Why Going Green Makes Good Business Sense
Financial Benefits of Environmental Responsibility
Up until approximately 6 months ago, I was of the impression
that being conscious of the environment was strictly for the
benefit of the environment itself, and that I would derive
nothing from it; the ultimate beneficiary of any recycling/waste
reduction would be future generations, and the greater effect of
my efforts would occur long after I was gone.
Thanks to Dr. Anthony Watanabe and my work as the web developer
for the Toronto Regional Green Building
Festival website, I have come to the realization that there
are reasons beyond the ecological benefits mentioned above.
In speaking with Anthony, I noticed that he uses the word
"sustainability" and the phrase "sustainable growth" quite
frequently when describing his business. He even went so far as
to conceive the Sustainable
Business Resource Centre (SBRC), a network of for-profit and
not-for-profit businesses whose collective mission is to grow
while maintaining a sense of social responsibility and ensuring
that they use the minimal amount of environmental resources
It was in speaking to the owners of the other members at the
SBRC launch party that I discovered the direct financial
benefits of sustainable growth:
Lower energy/utility bills. By using energy-efficient
appliances and renewable sources of energy (e.g. solar),
consumption of energy resources decreases and, in turn, utility
costs decrease.
Increased productivity. A cleaner office environment will
keep employees happier and consequentially more productive.
Government rebates and incentives. Depending on where you
live, there may be municipal, provincial/state-wide, or federal
incentives designed to reward environmental responsibility.
For example, Natural Resources Canada offers an ongoing series of
rebates and incentives for both homeowners and businesses.
Another site worth checking out if you're interested in rebates
and incentives is http://incentivesandrebates.ca.
Lower costs on goods, both in the short and long term.
Reduced use of goods and recycling provide an increased supply
of goods as well as a decreased demand for said goods. Simple
economic theory teaches us that this increased supply and/or
decreased demand leads to lower costs for goods.
Ways To Go Green and Save Money
Some of these ways may seem obvious, but bear repeating in order
to ensure that as many of us as possible are contributing to our
own sustainable growth:
Purchase energy-efficient products for use in the office.
Look for consumption ratings on products that make use of hydro
and gas. Another positive sign that a product is energy
efficient is the Energy Star logo.
Don't print/photocopy unless absolutely necessary. I've
seen many people print non-necessary documents, web pages, and
even personal pictures on the office printer and distribute them
to friends and colleagues.
A good rule of thumb when it pertains to paperwork is, "if you
don't need a permanent record of it, don't print it."
Turn off all electrical devices and adjust the thermostat to
match the outside conditions when no one is in the office.
If you don't want to adjust your thermostat manually, consider
investing in an electronic programmable thermostat. These
thermostats can be programmed within 10-15 minutes of
installation and very rarely need to be adjusted.
Choose environmentally responsible companies for your
commercial needs. Companies such as Diamond + Schmitt Architects Inc.
that show a commitment toward sustainable growth will help
ensure that your needs are met while making minimal use of
natural resources.
Transmit mass-consumption documents electronically where and
when possible. Besides being far less expensive to do so
than to mail out said documents, paper use is also
minimized.
Consider features for your fax line such as Call Screen and
Privacy Guard. Companies such as Primus offer features for any phone line that will
allow the owner of the line to filter out and eliminate needless
and unnecessary calls.
In the case of a fax line, activating filtering features will
allow you to block known mass fax senders from tying up your fax
line, shortening the lifespan of your fax, and wasting ink and
paper an on unsolicited commercial faxing. These features are
typically minimal in cost (usually no more than $5.00 per
feature per month) and can be considered a wise investment on
the basis of avoiding unsolicited commercial materials
alone.
These are just a few examples. If you examine your own business
environment, you will likely find many other ways to contribute
in a positive manner to both the environment and your company's
bottom line.