Eco-Catalyst: reduce, reduce, reduce

Sometimes the best use is no use at all.
Let’s face it – we’re a nation of consumers. We have taken the abundance of our resources for granted far too long. And still, it heartens me to know that the cry to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle has never been stronger. This was evident to me as I participated in the first annual Green Festival here in Denver, CO May 2nd and 3rd of this year. The event drew over 23,000 participants and 94% of all show waste was diverted from the landfill.
(More at http://www.greenfestivals.org/denver/event-updates/denver)

But we have a long way to go. Few people realize that while the words Reduce, Reuse, Recycle are depicted as circular and continuous steps, the most effective in lowering the impact of our actions on the environment is reduce.

So, how can businesses contribute?

Reduce consumption
One obvious target is lighting. By retrofitting the lighting in five of its distribution centers to use energy-efficient, brighter, and motion-activated bulbs and fixtures, Limited Brands, Inc expects to save $775,000 annually and has improved working conditions for their associates. (More at http://www.genewscenter.com/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=7037&NewsAreaID=2)

Managing how IT systems are deployed and maintained (from data center to desktop) can also be a major opportunity for reduced consumption. One example is the recent implementation of a patented cold-aisle containment system in Yahoo datacenters, lowering their Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) numbers to competitive levels.
(More at http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/06/24/yahoos-unstealths-its-data-center-efficiency/)

Not all reduction efforts need to be this extensive. Businesses can start at any level to make small changes such as turning off lights when not in use and installing energy efficient office equipment.

Reduce waste
We have all seen the ‘consider the environment’ tagline on emails to discourage the irresponsible use of paper at the office. I can’t tell you how many times I have witnessed the disposal of hand-outs the moment a meeting is adjourned. What a waste! If you must print, consider printing only essential pages and printing on both sides of the paper. Paper products can contribute as much as 1/3 of all office waste. This, of course also includes the products used in the kitchen, which might easily be replaced by reusable products such as mugs for drinking your morning coffee.
(Some good tips/info available at http://www.reduce.org/)

Discarded ink and toner cartridges generate 40 million pounds of unnecessary waste annually. According to true green @work – 100 ways to make the environment your business, if properly procured, “there’s no good reason a cartridge can’t be reused up to four times.”

Reduce impact
The net effect of reducing consumption and waste is a reduced impact on our environment. Many consider reductions and efficiencies in the way we use our resources – energy, water, etc – to be the single, most effective course for addressing current environmental sustainability issues.

While we have seen changes over the last year, driven largely by the economic downturn, let’s not let the amount of green in our wallets be the only catalyst to greening our world.

Thinking Out Loud: "Green Initiatives"

Prior to 'going green', companies have focused 'business initiatives' aimed at improving various critical business functions.

Company starts 'going green', now they have 'green initiatives'.

Company matures, gains deeper understanding of sustainability, now they have 'sustainability initiatives'.

Company matures yet again, sustainability now is core to the way they operate, now they have 'business initiatives' - sustainability is 'baked in'.

Why not a greener choice?

Yes, it's true. I've been known to have a very vocal response to everyday experiences that stretch the boundaries of my eco-tolerance. This sometimes manifests itself in what some might consider a rant, but what I hope serves as a catalyst to get myself and others thinking and acting in more green ways. Today it was the unavailability of eco-friendly business card stock on the shelves of a popular office supply store. To their credit, they did offer an option to have cards custom-printed on recycled paper, but in quantities and on a timeline that did not meet my needs.

Now, that alone may not be cause for a rant, but it is the larger observation that these types of goods are not yet commonplace which spawned the reaction. While recycled content products are more prevalent than ever before, they are sometimes still completely absent as a choice or the selection is very sparse. As we encourage more people to recycle – whether at work or at home – we also need to encourage them to think beyond that one step in the larger cycle of sustainability. Where do the products we use come from and how are they produced? Where do the products go that we discard in the recycle bin? How do they re-appear as new and eco-friendly purchasing options? And if we do not see them re-appear then we must ask: Why not?

I believe people will actually make the greener choice, if presented with the choice and the opportunity to understand the choice.

The Eco-Pragmatist: Why should your company track its carbon footprint?

First off, this post assumes the reader has a basic understanding of what constitutes a corporate carbon footprint. But just to be safe - at a high-level - a corporate carbon footprint consists of two primary categories:

• Direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by your company -- such as emissions from company manufacturing facilities, operational processes and company vehicles.
• Indirect emissions that are the result of company activities, but from sources not directly owned by the company -- such as emissions attributed to purchased energy, outsourced activities, employee travel, and emissions resulting from the use of company products.

So why measure your corporate carbon footprint?

There are some very compelling reasons from a pure bottom-line impact perspective:

• The carbon your company burns costs money! For all the momentum the carbon footprint management imperative has, the basic fact that it is another way of viewing company expenses is often over-looked or glossed over.
• It provides an alternate, more holistic view of company expenses. By viewing expenses through the carbon footprint lense, you have the ability to spot inefficiencies within your business - from suppliers, to operations, to sales & distribution. Carbon footprint metrics will shine a different light on your overall cost structure.
• Carbon footprint management helps drive goal alignment throughout your organization, providing different areas of the business with a common objective. One caveat applies here - it is imperative to have proper oversight and emphasis on the corporate level goal. Incent business units to collaborate to produce the largest benefit to the corporate entity, not just their silo.
• Increased employee engagement. Employees are weary of the constant emphasis on cost-cutting. But a TRUE shift towards sustainability can significantly improve employee engagement by focusing on reducing the corporate carbon footprint. Another caveat - the focus on carbon footprint can NOT be a 'different spin on cost management' or 'greenwashing' without risking an opposite, negative effect on employee engagement.

There you have it - four great business reasons for managing your company's carbon footprint - and not one of them has anything to do with positively impacting people or planet.

Remember - the triple bottom line includes YOUR bottom line!

How in the world can one gallon of gasoline produce 19 POUNDS of CO2?

Some of the mass of the CO2 comes from oxygen in the atmosphere as a result of the combustion process.

The gasoline contributes the carbon (C), but the oxygen (O) comes from the air.

Carbon has a molecular weight of 12. One oxygen atom is 16.

The weight of a CO2 molecule is: C + O + O = 12 + 16 + 16 = 44.

To find the total amount of CO2 released per unit of Carbon, divide the total weight of a CO2 molecule by the weight of a Carbon atom:4 4/12 = 3.667

That means for every pound of carbon burned, there will be 3.667 pounds of CO2 gas released.

About 16% of the weight of a gallon of gas is hydrogen.

A gallon of gas weighs 6.6 pounds, the hydrogen in it weighs 1.1 pounds, and the carbon will weigh about 5.5 pounds.

If all 5.5 pounds of carbon turns into CO2 during combustion, the weight of the CO2 will be 20 pounds.

The weight of the oxygen used up will be about 14.5 pounds (3.667 lbs of oxygen per pound of carbon TIMES 5.5 lbs of carbon).

Memorize this and impress your friends!