Companies are always looking for new ways to be more sustainable. Not only can going green help your company’s bottom line, but it can also help attract new clients and customers. Sometimes, though, it seems like the conversion to renewable energy isn’t really worth the effort.
However, switching to renewable energy can actually bring many different benefits to your business. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest rewards your business will receive for switching to more sustainable energy sources.
-
Consistently Lower Energy Bills
If you’re using resource energy such as oil or natural gas, you can expect to have a large energy bill just about every month. As these resources become harder to come across, the price will only go up. This means you could be spending thousands of dollars more on your energy bills than competitors using renewable energy.
Solar energy gives you an opportunity to cut your energy bills while also contributing to the Earth’s health. Buying solar panels to harvest energy from the sun can be an economically intelligent purchase for your business. Because you don’t need to worry about competing for resources, you can ensure your solar panels will keep your energy costs low for years.
-
Public Relations Boost
As a business, you want to show your clients, customers and community that you care about their well-being. This goes much deeper than just providing your customers with the best quality products or services. You need to make smart business decisions to prove to your audience that you have their best interest at heart and that your values align with the strategic choices you make.
Going green can be a great way to get a much-needed public relations boost. During a time when leaving as small of an impact on the environment as possible is important, you want to go above and beyond to exceed your target audience’s expectations. Making the choice to use renewable energy over traditional energy forms could be the difference between a client choosing your business or a competitor’s.
-
Create Jobs and Stimulate the Economy
When the economy is thriving, businesses thrive as well. As a business, it is your responsibility to create new jobs for your community — but did you know those jobs may not be working directly for you? If you choose to switch to renewable energy forms, you’re encouraging growth in that industry and creating new jobs for people.
Solar energy, hydroelectric energy and geothermal energy require more manpower than traditional fossil fuels. This means when you switch to renewable energy, you’re creating a larger demand for that energy source, encouraging the creation of more jobs. As more companies make the switch, we can expect to see a real takeoff in the number renewable energy jobs.
-
Less Service Disruption
As a business owner, you want to ensure your employees, customers and place of business always has access to electricity and energy. In the event of bad weather, you may find you’re out of power, unable to operate and quickly losing money. The longer the power is out, the more business opportunities you’re missing out on.
While renewable energy also depends on the weather, it is more stable and easily distributed than traditional fossil fuels. This means if one windmill goes out, the others are able to pick up the slack. In most cases, you won’t experience service disruption with renewable energy. This allows your business to stay open and keep pushing through. When your competitors are down, this can make all the difference.
-
Powerful Return on Investment
You’re a business owner, so you understand just how important the ROI of your purchases can be. When you adopt a renewable energy form, you’re getting a pretty hefty return on your investment. While the investment may be pretty large now, it will definitely help you save money in the next few years.
You will see savings on your energy bills, which could be thousands of dollars a year depending on your business size. You’ll also save money in maintenance fees and repairs, putting more money back into your pocket. As traditional resources, like coal, get lower and lower, you won’t need to compete with outrageous prices to power your business — keeping more money in your pocket.
-
Fewer Global Warming Emissions
Global warming is causing very real and serious consequences for our planet, but we continue to practice bad habits that can lead to even more damage. The use of coal and natural gas can be some of the biggest contributors to global warming.
While some installation, manufacturing and maintenance practices associated with renewable energy may still contribute to global warming, the damage is much lower. Some forms of renewable energy actually produce no global warming emissions at all. Making the switch to a renewable energy form can ensure you’re doing your part in creating a healthier environment.
-
Community Improvement
Think about the difference between seeing billowing smoke coming from a factory on a hill versus a windmill. Chances are, you’d rather see the windmill. The people in your community are probably thinking the same thing.
As a business owner, you need to consider how your decisions affect the lives of those around you. If your business is known for polluting the air or bringing down the quality of life in your city or town, you may develop a bad reputation. Using renewable energy forms, such as windmills, can improve your image in the community.
-
Develop a New Marketing Approach
Looking for new ways to attract customers and clients can definitely be a challenge, especially when you’ve run out of ideas. However, with the number of people looking to make more conscious purchasing choices on the rise, switching to renewable energy will give you the ability to market your business as green.
Millennials in particular are interested in purchasing from green and sustainable companies. As they get older and become a larger portion of the buying population, you’ll want to create marketing strategies that appeal to them. Making the switch to a renewable energy form may be enough to convince them to make a purchase.
-
Become an Industry Leader
No matter your industry, you want to be perceived as a leader in that area. As a business owner, you need to make strategic and smart decisions that push you ahead of your competitors. If there are not a lot of companies in your industry using renewable energy forms, switching can differentiate you enough that you become a leader.
Choosing to switch to renewable energy while it’s still new can position your company as a forward-thinking and agile business. When other businesses begin to make the switch themselves, they’ll remember you were one of the first to do so. They’ll continue to look to you for ideas on trends, behaviors and what’s popular in the industry you serve.
Renewable energy can bring many different benefits to your business. Whether you’re looking for a way to leave a smaller footprint on the planet or you’re hoping for a new way to differentiate your business, making the switch to renewable energy is an important decision you need to make as a business owner.
While going through the steps of switching may seem like a hassle, you’ll be happy you did when you see the benefits it can bring to you and your community. When you show your customers you care about their health, the environment and creating a sustainable business, they’ll be more likely to purchase products or services from you.
