Environment
Turning off taps fully and fixing leaky taps can
save gallons of water from being wasted and
reduce water rate bills – a leaking tap wastes
about 5,500 litres of water per year and a
leaking hot tap wastes energy and money on
your fuel bill. Installing displacement toilet
dams, or water hippos in toilet cisterns, can
also reduce water usage over the course of a
year. or tax reductions, overall transport costs can
be significantly reduced while also decreasing
your
environmental
footprint.
Using
alternative methods of commuting to work
such as walking or cycling can also provide
additional physical and mental health benefits.
Ensuring your business is ‘cycle-friendly’ by
offering safe storage and showering facilities
and creating ‘leave the car at home’ days can
encourage staff to pursue healthier and more
environmentally friendly forms of transport.
Using video conferencing, online meeting,
chat and collaboration tools can also reduce
business meeting transport costs.
5. Sustainable suppliers 8. Plant shrubs and trees
or wind power, will significantly reduce your
greenhouse gas emissions as well as saving
money on your energy bills.
4. Conserve water
Green procurement is another easy way to
transform your carbon footprint as a business.
This not only makes your company greener
but can help foster collaboration with local
suppliers. The further your suppliers or
service providers have to travel, the more
energy and carbon is emitted in getting these
to you. Green procurement could include
securing goods that are non-toxic, recyclable,
made from renewable materials or are from
suppliers that take back packaging for refilling
or recycling. Consider creating your own
procurement policy that commits to some of
your company’s ideals, which might include
reducing waste and lowering greenhouse gas
emissions. Explore if you can create a business
community based on these goals.
6. Communications
We have firmly entered the digital era which
has reduced our reliance on printing and
postage, yet for some businesses use of paper
and mail is inevitable. Simple switches to 100%
or high recycled content paper and envelopes,
double-sided printing, and reusable envelopes
can cut on operating costs and reduce waste.
Use of digital communications tools to reach
your audiences can also improve internal
communications and operational efficiencies.
7. Transport
Does your business incur high transport costs?
If so consider hiring or purchasing an electric
vehicle. With some countries offering incentives
such as grants to assist with purchase costs
Trees and shrubs are a vital part of the
ecosystem and help to act as filters for
pollution. Plants produce oxygen, so as well
as improving the visual appearance of your
business they can improve air quality for you
and your employees. Providing shade can
reduce the need for air conditioning through
lowering of surface and air temperatures.
Trees and tall shrubs also decrease the ‘urban
heat island effect’, where heat is stored in
construction materials such as tarmac, cement
and stone, causing urban areas to be a few
degrees hotter than surrounding spaces that
are less built up.
Meeting our environmental responsibilities, at
a domestic or business level, is more urgent
than ever. Many of the suggestions above may
seem insignificant but incremental changes
can go a long way to achieving significant
change. Several are simple to implement and
can make big cost savings – and also make
a big impression on your customers too.
Maintaining momentum in addressing the
climate crisis is critical, it is vital businesses
take responsibility and promote a positive and
sustainable future.
Changeworks helps people and organisations
across Scotland take meaningful, urgent action
to tackle climate change. This is achieved by
sharing ways to improve energy efficiency,
reduce fuel poverty, prevent waste and scale
up low carbon behaviours. Follow them on
Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Sam Mills has over 20 years’ experience working in the environmental
70
and sustainable development sector. She is currently Head of Projects at
Changeworks, Scotland’s leading environmental charity delivering solutions
for low carbon living. Sam leads a multi-disciplinary team delivering innovative
energy and waste reduction related projects engaging with householders,
communities and businesses.
www.changeworks.org.uk - [email protected]
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