being green in the workplace

Why green is the new black.

01Some facts about climate change…

Deforestation…

Despite conservation efforts, deforestation continues at an alarming rate – 13 million hectares per year, or 36 football fields a minute.

It generates almost 20 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and halting forest loss has been identified as one of the most cost-effective ways to keep the world out of the danger zone of runaway climate change.

Deforestation causes up to a fifth of current greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. Ten countries are responsible for 87 per cent of global deforestation.

Global Warming…

Human-made CO2 is responsible for the vast majority of the warming. Concentrations of CO2in the atmosphere are now almost 40 per cent above those of 200 years ago and emissions to the atmosphere have been rising by more than 2 per cent a year since 2000.

This extra greenhouse gas stems overwhelmingly from humans burning fossil fuels and destroying forests, both of which are made of carbon. It would contradict 100 years of physics if this CO2 were not warming the planet.

Footprints in Australia…

The planet can regenerate 2.1 global hectares per person annually…

Australia’s ecological footprint according to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2008 was 7.8 global hectares per person. The ecological footprint measures the area of of biological productive land and sea required to produce the resources we use and to consume our waste. This is nearly three times the average global footprint!

02What can be done?

You could lay out an environmental vision for dealing with global environmental issues in order to minimise your ecological footprint and maximise efficiency.  The aim should be to support the creation of a prosperous, low-carbon business to inspire environmental innovation for society, in collaboration with customers, partner agencies and anyone who wants to know. 

Why would youwant to do this?

Take a leadership position on the issue of climate change - creating value for the business and thought leadership

Have a competitive edge over other agencies that are not prepared for climate change.

Risk management to help the company's bottom line.

Better-prepare for a regulated carbon environment. Its going to happen.

Communicate and promote our positive climate change action to key internal and external stakeholders.

Reduce costs, energy prices are highly likely to continue to rise.

03Policies…

The Office… 

Paper products make up 33 percent of the solid waste of cities and towns…Use email instead of paper. Print and copy on both sides of the paper. Buy recycled paper certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council. Recycle paper. Print black and white.

Office Maintenance…Discuss with cleaners use of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and detergents. Report and repair water drips and leaks immediately. Use Energy Saving Lighting. Install displacement toilet dams in toilet reservoirs. Purchase refillable office products (cartridges, pens, etc.)

Energy saving…

Power…Invest in a wireless energy meter so we can visualise the impact we’re making.

Unplug standby appliances from the walls and turn off equipment when it's not being used.

Switch to a "green" hosting service for our web sites and get sites certified and offset via CO2stats.com.

Desktops set to most efficient power settings (sleep mode, no screen saver etc).

Consider moving to Green power, possible option to “fix” energy spending and invest any energy savings into green power

Getting to & from work… 

The transport sector is one of the fastest growing emissions sectors in Australia…

Lift share; the opportunity to share rides should always be available.

Allow bike storage.

Reward those who walk/cycle to work.

Offset all business flights.

Don’t be a mug…

Coffee…An initiative whereby each have a thermos mug which can be used instead of the paper cup.

65% of plastic drink bottles end up in landfills…

Investment in stainless steel refillable water bottles for each person.

It takes 40 litres of water to produce a take away cup of coffee…

DON’T BE A MUG

Eat your greens…

Think about the food we eat…

Eating less meat is one of the most useful things you can do to help the environment. According to a report by the Australian Greenhouse Office, the methane produced by Australia's cattle and sheep has more impact than the emissions from all coal-fired power stations in Australia.

Monday is Veggie Day in the office. Encourage food and recipe sharing.

Staff commitment

Each staff member commits to reducing their own personal carbon footprint.

Measurements of our ecological footprint taken by using the Footprint Calculator which we revisit and compare end of 2010.

04Measurement & Governance

Measurement…

Look at current electricity, water, gas and direct emissions data to measure your carbon footprint and look at direct and indirect emissions.

Using this information design performance metrics and models to provide a baseline for ongoing measurement, transparency and benchmarking.

Aim for efficiencies over the next 12months.Review projects and successes and set new plans.

Governance…

Once everyone is happy to commit to the policies, the program will be consistently managed by every individual within the company.

This is something everyone should take responsibility for (although it helps if there’s someone who can crack the whip where necessary)

CEO sponsorship is essential.

Things to think about…

How this becomes part of your company:

• Your business/brand strategy

• Your website

• Within scopes (charge offsets)

• Within credentials (pitches)

• Email signatures

Budget…

Starting investment can be small:

• Wireless energy metre - $100

• Don’t be a mug - $20 pp

• Aluminum water flask - $10 pp

Consider additional costs for:

• Recycled paper

• Incentives

• Energy switching – hosting, light bulbs etc.

• E-waste recycling

Good Luck!

www.jectaspecta.com