EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine November 2017 | Page 32

Fifty-seven percent of businesses in the U.S.
used green technologies or practices to improve
energy efficiency within their establishments ...
Wanamaker installed motion-activated lights that turn on and daily lives. Fuel for cars and buses allow us to commute to work,
off based on when people are actually in the room which helped heat during winter keeps us comfortable in the office, and electricity
ensure electricity was better utilized. And installing low-pressure is needed for everything from lighting to running copy machines to
toilets and low-flow spouts limited the amount of water usage. powering our computers.
Wanamaker expressed, “As a business owner, I’m constantly Energy and materials provide the ability to do work. And in the
analyzing how to either increase revenue or lower expenses. Daytona metropolitan statistical area, with over 200,000 individuals
Making these green improvements were a smart long-term way to employed by local businesses, this ability to do work is crucial to
reduce operating expenses year-over-year. I have certainly made our economic stability.
back what I invested.”
Amir Malek, Principal of MetaWorld Civil Consulting, LLC
Undoubtedly, we need resources – both renewable and non-
renewable – to fuel commerce and support burgeoning societies.
in Daytona Beach, has seen in his business a variety of efforts Yet it seems productivity comes at a cost. The more urbanized
towards green practices. His firm has been assessing and permitting and industrialized a country becomes, the more waste it produces
solar systems including PV arrays, solar water heaters, and solar according to the World Bank’s Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience
AC units (Malek himself makes his own solar panels for fun). Global Practice.
MetaWorld was recently commissioned to repurpose a shipping
However, industry needs not be in opposition to the
container into a barn. “I’ve personally enjoyed working on projects environment. Rather, private sector innovation and improved
that take an item already in existence and find an interesting way to methods are critical components to addressing waste reduction and
reuse it.” energy conservation. For example, an entire new industry emerged
According to the first Bureau of Labor Statistics Green
creating thousands of jobs based on alternative energy solutions
Technologies and Practices survey, published in June 2012, fifty- and the technology associated with it. Business has the opportunity
seven percent of businesses in the U.S. used green technologies or to be on the forefront of solving problems and enhancing quality
practices to improve energy efficiency within their establishments of life.
in August 2011, and over half used green technologies and practices
Like the old adage goes, “waste not, want not” - if we use our
to reduce or eliminate the creation of waste materials as a result resources carefully and without extravagance, we will not only
of operations. With positive impacts to the bottom-line, likely this want not, but we may also profit from our efforts.
trend will only continue.
ABILITY TO DO WORK
The U.S. Energy Information Administration defines energy
as the ability to do work. Sources are either renewable (and
easily replenished) like solar, wind and biomass or they are non-
renewable and cannot be easily replenished like petroleum, natural
gas, nuclear and coal. These sources are familiar as they impact our
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Kerry Karl is the Executive Director for the Volusia County
Association for Responsible Development (VCARD), an
organization dedicated to affecting positive outcomes for
the development in Volusia and Flagler Counties. Kerry
spent 10 years in economic development prior to taking the
helm at VCARD.