If you want to start a green home repair business, here are seven simple but effective ways to run a more sustainable enterprise – both in terms of environmental sustainability and financial sustainability, so you can keep on doing all the good that you’re doing.
1. Conduct Market Research
Before making any important decisions, fully research and understand your target market. That way, you gain valuable insight into the demand for green home repair businesses in your area.
Not only will this information help you to determine the feasibility of your business but also identify opportunities for growth in the near and distant future.
First, decide what types of customers will be interested in your services. For example, you could appeal to residential homeowners or commercial property developers.
Next, take a look at other green repair and building companies operating in your local area. What are their pricing strategies? Are they targeting the same audience? Could you offer something different that would lead to customers turning to you instead?
Understanding the priorities and preferences of potential clients is key when it comes to sustainable home repair. Research what projects are currently trending among homeowners. This might include eco-friendly materials, energy efficiency or improved air quality.
Tailor your services where necessary and highlight how committed you are to sustainability in your marketing strategies.
Get the Green Building Project Checklist
Use this handy checklist on your next project to keep track of all the ways you can make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.
2. Use Green Supply Chains
One of the best ways to prove that your green home repair business walks the walk is by using suppliers that are committed to reducing their environmental impact. These suppliers should be local where possible to reduce the distance needed to transport materials.
Research any materials certifications on products you use in your projects to ensure their standards are strict and that the producers aren’t just greenwashing.
Be attentive to things like paints and coatings, as some of these substances could still contain harmful elements. Always ensure that materials are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
3. Change Lights Used in Projects
Did you know lighting represents 1/3 of a commercial building’s electricity bill? For this reason alone, reducing the impact that conventional lighting has on your repair projects is critical to you becoming an eco-friendly business.
A simple strategy is to only use LED bulbs in your lighting, which are shown to use up to 75 percent less power than traditional bulbs. They also typically have a longer lifespan, so reduce the need to replace bulbs more quickly. A great, easy way to save money!
You could even encourage clients to install motion-activated switches to ensure empty rooms don’t unnecessarily stay lit.
4. Familiarize Yourself With New Green Technology
While energy-efficient lighting is great, you’ll also need to think about how you can make use of renewable energy sources and modern green technology in the buildings you are working on.
Aside from finding ways to make your work more sustainable, such as incorporating solutions like portable solar panels to power your power tools, educate yourself on the many green solutions out there so you can recommend them to your clients. Suggesting solutions like heat pumps, smart thermostats, water-efficient plumbing and energy-efficient appliances will score you some points from the homeowner who is too busy or doesn’t know much about these things. Many people may make these changes if they only knew about them.
5. Switch to an Eco-Friendly Search Engine
Did you know that how you search online can offset your environmental impact? Instead of using traditional staples like Google or Bing to carry out your daily business tasks, you should switch to a search engine like Ecosia, which contributes to reforestation efforts with each search that you make.
On some search engines, you can even add an extension to enable quick searches and keep track of all the contributions you’ve made simply by searching.
6. Use Digital Tools to Keep Your Records
It’s not just your browser activity that can help you stay on track for an eco-friendly business. Operating a paperless business in general is another way to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability.
If you’re going to switch to paperless, it means you’ll be online more, so it’s a good idea to keep your computer protected. Various cybersecurity tools can be used to protect your devices from cyberattacks and safeguard your and your clients’ data.
One of the most effective tools to use is a VPN with a link scanner, which can scan URLs to protect you against malware, phishing attacks and botnet attacks.
7. Utilize Energy-Efficient Equipment
The power-hungry nature of the types of equipment you’ll use in your home repair projects can lead to excessive energy consumption. It’s therefore crucial to use appliances responsibly to reduce power usage.
Clearly label tools and machinery and ensure you and your staff know how to use them safely and correctly. As a result, the equipment will be used more efficiently and only switched on when necessary. You’ll also benefit from having the equipment checked for faults to prevent energy from being wasted.
Aim to replace any of your old models with newer, high-efficiency models. Opting for battery-powered tools means that equipment can be charged using electricity rather than burning fuels that produce harmful emissions. And where possible, hand tools can be an effective green option to consider.
Read more on this topic in Energy-Saving Tips to Lower Your Business’ Electric Consumption.
I’ve long believed in living the green life. Finally, but contribute as well.