Top tips to 'green' your business - and cut your bills

Rowan Wallis, from the Sustainable Business Partnership, is leading a half-day workshop on January 21 entitled Sustainability in the Workplace.

The workshop is part of the Ride the Wave programme, which is funded by Brighton and Hove City Council and is designed and delivered by Brighton Chamber of Commerce.

We asked Rowan to give us his top tips:

Staff involvement You don't have to have an environment manager to turn your business green. By involving different people, a wider range of issues and their solutions will emerge. What's more, there will be a driving force throughout the company to get things done. Consider forming a Green Team or holding a company Green Day, to explore why environmental issues matter and what can be done.

Find out what other businesses are doing There may be great green initiatives going on next door, while you've still got your head stuck in landfill! Talk to your neighbours, other businesses in your industry, or members of your local chamber to find out what works and what doesn't. By working together, it may also be possible to pool resources and collectively reduce costs.

Get on top of your utilities Do you find your utility bills over-complicated? Are you confident you are getting a good deal? Savings can often be achieved, for example, by better matching your energy tariff to your pattern of usage, or ensuring your waste contracts do not roll, trapping you into a second year at higher prices.

Quick-wins Focus on initiatives that will provide greatest benefit in the shortest time frame. LED lighting is currently proving an attractive investment, with payback periods often between just two and three years (if lights are typically switched on during business hours). Savings can be re-invested into longer term or more exciting projects.

Work with your supply chain You've got your own house in order, but what about your suppliers? Often joint initiatives will provide cost and time benefit for both parties - for example, electronic invoicing and payments.

Shout about it! Use your green achievements to win new customers. Consider entering a local business award or gaining an industry accolade, such as the Green Tourism Business Scheme, or certification to an international standard, such as ISO14001.

For more details about Ride the Wave, visit: www.businessinbrighton.org.uk/events. Email: [email protected]