How to Save Money and Cut your Company’s Carbon Footprint

Cooper Vineyards in Louisa, VA is the first winery on the East Coast and the second in the country to be awarded the fourth and highest, Platinum certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). From a Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office press release, “The process of building a LEED platinum certified building was initially more expensive and arduous than co-owners, Jacque Hogge, MD and Geoffrey Cooper, MD expected, but they were able to get financial assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture. “Know that there are grants available to help with the costs of sustainable building projects,” Hogge advises to other potential green wineries. Cooper Vineyards received 2 of the 3 USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (RD) Rural Energy Financing program) grants awarded in Virginia in 2010 to help with the expenses of their construction.” Rural Energy Financing program focuses on loan guarantees, loans and grants to agricultural producers, businesses, cooperatives and rural residents for renewable energy systems and to make energy efficiency improvements. The tasting room and building collects rainwater from the roof; uses low flow water fixtures to reduce usage by 40%; utilizes structurally insulated panels for the roof and walls; heats and cools the entire building using a geothermal system that includes pipes that are embedded in the parking lot; low-voltage LED lighting with daylight and occupancy sensors provide ample light when it is needed; a solar panel array provides more than 15% of the energy needs for the building, and much of the construction materials are from local and recycled material sources. For more information about USDA please go to www.usda.gov, Rural Development and Rural Energy Financing. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501 c3 non-profit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and ener

From cutting your running costs to enhancing your reputation among consumers, going green could have a range of benefits for your company. It also gives you the added peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re doing your bit to protect the planet. To help you boost your firm’s environment credentials, take a look at this brief guide.

Boost energy efficiency in your workplace

A good place to start when you’re looking to cut your carbon footprint is your workplace. By taking relatively simple steps, like replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with more efficient LEDs, improving your glazing and insulation, and investing in effective shading and blinds for your workspace, you could significantly reduce your energy use. You might also benefit from improving your plumbing system by fitting water conservation features. As water system specialists Arrow Valves note, flow limiting valves can be installed in plumbing systems to reduce water usage.

As well as making your building more eco-friendly, it’s a good idea to get your employees to give energy efficiency some thought. By making sure your staff switch their computers and other electronics to ‘energy saver’ mode and turn them off at the end of each day, you could bring your utility bills down further.

Cut your travel

Another way to make your business more eco-friendly is to cut your business miles. One way to do this is to hold of-site meetings via video call rather than physically traveling to other premises. Depending on the nature of your business, you might also be able to let some of your employees work from home. This will help them avoid the twice-daily commute. It could also enable you to work from smaller premises – helping to reduce your overheads. Set up a cycle to work or carpool scheme For those employees who do have to be on-site, consider setting up a cycle to work or carpooling scheme. These initiatives can help to reduce the number of cars on the roads during rush hour, which is good news for the environment. Bear in mind that if you start a cycle to work scheme, you’ll need to provide suitable bike storage for your workers and you might also want to offer changing and locker facilities. Take recycling seriously

Another priority when you’re trying to enhance your green credentials should be recycling. By making sure you separate your company’s waste into appropriate recycling containers, you can help to limit the amount of material that ends up in landfill. As an added bonus, you may bring down your waste collection bills. For the best results, make sure your recycling containers are clearly labelled so your workers know where to deposit their rubbish.

Going green could be easier than you think, and by taking simple steps like these, you also stand to save your business money.

Image Source; Image Source; Image Source

Ms Career Girl

Since 2008, Ms. Career Girl has been a leading lifestyle blog that empowers girls, women and ladies with advice on careers, productivity, finance, and personal growth!