(NC) As the realities of climate change are increasingly visible, and communities across the country and around the world battle more extreme temperatures and weather events, many businesses are feeling the pressure to walk the talk when it comes to environmental sustainability.

Here are three ways a business can be more environmentally conscious – on Earth Day and beyond.

Start a conversation
Slowing down climate change is a group effort, so connect with your partners, clients, customers and employees about what you can all do. Maybe it’s a commitment to stocking sustainably produced products, adopting recycled packaging or hosting an eco-awareness event or fundraiser on Earth Day. Take advantage of social media to share what you’re doing for the planet and why. It’s not just good for the Earth, it’s also good for business.

Do an energy audit
Familiar to some homeowners, business owners may also be able to book an expert to evaluate the energy efficiency of their property. The auditor provides a big picture of how well your space, be it a storage facility, workshop or boutique, uses energy and how you can improve that usage. Depending on the service, they could also evaluate your supply chain and other aspects of sustainability and recommend improvements.

If an audit is not in the cards, examine the energy your business uses and when. Could the dishwasher in the employee kitchen be set to run at night? Can you automate the lights to turn on with motion instead of leaving them on all night? Even simple fixes can make a big difference, such as programming your thermostat to automate temperature changes on a set schedule.

Green your vehicles
If your business relies on vehicles to get the job done, it might be worth going electric. On top of reducing your carbon emissions, electric vehicles (EVs) will save you money on gas at the pump as well as on maintenance and tune-up costs. Plus, you might be able to get a government rebate to offset the purchase price.

The Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero-Emission Vehicles program offers substantial rebates on the cost of buying or leasing electric or plug-in hybrid commercial vehicles. The rebate applies to qualifying vans, trucks, coach buses, semi-trucks and more. It’s applied by the dealer at the point of sale, and you can combine it with other applicable rebates.

Find more information at canada.ca/medium-heavy-zero-emission-vehicles.