Going into 2021 with a Covid-19 pandemic is just one of the many issues facing the world today. One of the most talked about topics is how we can reduce carbon emissions and make ourselves a little greener.
As a responsible business owner, now is a great time to begin thinking about your contribution and investment to helping clean up the planet.
Some of the easiest things you can do right now are:
- Recycling
- Replace appliances
- Encourage car sharing
Getting into the habit of recycling should be your first priority so as to ensure nothing is wasted unnecessarily while using new and more energy-efficient equipment will reduce energy consumption and save on bills.
Carpooling can greatly reduce the amount of carbon produced by your employees by taking more polluting vehicles off the road.
Waste Nothing
Awareness of the benefits of recycling has been around for decades now but a large number of citizens and indeed businesses still don’t recycle properly, if at all.
Enacting a recycling policy across your entire business, whether it’s an office or construction site should be of the highest priority.
Separate bins for different materials are the best solution and non-compliance of controlled waste management can be met with prosecution and fines.
Educating staff about the dangers of mixing materials as well as why they should be recycled properly in the first place goes a long way in ensuring you are a step closer to being a green company.
Some organizations such as MultiPanel UK that manufactures the eco-friendly aluminium composite panel are investing heavily in their own recycling initiatives.
Staff should be encouraged where possible to use recycling bins instead of general waste for things like plastic drinks bottles, yoghurt pots and aluminium cans, some of the most common items wasted that could have been sent for recycling.
Reduce Energy Consumption
Old equipment and appliances are one of the biggest concerns when it comes to wasting energy.
The 2014 Energy Regulations Guidelines state that all manufactured energy-related products including air conditioners, heaters and fridges must be clearly labelled with energy ratings from A (the most efficient) to F (pretty much best avoided).
Make it a goal to inspect your current appliances and see what can be replaced with a more energy-efficient model.
Essentially, anything older than 10 years should be considered for replacement as great strides have been made in manufacturing technology to make appliances and equipment greener, and items such as TVs, for example, are required to have “auto-off” features installed.
One of the most effective methods has been to replace older filament light bulbs with way more efficient LED ones.
Not only will you be happy knowing that you have contributed to creating a greener workplace but energy-efficient appliances will also save a lot of money when it comes to your utility bills.
Reduce Emissions
One of the more impactful things you can do is to encourage the act of “carpooling”. This is when staff from the same site use one car instead of only using their own or when two staff members take turns picking each other up on the way to work.
By doing just the latter, carbon emissions from those two staff members will be cut in half, and if they use electric vehicles then their carbon footprint concerning work travel will be almost zero.
Carpooling also reduced congestion on the roads which mean fewer cars polluting and for a shorter period of time.
However, some cities have found it difficult to get people to share their vehicles but some companies have opted for a “leave the car at home “ day to encourage cycling to work where possible.
The ongoing effects of carpooling are still being studied and more research is needed but the practical benefits seem pretty obvious if you can get your staff to do it. Maybe leading by example would be a great idea here.
Stop Damaging Wildlife
Businesses can sometimes inadvertently harm wildlife in the course of their operations. It’s not something that they want, but it often becomes inevitable, given the type of work that they do.
However, technology is beginning to catch up. Ultrasonic antifouling, for instance, is a method that defouls ship hulls without harming marine wildlife. Truck operators, likewise, are using high-frequency whistles that only forest animals can hear to deter them from stepping out into the road.
Companies are also finding ways to work with nature. Business parks, for instance, are looking to follow the flow of the natural landscape, instead of disturbing it with wholesale development.
- DISCLOSURE – This post has been written by an outside source
