Reduce your business carbon footprint by going green. By so doing, you will attract the green clientèle of loyal customers to your industry . In addition, employees will appreciate working for you because of your choice for going green. In general, people are attracted to the Green Seal, Energy Star, and any other logo that represents earth friendly products.
The Environmental Protection Agency of America reported that each individual in the U.S. throws away 4.5 pounds of trash everyday. In addition, up to 11 percent of that garbage is plastic. Furthermore, plastic products use 8 percent of world’s oil production. Less than 3.5 percent of plastic items are recycled. Out of 200 plastic bags only 1 will be recycled. Currently the world produces 200 tons of plastic products a year. Scientist report that each plastic could remain in the environment for 400 to 1000 years; according to a report from New Scientist at United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Just for the manufacturing of PET H20 bottles in the U.S., takes 28.6 billion bottles and 17.6 million barrels of oil for the production of it. 86 percent of the plastic water bottles in the United States go on to the land fills every year. It is estimated that 100,000 marine animals will perished every year as a result of ocean litter. At this time only 3 to 5 percent of plastic is recycled. Reduction is extremely important to reduce the impact. Lets make a difference by reducing unnecessary waste by choosing to eliminate the bulk of plastic bottles.
Things you can do:
- Use a Filtered Water System.
-Buy reusable glasses for drinking out of. Eliminate the throw away plastic items from your business.
Paper is three- quarters of any office’s waste in the U.S. It is estimated as 1.5 pounds of waste paper used a day. There are 10,000 sheets of paper per office worker used annually. Which comes out to
4 million tons of paper used every year; only 33 percent of that paper is recycled. The staggering amount of waste that pollutes our environment is a staggering amount. It has a tremendous effect on producing toxic chemicals that has an ill effect on the earth’s surroundings. Along with the devastating effects to sea life.
Things you can do to make a difference:
-Recycle
-Print on both sides of the paper.
-Place recycle bins next to desks and other areas where there is a high amount of paper waste.
-Send e-mails as an option instead of mailing, out notices, letters and reminders. Also use paperless faxing of e-mails.
By reducing your industries carbon footprint you will make a difference and will gain the respect of others as well for your worldly consciousness. Even more, by taking action to go green your company will reap the benefits all around. Advertise that you are green and incorporate all the important changes for: reducing, reusing, and recycling you will be diverting waste away from the landfill, saving energy and drawing more business to your organization.
Green Business
Involve employees in the Eco- effort to reduce waste and in producing a green plan. There are choices and options to consider in the overall development of using, supplying, and incorporating a path to becoming a green conscious business. Customers prefer earth friendly products and they will choose a company with a green seal over one that isn’t doing their part. Thereby, profits will increase by the popularity for being green. Notify customers of your earth friendly practices, products, equipment and the like of the new changes that has taken place in your facility.
According to a study done by Green Seal, Enviromedia, Social Marketing and carried out by the Opinion Research Report that 87 percent of people surveyed report that they recycle. Furthermore, 82 percent continue to buy green products even though the U.S. Economy is on a down turn. This goes to show how much people are determined to do all they can for purchasing green products and doing whatever else they can to eliminate unnecessary waste.
To make your business green you might want to start with an Energy Auditor. Most utility companies offer Free on site consultations for transitioning to energy- efficient products, reducing usage, and save money from the rebates, loans, or grants that are offered.
Green Solutions:
- Improve Insulation
-Add lighting controls and timers.
-Install a hot water heater timer.
-Consider using motion detectors outside your business instead of leaving lights on within the businesses. Thereby, it will decrease energy, and works as security measure.
-Get a tax write-off by donating old appliances, and office furniture.
The Environmental Audit measures and records monthly, quarterly and annually your businesses electricity usage in kilowatt hours; on your monthly electricity bill. And from there writing out an environment policy; by creating a management plan for the solutions needed in order to reduce energy.
Writing out an Energy Plan then using it in a staff meeting to involve the management team to incorporate the goals into effective results, for all employees to follow by. Positive results follow once everyone is involved in doing their part in the energy plan for the company. People respect and appreciate working for a company that is green.
The goal is to eliminate waste or to greatly reduce it by recycling, reuse, and reduce for the important changes that are in dire need. For now we have mentioned recycling and reducing paper, eliminating or limiting plastic.
Recycle Center Items
-Batteries
-Bottles
-Cans
-Cardboard boxes
-Envelops
-Newspaper and magazines
-Paper
-Toner and ink cartridges
You might be able to get some cash back from your recycled bottles and cans through a buy-back program. Contact your local Recycling Center for more information.
Reusable Items
- Green packaging products that are biodegradable.
- Buy Post -consumer waste products
- Used paper can be flipped over to be used as scrap paper.
- Reduce packaging and use green packaging products that are biodegradable.
Reduce your Energy Bill
Lower your electric bill by turning off lights that aren’t being used. Shut down computers and other office equipment at the end of the day and turn off the lights at night. You have an option of unplugging or turning off the power strips to reduce energy as well. Which is a good idea at the end of the day. In addition, it is a reduction in energy use. Even though you shut off equipment the products that remain plugged in are still producing energy use; just at a lower level. By unplugging cords, or turning off power strips you will save energy full circle.
Refill Products
- Computer Ink Cartridges
- Pencils
- Pens
Purchase nontoxic supplies and sell the same if you are a merchant. The Green sticker is very popular these days because of the importance of living healthier and participating in reducing the destructive impact. Also try to sell products closer to home to reduce CO2 Emissions.
Office Furniture Solutions
Get a tax credit when you need to get rid of old furniture. Donate to a local charity or Ecohaul for refurbishing old office equipment and supplies.
Large Projects
- Solar panels that provide self sustaining heat and water.
- Buy Energy Efficient Equipment.
- Green Roofs
- Environmentally Friendly Automobiles.
- Light by windows for an options to national indoor sunlight by having very large energy efficient window panes.
Transportation
In the office group meeting for re-accessing your companies Energy Impact Reduction Effort consider business options for:
-Carpooling
-Telecommuting
-Work From Home
Purchasing Hybrid Company Vehicles: make sure vehicle tires are properly inflated which will reduce energy.
Here are some other things you can do to reduce energy:
- Online Banking instead of Commuting there.
- Web Conferences
- Conduct Phone meeting over the Internet for presentations. Overall use the Internet or phone for your regular business communications; verses using fuel, that produces greenhouse gas emissions.
Consider your Options
Web Conferencing is a great way do conduct your business without leaving home, or the office. Why travel when you can be comfortable right where you are to conduct important business meetings without using energy, and contributing to the ever growing concerns of CO2 emissions. In addition, green house gases contribute to peoples’ increase in health related complications from breathing in the incredible amount of air pollution generated by any given ‘standard automobile’ on the road.
-Webinar, http://www.meetingbridge.com/
-Go To Meeting, https://www1.gotomeeting.com/?Portal=gotomeeting.com
Written by kimberly_bunch
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