech to save time, money, and the planet. The days of burning petrol or taking flights to meetings can be a thing of the past. VoIP tech , video conferencing, emails, and project management Apps can transform your approach to work. Better still, it removes any ambiguity from your venture.

Automate Where Possible

Machinery and equipment can complete an array of business tasks far quicker than any human. This naturally means that you will see greater productivity rates. When you learn to utilize energy-efficient appliances and tools, it’s possible to become greener. The best machines will use fewer materials and operate with less energy. On a related note, implemented the use of 3D printing can make prototyping and part replacements far better. The flexibility it offers can be a true game-changer.

Cut The Waste

Habitual changes often make the biggest impact. Cutting the waste from your operation can create a greener, leaner business that also turns a bigger profit. Stop leaving electronics on standby. Stop purchasing items that aren’t needed when existing products can be fixed. Consider using delivery services that pack your items with those of other companies. And be ready to lose unnecessary tasks from the daily operations. It only takes a few weeks to adopt winning habits. You’ve got this!

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.