From Guest Blogger in the UK Hannah Corbett: Green Business Energy Policies

In the modern world, it is becoming more commonplace for businesses to take control of, and responsibility for, the role that they play in energy consumption and their effect on the environment. As such, many businesses now include an environmental or energy policy at their core, and as part of their business’s values and ethos.

If you feel that it’s time for you to join the ranks of green businesses out there, then there are a number of areas that you could address to make your business more eco-friendly, and to lessen your business’s impact on the environment. After you decide how best you can green your business, then you’ll have a better idea of the notions and actions to include in your business energy or environment policy, if you wish to write one.

Consider the changes that you could make in the following areas:

Energy

Electricity is likely to make up the bulk of practically every business’s energy consumption. Of course there are exceptions, such as a busy restaurant that may use a lot of gas in its kitchen. Even so, it’s likely that this business would still consume a relatively large amount of electricity during daily operations. This means that electricity consumption is an area that can be addressed to improve the efficiency and eco-friendliness of a business.

Lighting – If you have not already made simple changes such as switching to energy efficient light bulbs, then this is where you should start. If you implement this change throughout your entire business premises, you may be surprised at the effect it has. Ensuring that lights are not on in rooms or hallways not constantly in use is another change that most businesses can make. If you are willing to invest, you could even install motion sensors that only turn lights on when there is someone in the room.

Equipment – This could refer to computers and printers in an office, a kettle and dishwasher in the staff kitchen, specialist equipment for a tradesman, or just about anything else. All equipment should be turned off at the plug when not in use – especially overnight and on weekends. You could invest in standby savers for your business’s equipment to reduce the amount of phantom power that is unnecessarily consumed. There are also many specially designed energy efficient alternatives on the market that you could purchase, ranging from office equipment to catering appliances.

Transportation

If the nature of your business requires you or your staff to travel frequently, consider if there is any way that you could reduce this at all. Could you hold some meetings through a video conference rather than meeting in person? If you need to travel, could you travel by public, rather that private, transport?

You should also consider how you and your staff travel to the workplace. If all of your staff drive cars individually to get to work, these emissions are part of your business’s carbon footprint, and therefore are part of your business’s responsibility. Could you help your staff with carpooling arrangements – even incentivising them if necessary? Do you have the funds to help purchase train or bus passes for employees – or can you find the funding if not?

Staff and culture

It’s integral that you incorporate your green policies and energy efficient changes into the culture of your business, if you want to them to ‘stick’ and be successful. There are a number of ways in which you can introduce your green goals into everyday business life, including:

Involve your staff – don’t just tell them about your business’s green goals, or leave written notifications of your environmental responsibilities – actively involve your staff. Set up incentive schemes, or even just some minor competitions between departments.

You could even provide your employees with specialist training to increase their awareness of energy efficiency and environmental issues, and assign designated ‘green officers’ with duties to monitor eco awareness and green practice in the workplace.

Make your business’s environmental responsibilities a habit.

Your environmental policy

The purpose of an energy or environmental policy is to set achievable targets, solidify your business’s green mission and commitment to sustainability, and help you start to make a real difference. It doesn’t have to be complex or particularly elaborate – in fact, the simpler it is, the easier it will be to follow, track progress and achieve targets.

You should review your environmental policy at least once every 12 months to track your progress and set more goals. To begin with, don’t think too big – make sure your initial goals are realistic, achievable and worthwhile. If you start with the basics, and make sure you have taken the smallest steps before moving onto the bigger leaps, then you will be setting yourself up for success, and putting your business on the track to eco-friendliness.

An avid writer and energy expert, Hannah Corbett spends much of her time writing and reporting on current issues within the energy industry, particularly with a view to how business can go green and take control of their environmental responsibility. To connect with Hannah, find her on Twitter or Google Plus, or learn more about business energy at www.makeitcheaper.com.