“How Can Businesses Contribute to the Environment?” -

Short answer:

In many ways and it is very simple. Businesses can contribute to the environment by simply considering the impact of their actions on the day to day business. Let’s see the Energy Use.

Energy use is undeniably the number one cause of our green house gas emissions, particularly in Australia with more than 80% of power generation from coal fired power stations.

So what are some of the simple actions that you can take to reduce energy consumption.

Turn the lights off when not in use – let’s get away from “I can afford it” mentality!! Simple solutions of sensors in meeting rooms and toilets can save a lot of energy. There is no need to light up empty rooms.

Use energy efficient lights – some businesses need a lot of light for displays etc. You don’t have to be stuck with the same way of doing things. You would be surprised with what energy efficient lighting is out there. Have an Energy Smart display system. Design the lighting so you don’t have to light up the whole shop or office with the same inefficient lights.

Turn off appliances when not is use- you will be surprised at how much power is consumed by appliances on standby over a long period of time.

Use solar power for heating – If you use a lot of hot water, then consider using solar hot water system. There are several brands of solar water heaters available in the marketplace. If you are building new buildings, you may consider solar heaters that can be incorporated in the design of the building. Solar water heaters such as Endless-Solar are not only efficient but can also be incorporated into smart design. Solar water heaters have come a long way from just a tank on the roof.

Purchase energy efficient appliances – It goes without saying that energy efficient appliances will save energy. When purchasing any equipment for your business, ask the question “How energy efficient is this equipment? This goes for fridges, photocopiers, computer screens etc. You don’t want to pay $100 less for a photocopier that does not have and automatic shutdown mechanism and will draw power throughout the day and night. The Energy Rating on the appliance and equipment are an excellent guide on how good the product is in terms of energy use.

Have an efficient air-conditioning system – How efficient is your air conditioning. How often have you been in workplace that is too hot or too cold, so what does the boss say “turn it up a bit” or “turn it down a bit”. In this circumstance more often than not the system is not performing well and it is also draining your bank balance. Get regular service of your system and make sure all aspects of the system, including the thermostat are working well. A good operating system will not only lower your energy use, it will also stop the complaining in the workplace (maybe!! I cannot guarantee this.)

Purchase Green Power – you can request your energy company to provide you with green power, usually a certain percentage of power can be from sources such as hydro power, wind mill or solar. This is slightly higher in costs but up front negotiations before you sign a contract with an energy company can result in very competitive prices. Energy Australia for supply a percentage of green power to approximately 50,000 homes and businesses.

More use of green power in the industry will generate more demand which in turn will contribute to the increase in supply of green power.

Well these are some of the simple measures that businesses can take to reduce the energy consumption. Some measures may cost a bit more up front but will pay off. The payback period for a lot of these measures can be less than a year.

Business is about bottom line right?? Save energy, you save money!!

You many say that you are not in the business of saving the environment……..we all live in it, we all have a responsibility. Everyone can contribute with simple actions.

Let’s be smart and do our part!!