ASK DAN: How can I make our business more green?

Published: November 07, 2011

Question: What are some of the practices and or equipment that can be used by small businesses to help them become greener?

Answer: I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert in this field. However, after doing some research, I discovered that there are a number of different things you can do, ranging from the very simple to the quite complex.

Before you start down the road of becoming greener, I would suggest you first set out the parameters on why you are taking this approach. Establish why it is important to the business so you can demonstrate that you are not just doing it because everyone else is.  This will also enable you to figure out how much you want to invest, in both time and money.

Once you understand this, you can then set out priorities and targets. This will demonstrate to your customers that you are serious about contributing to a more positive environment.

As previously stated, becoming greener has a number of different approaches, some being quite inexpensive to accomplish (and in fact save you money) whilst others having some considerable cost involved. Below is the Top 10 of activities you can adopt:

1. Switch off all electronic items – computers, lights, photocopiers, printers, microwaves, radios, televisions, phone chargers, etc.  The basic rule of thumb here is, if you are not using it or going to use it for an extended period of time, then shut it off. Use only what you need, e.g., if you are going to make a tea or coffee, only put enough water in the kettle for what is needed, i.e., don’t fill it up. This is practically at no cost and will require little training of staff. You can also place signs by the likely equipment, saying: ‘Please switch off when not in use or upon leaving’.  I would also suggest that you publish monthly charges, so the whole team can see what is being spent. Set targets for reduction and get everyone involved.
2. You can install energy controlling devices, e.g., when and how lights are used. This system utilises motion detectors, which switch off the lights when the room is not occupied and turn them on when it is. It is a common misconception for people to believe that it is more expensive to switch lights on and off, rather than leaving them on over a sustained period of time. Remember, if it’s on, it’s using energy. If no one is around to benefit from that expended energy, then you are wasting money.
3. You can substantially reduce costs by switching to eco-friendly power sources. There are two ways to achieve this: 1) Switch to an energy provider that generates power through green means, e.g., wind turbines; or 2) You can produce your own green energy by installing solar (photovoltaic) panels, which will capture sunlight and convert it into electricity and/or hot water. The good news is that if you produce excess energy (more than you use), it can be sold to the National Grid, thus becoming a revenue stream. It is worth noting that this will require some considerable investment, and the payback period varies, but can be >10 years.
4. Set up a recycling system, whereby paper, metal, glass, plastics, ink cartridges, etc., are place into specified containers, which can be collected at regular intervals from companies providing this service. You can also become self-recycling, by using waste paper to write notes on, for example.
5. A lack of proper insulation can lead to heat loss and increased cost, as energy consumption will be higher. Insulation can be cavity wall, double or triple glazed windows and doors, draught excluder’s and loft/attic (you can use recycled products in this instance).
6. Develop and install a policy of ‘only print when you need to’, i.e., get people into the habit of reading documents on the screen. If you must print, then use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or recycled paper.
7. It is recognised that your work environment should be a comfortable place to work, if you want to get the best productivity out of your staff. However, most work environments (offices) are warmer or cooler than they really need to be. To save cost, turn the thermostat down for heating and up for cooling. Research has suggested that by turning the thermostat down by one degree (not much is it?), you can potentially save 8% in the associated energy cost.
8. Install a system that will capture grey water (rain from roofs and ground, waste water from bathing, dishwaters, sinks, laundry, etc.), which you can then use for toilets or plant watering. This could save you as much as 50%, depending upon your current means of usage.
9. Replace old equipment with more energy efficient machinery, e.g., central heating boilers, computers, etc. You should also replace any normal wattage light bulbs, with more energy efficient ones. You should note that these modern bulbs require some care when disposing of.
10. For vehicles such as company cars or transport, you can look to use engines which are electric, hybrid or bio-fuel, although I must say that I am not convinced as to the carbon footprint benefits. When the hydrogen fuel cell becomes widely available, I would suggest this would be the better option.

I hope the above information is of use in your quest to become a more green-conscious and energy efficient business. Always remember the three Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Ed's note: If you have a question you wish to ask our friendly logistics consultant, please send an email to peter.macleod@informa.com, with 'Ask Dan' in the subject line.