Thursday 14 February 2008

Be a GreenBiz Hero


At first glance, Going Green in business may seem expensive, but in fact, many businesses are finding that the rewards are tangible and often surprising. With power costs increasing each year, a good look at what you use and some changes will soon show up on your bottom line. Any business using premises, whether owned or leased, will benefit by a common sense approach.

Lighting should be one of the first areas to investigate, so consider using compact fluoro bulbs, task lighting and timing switches to turn off lights when the area is not used. Space heating is a big user, so look at where hot or cool air escapes. Is your business air conditioning working overtime to heat or cool the entry to your business? If you offer outside seating at a street cafe, could you provide some cosy blankets instead of gas heating - and maybe a funky message about "sharing a coffee and a blanket".

Does your business need instant hot water all day long? One business renting premises discovered that the domestic sized water heater at the premises was set to provide hot water each day seven days per week. As most of the work only required cold water, hot water could be provided by a fast boil electric kettle, and the hot water system was deactivated (with the agreement of the landlord), saving a significant amount in the annual electricity account plus greenhouse gases.

Be a GreenBiz Hero - turn an energy challenge into a positive statement about your business!

(Pic VJNET ex Flickr) 

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