The majority of large businesses that aren’t completely sustainable are well on their way towards becoming so, as almost every successful modern startup has been devised as eco-friendly from the very beginning. Getting your small business up and running, however, isn’t easy – you’re looking at a ton of hard work and, even though being sustainable might not be on your list of top priorities, you should definitely make sure it gets there.

In addition to numerous ecological benefits, building an eco-friendly startup at its very core has a ton of financial upshots. Moreover, purchasing a majority of your office supplies from ecological and sustainable brands can also help to reduce your carbon footprint. Here are five more green tips for coming up with a sustainable small business.

1. Water

As the single most valuable substance on Earth, water is to be conserved as much as possible. Although almost every business has different needs, if approached carefully, reducing water wastage can cut the usage by as much as 30%. Commercial areas are significantly larger water wasters than residential ones, so coming up with multiple solutions is recommended. Installing urinal controls or waterless urinals can go a long way in trimming your spending. Efficient flush toilets will help cut water wasting, and popular automatic or sensor taps are surely greener than the regular ones.

2. Lighting

Regardless of the type of your business, you’re going to need proper lighting. Now, seeing as how the majority of work is probably going to take place between 9am and 5pm, taking advantage of natural light by installing skylights is the smartest choice.

On the other hand, some businesses incorporate nightshifts into their work schedules and using lighting here is simply unavoidable. Luckily, sustainability and affordability go hand-in-hand – LED bulbs are both eco-friendly and they tend to pay off in the long run. Additionally, the light that LED bulbs provide is almost as natural!

3. Air Conditioning

The ideal temperature for sedentary workers is 72 to 79 degrees – anything above or below these limits is unnecessary and, even more importantly, harmful for the environment. Making sure that the temperature remains within the limits of what is recommended can save you quite a bit of money. The problem with this is cooling and heating the office in the beginning of a workday. Luckily, there is a way around this – setting aside a part of your budget for a heater with a timer can go a long way, both when it comes to cutting expenses and making your office greener!

4. Recycling

There is a reason why ‘recycling’ is among the first things that come to mind when you think ‘sustainability’ – it is a growing problem and it has been for a while. Douglas Partners, geotechnical engineering consultants urge young professionals to include recycling into their green-oriented ways of doing business. It’s really a win-win situation – creating a self-sustaining waste disposal system can exempt you from taxes, and at the same time contribute to making your company significantly greener!

5. Transportation

Finally, let’s address the carbon footprint contribution that the vehicles provide – we all know that it is huge. Now, instead of giving your employees gas money for commuting and business trips, them with bicycles – this is a healthier alternative to motor vehicles in every way. When it comes to business trips, consider eco-friendly electric buses.

If you decide to follow these five tips, you’re bound to see that they will pave a smooth road towards sustainability. Be mindful of your water spending, utilize as much sunlight as possible, keep the temperature levels at the outlined limits, become self-sustaining in terms of waste disposal and discover greener ways for your employees’ transportation. In this way, you’ll both save money and help the environment.