Is it an inconvenient truth or does the truth inconvenience us? The scientific minds of our world have reached a consensus. 97% of climate scientists agree that human activities are the most likely cause of climate-warming trends over the past century. That’s right folks, climate change is our doing.
Global warming is no joke. Data that has been collected over years reveal that our climate is indeed changing. The global sea level rose about 17 centimetres in the last century and it has doubled in the last decade. We’ve also had 15 out of the 16 warmest years on record since 2001. The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are shrinking and we’re seeing a decline of the Arctic sea ice.
It is time each and every one of us put on our cape and became heroes for our planet. Greenery wasn’t just Pantone’s choice for colour of the year out of convenience. You could look at it as a reminder. Of greener days passed. In our quest for constant urbanisation, we’ve lost sight of the importance of the environment.
Earth Hour is upon us but we don’t have to limit our energy saving habits to one hour during one day of the year. Here are some great ways for your business/company to go green. I don’t know about you, but while NASA’s discovery of other habitable exoplanets is somewhat comforting, I’m pretty attached to and invested in the survival of this one.
Ready to get sustainable? Let’s get to it!
- Measure your carbon footprint (you won’t know how to move forward until you’ve analysed your current practices).
- Consider digitising business processes by using online project management software/tools.
- Enable online document creation, sharing, and storage (this eliminates the need to use paper, energy, and ink by printing).
- Consider implementing a work from home policy to help reduce energy consumption.
- Create a cloud database to keep manuals and employee handbooks online (so there’s no paper waste and every employee has access to it at any time).
- On the web? Switch to green web hosting. (examples)
- Put your computer on ‘Sleep Mode’ when it is not in use.
- Consider investing in energy saving monitors, printers, and computers.
- Recycle printer ink and toner cartridges and buy remanufactured ones.
- Look into getting a fax modem to replace your traditional fax machine so faxes can be sent via e-mail.
- Implement a policy to turn off the lights when you’re leaving any room for 15 minutes or more.
- Replace the incandescent and halogen light bulbs in the office with compact fluorescent and LED light bulbs. You can even remove light bulbs in areas that are over lit.
- Buy and use non-toxic cleaning products.
- Encourage employees to keep a plant on their desk or in their cubicle as they help to absorb indoor pollution.
- Provide reusable dishes, cutlery, and cups for all employees to use.
- Consider stocking up your pantry with fair trade and organic coffee/tea in addition to providing filtered drinking water.
- Consider using recycled paper and green office stationery.
- Place recycling bins in accessible areas throughout the office (remove individual waste bins too).
- Organise a company carpool program, or ‘don’t drive days’ and offer incentives like a lucky draw with free lunch, a pair of movie tickets or an extra vacation day as prizes.
What you can do
- This Earth Hour, do your part by donating your Facebook feed.
- Get the scoop on how your company can participate here.
- Download your starter kit.