An old saying claims that if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. This 1960s mantra referred to helping out the environment. Fortunately, a number of options exist that will make sure you and your company are part of the solution to minimizing the impacts of global warming to creating better habitats for plants and animals.
1. Reduce Your Carbon Imprint
Too much carbon in the atmosphere leads to warmer global temperatures, according to most scientists. This can have many negative impacts on humans and animals, such as a greater number of wildfires and an increased likelihood of droughts, just to name a few. To make sure this doesn’t happen, your company can become a leader in carbon management practices.
The first step involves knowing how much carbon your company is responsible for ending up in the atmosphere. This complex task requires expertise to track and calculate carbon emissions. A reasonable second step looks at what impact this has on your company and shareholder expectations. The next step might involve finding reasonable ways to reduce carbon use. The goal is to know your company’s impact and to come up with smart strategies to find solutions that strengthen your company.
2. Make Your Building More Efficient
Whether you own or manage a large or small company, your office, retail and warehouse space uses a lot of energy. Taking positive steps to reducing commercial energy use cuts down on greenhouse emissions and lowers harmful chemicals that go into the land and water. The following steps offer the most impact:
- Outfit your building with energy-efficient appliances
- Build with an eye toward having plentiful insulation
- Replace regular lighting structures with LED systems
- Heat your building with solar panels or wind power
- Expand by using existing buildings rather than a new build
One of the largest contributors to global warming involves new construction. Concrete, for which there is no realistic alternative for many buildings, takes a lot of energy to make. Instead of creating a whole new office, look for a cool building that lies vacant that will suit your purposes.
3. Encourage Telecommuting
If you can, allow employees to work from home, at least a couple of days a week and more if possible. The energy savings from employees working from home and doing without commutes of 10, 20 or 30 miles, each way, can really add up. Not only will you use less energy in your office, but your employees also will not use gasoline driving to and from work. In a best-case scenario, you could even downsize your business into a smaller space. Just as importantly, many employees enjoy working from home, which could increase employee satisfaction.
4. Get Smart With Waste
If your company generates a lot of waste, this can have a negative impact on many aspects of the environment. More waste going to landfills means less suitable habitats for birds, bees and trees. Waste also can include hazardous chemicals that have a way of getting into the environment and poisoning everything from frogs and salamanders to eagles and otters. In fact, if you do have hazardous waste, make sure to hire a professional to handle this material. Not only will this be better for the environment, but it will also keep humans safer.
Your company could also take things further and do what it can to eliminate waste products. Many forward-thinking companies—think of Subaru’s zero waste program— seek to eliminate all waste from the manufacturing process. When successful, this cuts down on the cost of handling waste and makes for a cleaner environment. It also can keep you in compliance with many environmental laws.
Your company can play a positive role in making the planet a better place to live for animals and for humans. Your efforts might also improve the way your company operates and contribute to your bottom line.
