A few weeks ago my usually reliable web host had a small meltdown. The server which was the home of our site, blog, email and pretty much lifeblood went down. In order to preserve the files, the site went read-only and the email server was temporarily disabled. During the several days that this was going on, I pretty much freaked out! I had no email and was certain that the perfect client was trying to reach us. Eventually the service was restored-2 days after expected finish time-and life went on. During the time it was down however, I was sure that I would have to find a new host. The thing that surprised me was how many suggestions I got for “green” web hosts. Some were using renewable energy to run their servers. Others were carbon neutral or integrated energy saving techniques to keep the servers cool. The response on the social media sites was unbelievable. When you think of companies that are green, web hosts don’t come to mind very quickly.
This experience started me thinking. How long will it be before a company’s green policy is a determining factor in getting work? Currently, most non profits in Cleveland that are offering grant monies are requiring green be a part of all proposals. Major retailers are demanding that developers create malls or lifestyle centers that are energy efficient (at a minimum) or LEED or Energy Star certified. Leasing agents and management companies are being required to add recycling areas and areas of daylighting in order to attract the best tenants. Some people have said that those who manage to make it through this difficult economic period will be okay in the end. I disagree. In my opinion, it is the companies who take this slow time to study and reinvent themselves as green companies are the ones who will be truly viable in the end. Sustainability is not a fad, it is the benchmark that will soon be the standard for how companies do business. Those who do not move forward now will be passed over for greener companies when the cash starts to flow again.
Today, the words “green” and “sustainable” are being bandied about like a child’s balloon. There is no solid definition that tells how environmentally friendly a company is. This has led to a huge amount of disinformation and “greenwashing” to both the general consumer as well as business owners. With all this confusion, where does one begin? With little capital for improvements, how can you and your company really start to make an impact that could impact your company’s future?
Form a Green Committee. This committee should meet regularly and have a specific agenda. Through brainstorming and study, goals should be decided and a plan for implementing them developed.
Start with an Green Policy. This is a statement that tells your employees and the public how you are going to improve on your environmental footprint. In a perfect world, there would be plenty of money for improving energy efficiency, building solar panels, and reducing water usage. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. While not all goals can be implemented at once, some can be, and the savings from some of these programs can finance others. For example, tipping fees from a commercial office can be significantly reduced by starting a paper recycling program. Paper and printing reduction plans will reduce office products costs. These savings can go toward funding the purchase of CFL bulbs that will reduce energy usage, resulting in lower energy bills. The important part of any Green Policy Plan is to develop specific goals and tie them to a timeline. A goal may be to reduce paper waste by 30% by June 2010. These goals must be track able and quantifiable. Then formulate a plan on how this goal can be reached: print no necessary emails, print on both sides of all paper, use paper printed on one side again for internal paperwork and share reports and files via email rather than in paper form. Follow up on each goal as it approaches its deadline.
Do a waste audit. This is a great way to see what is happening inside your company. A waste audit is literally tracking everything that is thrown away. Knowing what is thrown away and finding a way to keep it out of the dumpster can result in significant savings to a company’s bottom line. Tipping fees will be reduced, and money can be generated from recyclables.
Do an energy audit. Find out how much energy is being used in various tasks and departments. Identifying wasted energy can result in immediate savings and an increase to the bottom line. If you have a sizable amount of computers, simply making sure they are all turned off at night can save on your electric bill. Putting sensors on lights can pay for itself immediately. In one company that my partner worked for, one end of the office was being heated, while the other was using air conditioning, because there was no communication between the employees on that floor. Thus, they wasted huge amount of energy canceling out the settings of the other side of the office.
Finally, get the staff engaged. If everyone is not on board, then no amount of planning can make a difference. Communicate the future of the program to employees. Rotate members of the Green Team to get everyone involved. Try incentives to encourage involvement. Without the support of the staff, it is all just lip service. Publish your Green Policy in house and on the internet, and thank everyone for helping to meet goals.
Start now. Get going. Those who wait too long may find out that they were too late.
