Creating a Money-Saving, Sustainable Workplace: The Ultimate Guide

April is Earth Month, which means it’s the perfect time to look at how we can make our workplaces more economically sustainable. But don’t worry—we’re not here to guilt-trip you into becoming a zero-waste, money-saving guru overnight. Instead, let’s talk about realistic ways you can create a workplace that’s better for the environment, your employees, and your wallet.

In-Office Employer Tips

1. Rethink Commuting

The easiest way to cut down on workplace emissions? Change how employees get there. Single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs) are one of the biggest contributors to traffic congestion and poor air quality. But if you’re thinking, ‘Yeah, but I still want my employees coming into the office’, don’t worry—there are plenty of commuter options that will keep your employees on-time.

• Carpooling: Employees can split the ride (and gas money). Bonus: As a partner with goCommute, you’ll get access to Hampton Roads carpool matching with the ConnectingVA app, making it easy for your employees to find a ride buddy or two. It helps you reduce the number of parking spaces you need!

• Public Transit: Check out bus routes or light rail options near your business. If there’s one within walking distance (a half mile), encourage your employees to use transit. The GoPass365 program is a great option for Hampton Roads employers to offer their employees as an incentive to take transit instead of driving themselves.

• Bike or Walk: If your employees live close enough, recommend they swap cars for a bike or a pair of comfy walking shoes. Their heart (and wallet!) will thank you. Show them you’re serious about what we call active transportation by installing a bike repair station, water bottle refill station and even a freshen-up area for employees to use when they arrive.

2. Upgrade The Desk Game

Your employees’ desk setup might not scream “sustainable, money-saving baddie,” but small changes can add up. Consider offering these items for employees to use:

• Reusable ceramic or glass coffee mugs/tumblers

• Refillable water bottles instead of plastic ones from the breakroom.

• Reusable utensils that employees can wash in the breakroom sink

3. Cut Down on Energy Use

Let’s be honest—no one needs their computer to stay on overnight. Encourage your employees to turn off monitors, lights, and other electronics when they’re not in use. And if you’re in an office with motion-sensor lights, congrats—you’ve already won the money-saving jackpot. Making sure there aren’t lights that stay on 24/7 in your building or floor can also help off-set any energy costs.

Employer Solutions

Sustainable budgeting isn’t just an employee effort. As an employer, you can take big steps to make workplaces less draining on your bottom line while improving productivity and morale. Here’s how:

1. Encourage Smarter Commuting

Offer lots of incentives for employees who carpool, vanpool, or take public transit. Preferred parking spots, transit pass subsidies, and even swag baskets can go a long way in making commuters who choose not to drive themselves feel like you recognize the importance of their choice. These employees save money and time on their commutes, which means you as the employer gets to say, ‘Our employees are valued and more productive because they don’t have to sit in traffic all morning!’

2. Embrace Hybrid Work

Allow remote work. If that doesn’t seem like something you’re interested in (even though it’s one of the biggest money savers out there, especially once you choose to sell the building your employees don’t work from anymore), consider implementing a hybrid schedule. Fewer commuting days mean fewer trips in a vehicle. Your employees will save money, time, and have fewer excuses for being late because of traffic.

3. Implement Office-Wide Recycling and Waste Reduction

You might think recycling is just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. And, if your company just ends up putting the recycling in the same cans as trash at the end of the day, it is. To make a recycling program a money-saving benefit for your business, consider implement the following:

• Clearly labeled recycling bins for paper, plastics, and metals.

• Bring in recycled paper products for use

• Minimize single-use plastics in break rooms

• Partner with a local zero-waste business to use refillable soap containers and washable towels in restrooms

4. Go Digital

Paper? In this economy? Digitizing documents, invoices, and reports cuts down on wasteful paper spending and makes collaboration easier. Plus, who really enjoys rifling through stacks of paper anyway? If you have to use paper, save on your costs by printing double-sided. You can also use recycled paper or even use the rear side of single-printed paper for taking notes. Overall, going digital is still the best option for reducing money-sinking waste in your office, though!

Military Base Parking Options: Let’s Talk Vanpooling

For service members and civilian employees commuting to military bases commuting to military bases, parking can be a nightmare. But instead of everyone driving solo, vanpooling offers a cost-effective, stress-free alternative.

Why Vanpool?

• Saves Money: Participants share fuel costs, reducing overall commuting expenses.

• Eases Parking Struggles: Fewer vehicles mean less competition for those coveted parking spots (and you can offer prime spots up front to your vanpools!).

• Reduces Wear and Tear on Your Car: Less mileage on your employees’ vehicles = longer lifespan and lower maintenance costs for them.

• Less Stress: Your employees will have time to relax, read, or catch up on podcasts instead of fighting traffic on their way in. That will help them be less stressed and more productive during the day!

How to Get Started: Tips for Your Employees

• Use goCommute’s Rideshare Matching: Employees can find a group of commuters or coworkers heading in the same direction, all at the push of a button.

• Find Subsidized Program Info: Many bases offer subsidies to offset vanpool costs, so find these to share with your command or employees. If there’s a representative on base who handles all the requests, invite them to come speak during a training session.

• Encourage Coordinating with Co-Workers: If an official vanpool isn’t available yet, consider encouraging your employees to start their own.

• Give goCommute a Call: We can help connect your employees to existing vanpools or assist in getting a new one started.

Rideshare Matching

If vanpooling isn’t for your employees, or they’d like something a little more flexible, carpooling is another great option, especially with goCommute’s rideshare matching service, offered in partnership with ConnectingVA. This service benefits Hampton Roads commuters by connecting them with others traveling similar routes, making it easy to find carpool buddies. And let’s be real—having a co-pilot for those long bridge-tunnel drives? Priceless.

ConnectingVA Ride Home Rewards Program

Employees hesitant about carpooling, vanpooling or taking transit often cite needing the flexibility and control over when or how they leave as reasons for not wanting to participate. Good news—goCommute has their back! The ConnectingVA Ride Home Rewards Program offers free rides home for commuters who use sustainable, money-saving transportation options but find themselves in a pinch. It’s like a backup plan for your commute—without the stress.

• Who Qualifies? If they vanpool, carpool, bike, or take transit, they can sign up.

• How Does It Work? If they have an emergency, they get a free ride home (within program limits).

• Why Is This Awesome? Because it eliminates the “I can’t commit to carpooling because what if something happens?” excuse.

Making Sustainable, Money-Saving Options a Workplace Priority

Creating a sustainable, budget-friendly workplace isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress! As an employer, every step you take counts. And what better time to start than during Earth Month?

By rethinking commutes, reducing waste, and making greener choices, we can all contribute to a healthier planet, a less stressful workday and thicket waller. So go ahead, encourage your employees to carpool, bring that reusable coffee cup, and maybe even ditch the disposable cutlery. Your future self, the Earth, and your bottom line will thank you.