Going Green Could Save Businesses Billions
Businesses have been advised that making small changes to their energy usage could add up to significant reductions in their energy bills, by a recent report by energy saving experts. According to the joint report by the Energy Saving Trust (EST)and the Environment Agency, the potential savings could amount to a massive 3.5 billion pounds.
Ruth Spellman, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Management, spoke to This Is Money about the issue. She commented ‘said ‘climate change cynics need to recognise the business case for going green.
‘A typical employer is likely to use excessive amounts of paper, ink and electricity. If so, a few simple changes, such as printing double-sided or turning off computers at the end of each day could save money.’
A business’s green credentials could be boosted through innovative uses of new technologies, which can also help to cut expenditure. Trying video, web or teleconferencing instead of travelling long distances to meetings would save money, time and CO2 emissions.
Progress should be monitored on a month by month basis so that firms can track exactly where improvements have been made and where further effort needs to be placed.
Figures released by DEFRA (Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs) stated that businesses are the largest contributors to CO2 waste, accounting for 35%, or 191 millions tons, of the UK’s total carbon emissions in 2007.
The effect of environmentally friendly policies could be more far reaching than simply reduced bills and emissions. Recruitment researchers have found a link between levels of employee engagement and corporate sustainability policies, as green energy issues become increasingly important to younger employees.
Many recruitment websites now have a dedicated section of their website for companies with environmentally friendly policies and practices, highlighting the prevalence of CSR issues in the minds of employees.