Small to medium business is being squeezed hard by the global financial crisis at the same time as it is being asked to cut its carbon emissions. Their challenge is to realize that by going green and reducing waste they also save money.
we have reached a point where most forms of energy are increasing in cost and are in short supply.
We have polluted our atmosphere and we need to slow the rate of pollution down and governments around the world are setting up greenhouse gas emission restrictions.
Small to medium business needs to be able to reduce costs and also reduce their wastes and this includes energy, materials and human effort. Business also needs to do this without an extra time commitment. Or cash flow to make changes because business also has to cope with global financial chaos.
With all the problems that businesses faces at present, why do they need to add carbon trading and carbon reduction to the mix?
It is a fact that we have serious and increasing atmospheric pollution. This is man made and has been measured and this if the cause of climate change and global warming! This is measurable fact. We have changed the chemical composition of the atmosphere by pouring carbon dioxide, methane and other gases into the atmosphere for form an invisible (but measurable “doona” of pollution in our atmosphere holding heat in. This is unarguable and is putting our children and grandchildren’s future at risk. We ignore this at THEIR peril.
Around the world governments are bringing in Emission Trading Schemes and surveys show that most businesses have no idea what that will involve – it is yet another demand.
Businesses owners are increasingly caught in a juggling act trying to balance work, home, higher costs and now pressure ro reduce their carbon footprint and in many cases even start carbon accounting.
BUT reports show consumers increasingly patronise businesses that show they consider the impact of their business on the environment. This is a growing market segment and that is important in tough economic times.
All around the world people want to help the environment. In Australia this is over 90 % and surveys show more than 50% of us are even prepared to pay more for environmentally friendly products and services In fact most people (53% in UK, 63$ in the USA, 45% in China, believe that tackling climate change will benefit the economy
OK so it means we need to make some changes now but many of these will actually save money once we get our head around them and decide that these often minor changes are ok.
So many of the changes are surprisingly easy and painless!
Go for a “grumpy” walk around your business once or twice every day and turn off things that are not being used and make a list of other ways you can save energy and reduce waste.
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