In the wake of the IPCC report, which clearly focused on the Earths necessity to control carbon emissions & reduce the global temperature, one clear message was that this information was not just aimed at governments & policy makers; this information was aimed at everyone.
In the wake of the IPCC report, which clearly focused on the Earths necessity to control carbon emissions & reduce the global temperature, one clear message was that this information was not just aimed at governments & policy makers; this information was aimed at everyone & we all have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint.
It is no surprise when we look back at the history of business, that our greatest innovations stem from the Industrial Revolution & industrialisation. If it were not for the pioneers of yesteryear, we simply would not have the technologies we have today & our business infrastructures would be a far cry from what they are now.
Business in a modern context is often undertaken in virtual environments, currencies are digits in a list & we buy, sell, communicate, advertise & make our business mark in online forums across the planet.
However, with this onslaught of using energy to run our businesses & our reliance on the technologies at our finger tips, I wonder how many business owners in a 2018 business ever ask themselves “what would happen if global power ceased?” “what would happen if a virus knocked out the internet, permanently?” “what would happen if I couldn’t charge my mobile phone?” Vast, gigantic, sweeping questions which for some simply are beyond their reach & comprehension.
With global energy markets being tasked with finding more & more efficient ways of producing & storing energy & with global energy usage set to peak in 2040. The demands for renewable energies are very real & with so many technologies now being developed to provide these energies, we are all mindful of the changes ahead of us. The United Kingdom currently only has 25% of it’s energy supply, being covered by the ‘renewables’ title, a very unimpressive 75% is still supplied by burning traditional fossil fuel & gas.
We all have a responsibility to make our mark in the global climate change battle. Whether we are sole traders, medium sized businesses or corporate giants; everyone in business can make decisions & choices which can & will affect the global climate growth. It is with this in mind that the UK Government have launched the very first ‘Green GB week’. Their focus is on all areas of societies & throughout the week plans to look at:
· UK leading the world Celebrating UK leadership on climate action Explaining the latest science on climate change
· Technologies of the future: clean growth and innovation Showcasing new technologies, solutions and a new generation of innovative low-carbon firms Providing a platform for innovative British businesses of the future Financing the low carbon economy
· Setting out the role of the finance sector in delivering clean growth
· Clean growth as a business opportunity Exploring how clean growth presents a business opportunity and new business models Considering the actions businesses can take on climate change
· Climate action in communities Connecting with community groups across the UK Connecting with people on clean growth and climate action
The three key ‘buzz phrases’ adopted by the Government’s Green GB week are:
Clean growth: The act of growing the economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Low-carbon economy: Goods, services, technologies and infrastructure that enable the shift to a cleaner, lower carbon and more energy efficient economy.
Green finance: Investment in environmental technology, infrastructure and services that can create jobs and drive cleaner, more climate resilient, economic growth.
With these phrases in mind, Virtually Smart Ltd have considered ways that businesses of all sizes can make differences to their infrastructures to make the maximum impact for global climate change.
Energy supplier.
Do you know what you are paying for your company energy? Do you pay direct to a company or is your energy included in the building rent?
Challenging your energy supplier to ascertain what they are doing in the fight for global climate change is one way to take control of your energy usage. In addition, asking for a smart meter to be installed in your business, will allow you to see where your usage is at it’s highest point. Taking control of your energy usage & reducing your consumption; can not only dramatically help with your carbon footprint, but will also reduce your expenditure.
Switch off at the end of a day.
How many of us walk away from the office or work space at the end of a day & actually remember to switch everything off? Leaving lights, printers, laptops, copiers, anything with a power source on or even on stand-by, can affect your energy usage. Laptops use considerably less energy usage than traditional desk top PC’s & using an energy monitor can also reduce your energy usage.
“Around 21 per cent of Brits admit to leaving lights on when going to work which produces enough carbon emissions to match 45 flights around the world, while 10 per cent regularly do so when leaving a room and 7 per cent keep a light on when going to bed.” https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/a22684252/cost-leaving-lights-on/
Recycling.
Office recycling has been part of normal office practices for many years. However, does this run throughout all businesses & are employees as mindful of their recycling habits at work as at home?
“A whopping 99 per cent of Brits actively recycle at home, but research reveals that their efforts go out of the window once they arrive in the workplace; this is particularly the case when it comes to older employee’s.
A survey of 2,000 people, conducted by Anglian Home Improvements, reveals that Brits are 15 times more likely to avoid recycling in the workplace than they are in their own homes. While only 1 per cent of Brits don’t do recycling at home, that rises to 15 per cent when it comes to recycling in the workplace.” https://smallbusiness.co.uk/people-less-likely-recycle-home-2543062/
Installing recycling bins is one way of helping the recycling cycles. If staff members can see a recycling sign or have access to a recycling bin, they are more likely to adopt the same home habits at work.
Staff food & drink habits.
Encouraging staff members to take advantage of making their own lunch & bringing it to the workplace in a reusable lunch box & bringing hot drinks in to the work place in travel mugs; is another way of dramatically reducing rubbish & the need to recycle vast amounts of cardboard’s & plastics.
Car sharing.
Car sharing is not a new concept, however, now more than ever if we can, we should! Sharing a vehicle is a simple way of reducing carbon emissions produced by traditional fuels. Even if your vehicle is a hybrid or fully electric vehicle, it still requires power to fuel it!
Meat free Monday’s.
One of the global temperature issues is how much methane is being produced by grazing animals. In addition, the vast deforestation taking place globally to find grazing ground, is causing additional & far reaches global climate issues. It is averaged that approximately 24% of GHG are from livestock. Reducing your meat intake is not only a healthy option, but it can have a direct affect on your carbon footprint.
Create a company garden.
Rooftops, balconies, window ledges are all places you can grow something on & company gardens are becoming more & more popular. Not only does anything green & growing help reduce carbon emissions & produce cleaner air; having something growing & allowing employees to tend to a garden, can help with mental health issues such as anxiety & depression.
How can your company demonstrate ‘Clean growth’?
“Clean growth means growing our national income while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. “ https://greengb.campaign.gov.uk/
How can your company currently demonstrate ‘Clean growth’?, Do you have an environmental policy in place? Even if you are a sole trader, you have a responsibility to be mindful of how your business is leaving it’s carbon footprint & what changes could you make today to reduce this.
Simple actions can have giant global results. Consider the ripple effect. It is so easy, but if we all make subtle & simple changes to our working methods, we can all be more responsible for our little blue planets future.
Written by Katy Jane for and on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd.
