With virtually every household in Britain have a number of recycling bins to reduce their household waste, the general public are increasingly aware of the damage being done to the environment by CO2 emissions. Petrol and diesel vehicles, industry, manufacturers and retailers, are all being scrutinised by a carbon footprint savvy public.
Already big players like Google, Microsoft, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Eurotunnel and a thousand others around the globe have signed up to fly the Carbon Trust Standard, and present a more socially aware, environmentally friendly company persona to the world.
But what can smaller businesses do to help reduce their own carbon emissions, and increase their green credentials? Little changes don’t have to be bank breaking. In fact in many instances money can be saved. A number of little changes can add up to a lot of change, and have a big impact on your carbon footprint, and often on your bottom line.
In the Workshop/Warehouse:
Have a closer look at your energy supplier, and while you’re at it, take a look at some good smart meters. Energy information technology has leapt ahead in recent years, and yet only around 20% of small/medium business owners use it. Do you know how much energy using machinery or lighting is left switched on in your workshop overnight, when it could be off and saving money?
If you have a workshop or warehouse which requires almost continuous lighting think LED. Yes, a certain amount of outlay, but if you’re burning watts 24 hours a day, a big long term saving.
If a lot of your energy cost is taken up heating old draughty workshops or warehouses – insulate. Fix insulating boards to walls, add draught excluders to ill-fitting doors, repair broken windows and seal oversize pipe-work holes with expanding foam. Energy saving – lower bills.
Recycle everything you can, and that’s probably not just cardboard, paper, plastic and metal. If you’re not sure what you can and can’t recycle, your waste collection company or local council will be able to supply a full list. The more you recycle the less your waste bill, and the more environmentally friendly your business becomes.
In the Office:
Besides introducing LED lighting, energy smart meters, and recycling your waste, what else can the average office do to cut costs and help reduce the UK’s carbon emissions?
Buy recycled stationery equipment where you can, for example recycled notebooks. Buy refillable printer cartridges and pens. If you use laser printers, switch to inkjet. Savings of 96% on energy use and 92% on CO2 emissions have been calculated.
If you run one company vehicle, or a fleet, consider going electric, or at least hybrid, especially so if business takes your vehicles into the UK’s big cities.
If you think it all sounds too much hard work for too little return then check out the Carbon Trust’s calculations. If every UK small and medium business went energy efficient, the combined savings could be as much as £400 million per year.
If it’s to do with reducing ones carbon footprint, there are hundreds of different grants available for both domestic consumers and businesses. Check them out and see if any apply to your business. If you don’t have time to do it, there are specialised companies who will sort it all out for you.
Don’t wait to be pushed into it. Start thinking green now.