| Financial Benefits of Environmental | | | | |
| ResponsibilityUp until approximately 6 months | | | | Purchase energy-efficient products for use |
| ago, I was of the impression that being | | | | in the office. Look for consumption ratings |
| conscious of the environment was strictly for | | | | on products that make use of hydro and gas. |
| the benefit of the environment itself, and | | | | Another positive sign that a product is |
| that I would derive nothing from it; the | | | | energy efficient is the Energy Star logo. |
| ultimate beneficiary of any recycling/waste | | | | |
| reduction would be future generations, and | | | | Don't print/photocopy unless absolutely |
| the greater effect of my efforts would occur | | | | necessary. I've seen many people print |
| long after I was gone.Thanks to Dr. Anthony | | | | non-necessary documents, web pages, and even |
| Watanabe and my work as the web developer for | | | | personal pictures on the office printer and |
| the Toronto Regional Green Building Festival | | | | distribute them to friends and colleagues. |
| website, I have come to the realization that | | | | |
| there are reasons beyond the ecological | | | | A good rule of thumb when it pertains to |
| benefits mentioned above.In speaking with | | | | paperwork is, "if you don't need a permanent |
| Anthony, I noticed that he uses the word | | | | record of it, don't print it." |
| "sustainability" and the phrase "sustainable | | | | |
| growth" quite frequently when describing his | | | | Turn off all electrical devices and adjust |
| business. He even went so far as to conceive | | | | the thermostat to match the outside |
| the Sustainable Business Resource Centre | | | | conditions when no one is in the office. If |
| (SBRC), a network of for-profit and | | | | you don't want to adjust your thermostat |
| not-for-profit businesses whose collective | | | | manually, consider investing in an electronic |
| mission is to grow while maintaining a sense | | | | programmable thermostat. These thermostats |
| of social responsibility and ensuring that | | | | can be programmed within 10-15 minutes of |
| they use the minimal amount of environmental | | | | installation and very rarely need to be |
| resourcesIt was in speaking to the owners of | | | | adjusted. |
| the other members at the SBRC launch party | | | | |
| that I discovered the direct financial | | | | Choose environmentally responsible companies |
| benefits of sustainable growth: | | | | for your commercial needs. Companies such as |
| | | | Diamond + Schmitt Architects Inc. that show a |
| Lower energy/utility bills. By using | | | | commitment toward sustainable growth will |
| energy-efficient appliances and renewable | | | | help ensure that your needs are met while |
| sources of energy (e.g. solar), consumption | | | | making minimal use of natural resources. |
| of energy resources decreases and, in turn, | | | | |
| utility costs decrease. | | | | Transmit mass-consumption documents |
| | | | electronically where and when possible. |
| Increased productivity. A cleaner office | | | | Besides being far less expensive to do so |
| environment will keep employees happier and | | | | than to mail out said documents, paper use is |
| consequentially more productive. | | | | also minimized. |
| | | | |
| Government rebates and incentives. | | | | Consider features for your fax line such as |
| Depending on where you live, there may be | | | | Call Screen and Privacy Guard. Companies |
| municipal, provincial/state-wide, or federal | | | | such as Primus offer features for any phone |
| incentives designed to reward environmental | | | | line that will allow the owner of the line to |
| responsibility. | | | | filter out and eliminate needless and |
| | | | unnecessary calls.In the case of a fax line, |
| For example, Natural Resources Canada offers | | | | activating filtering features will allow you |
| an ongoing series of rebates and incentives | | | | to block known mass fax senders from tying up |
| for both homeowners and businesses.Another | | | | your fax line, shortening the lifespan of |
| site worth checking out if you're interested | | | | your fax, and wasting ink and paper an on |
| in rebates and incentives is | | | | unsolicited commercial faxing. These |
| | | | features are typically minimal in cost |
| Lower costs on goods, both in the short and | | | | (usually no more than $5.00 per feature per |
| long term. Reduced use of goods and | | | | month) and can be considered a wise |
| recycling provide an increased supply of | | | | investment on the basis of avoiding |
| goods as well as a decreased demand for said | | | | unsolicited commercial materials alone. |
| goods. Simple economic theory teaches us | | | | |
| that this increased supply and/or decreased | | | | |
| demand leads to lower costs for goods. | | | | |
| | | | These are just a few examples. If you |
| Ways To Go Green and Save MoneySome of these | | | | examine your own business environment, you |
| ways may seem obvious, but bear repeating in | | | | will likely find many other ways to |
| order to ensure that as many of us as | | | | contribute in a positive manner to both the |
| possible are contributing to our own | | | | environment and your company's bottom line. |
| sustainable growth: | | | | |