Start-ups to large enterprises are looking for ways to be greener businesses. Aside from the fact that your company does its share to preserve and nurture the environment, it is also good for business since it would allow you to conserve resources which means, more savings.

We cannot control underlying forces which are responsible for price hikes of almost everything from gas prices to energy costs. However, what we can control is our usage. I am not a full-blown nature advocate. What I am an advocate of is sustainable and growing businesses.

Without further ado, here are 6 simple ways you can increase your business’ bottom line by running a greener business:

1. Turn off all your equipment when not in use. You might be tempted to leave your laptop on standby for easier access in the morning when you get back but it would just take a chunk out of your electric bills.
2. If you are thinking of buying new office furniture, opt for refurbished ones instead of brand-spanking new ones.
3. Reuse, reduce, recycle. You don’t have to throw away things that you could still recycle. If you are printing documents, it’s not a crime to produce double-sided documents. If however, it is absolutely necessary to print on one side only, use the back portion as scratch paper once you’ve used it.
4. Use email for correspondence. It’s a lot cheaper, your recipients would receive it earlier and you don’t have to print it. Less use of ink and paper means more money to be spent on things that are absolutely vital to your business.
5. For transportation and travel, use hybrid vehicles. The cost of fuel can make you feel like you’re losing out on this alone. While there are businesses which do not require travel, most still do and purchasing hybrid vehicles would be easier on the budget if you look at the big picture.
6. Use laptops instead of desktops since the former is more energy efficient. Plus the fact that you could take it anywhere with you should give you more reason to choose one over the other.

If you think about it, going green means more than just caring about the environment, it’s also about caring about your business by cutting down on expenses. A reduction in the use of your resources is optimal both for the growth of your business as well as in the flexibility of your budget.

You might also want to take the next step and actually formulate a green business plan. You just need diligence, effort and a few simple but effective ways to go green. For any great energy-saving tips I might have left out, feel free to share it in the comments.