What Can I Do to Reduce My CO2 Emissions?
An All Too Common Symptom Not to be cliche, but when thinking about solving massive problems – like off-setting the
An All Too Common Symptom Not to be cliche, but when thinking about solving massive problems – like off-setting the
Not to be cliche, but when thinking about solving massive problems – like off-setting the 2.8 billion tons of harmful CO2 emissions from energy generation plants that burn coal and fossil fuel to make electricity – a common answer is:
Just short of that, many businesses and even homes think that they’re too small to make a big impact in the bigger scheme of things. And if you were alone, that would be true. But let’s step back and look at pieces of data that may change that all too common answer.
It’s easy to point to a power plant that burns coal and fossil fuels and say that they are polluting the planet’s air wholesale, specially when they look like this:
But take a step back and ask yourself, who are they producing electricity for?
Up until a decade ago, renewable energy solutions were expensive and many companies were unable to afford them. Burning coal and fossil fuels was how the U.S. was able to produce enough energy to keep up with the demand for supply.
American homes and business need electricity and energy in order to produce and survive and so plants continue to create pollution.
Per a survey done in 2016, there are 5.6 million business in the U.S., of which 99.7 have less than 500 employee.
That means 99.7% of the people reading this article – you – have the ability to make a change or at least know the people within your business that can make a change.
Business by business, it’s your responsibility to reduce your carbon footprint. And we’re not asking you to close down your shops or stop production; we’re simple saying there are ways for you to reduce your consumption, employ renewable and green energy solutions and still be profitable.
(taken from Green America, read the full article)
There’s no doubt you’ve heard the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” – but any business new to the green movement will find its starting line here. The Three R’s should apply to every facet of your business – from packaging, to office supplies, to operations, and supply chains.
Always opt for reducing and reusing first, as these practices skim the excess. When there’s no reusable alternative or reusing simply doesn’t work for your business, start a recycling program in your office. You may find that there are some items your municipality does not accept – by partnering with TerraCycle, your organization can recycle many things that typically would end up in a landfill.
Solar and wind rank as the two fastest-growing jobs in the U.S.; electric vehicle production is growing, and many companies are not incorporating renewables in their portfolios. And thanks to advancing technology, renewable energy solutions are not only affordable but are the most profitable solution for most companies; helping them reduce their energy costs on a long term view.
For conventional workplaces existing on an established power grid, you may think that this poses a significant challenge; but companies like Energy Professionals, specialize in creating workable strategies that take your sustainability goals and your budgets into consideration and can help you reduce your energy spend and carbon footprint at the same time.
You may also find it easier to convert your home office to on-site renewables. Depending on where you live, your local government may also offer subsidies and rebates.
Change begins with knowledge. More than half of Americans rarely – if ever – talk about climate change because they don’t know enough, are overwhelmed, or think it’s scary.
All of these can be remedied with education and civil conversation around the topic. Your business can promote dialogue among your employees through company practices and policies around sustainability. Making your customers aware of your policies to reduce carbon emissions makes them aware of tactics they can use to reduce emissions as well.
While you as a business can reduce your carbon footprint, by talking about it and advocating it, your employees may start to take their own initiatives at home.
Did you know your business has a voice? Customers want to purchase from a business that aligns with their values, and one of the best ways to illustrate this is supporting policy. When President Trump pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, 2,160 businesses and investors pledged to continue working towards accord standards.
Backing policies that reflect your values are good for the bottom line, too. 87% of customers will purchase a product from a company that advocated for an issue they care about, and 82% of US Fortune employees want to work for the CEO of a company that is vocal about social issues. Depending on your supply chain and workers, this could include anything among the spectrums of human rights, climate change, cultural values, and public health, to name a few.
Being a green business means taking traditional practices out of their linear state and thinking circular: how does this action affect my workers, my consumers, my planet, and back to my business? The days of the single-bottom line business model is not enough anymore because the newest generation of customers – millennials – represent $2.45 trillion in spending power with 70% willing to spend more on brands share their values.
With twelve years left, business leaders must step up now to reduce carbon emissions. Taking a stand only helps your business and the planet in the long run.
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