Tips for Green Business Partners

Mary Campbell, Urban Sustainability Agent

In December 2009, Extension launched the Pinellas Green Business Partnership to help businesses save money and reduce environmental impacts. Business goals and sustainability goals are merging to create a new vision for businesses that realize the value that sustainability can create for the organization. If you are considering aligning your sustainability goals with your corporate goals, it is easy to get started.

Let’s look at a sample Green Policy for your business:
Business ABC will promote and support sustainable practices such as: implement energy efficient practices, purchase green certified products when practical and reduce waste through recycling and green office practices.

Now that you have written your Green Policy for your business (see also Thinking Green: December 2009) that describes your commitment to green practices, it is time to engage your employees and set some goals. Here are a few examples:

Business ABC Green Goals 2010
1. Two-sided copying will be used on all documents and electronic sharing will replace hard copies whenever possible.
2. All new electronic devices will be EnergyStar® certified.
3. Employees will turn off all computers and peripherals at the end of each day.
4. Telecommuting will be implemented to reduce corporate carbon emissions.

Setting YOUR goals for 2010 will help employees become engaged in meeting the goals and understanding the importance of being sustainable. Include your employees in setting goals and include goals that improve the work environment, such as green cleaning products that are less toxic and improve indoor air quality. Create a green team in the office to explore new and innovative approaches. Start slowly and integrate new practices that are meaningful to your business and employees.

Make 2010 a greener year and reap the benefits of a healthier workplace, reduced environmental impacts, and cost savings. Learn more about the Green Business Partnership Wednesday, February 17 at 3 pm– Register on line at www.pinellascountyextension.org – ON-LINE Registration- Sustainable Living-

Resource:
Business.Gov

Pinellas Green Business Partnership: Writing Your Green Policy

Mary Campbell, Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

It is an exciting time for green businesses. Green building is on the rise, the auto industry is racing to produce electric cars and major corporations are starting to assess the environmental impacts of their products and operations. Businesses are setting goals on waste reduction- Wal-Mart pledges to reduce global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33% per store by 2013; use of alternative energy is on the rise and businesses are tracking their carbon footprint.
Greenbiz.com does an annual report on green business efforts and the progress towards more sustainable business models. The report provides some optimism, but also indicates we have a long way to go. For businesses that are working to be greener, there can be many benefits, such as attracting customers, reducing costs, and providing healthier working conditions for employees. So how does a business move forward on a plan to be green? There needs to be a long-range view of the overall mission for the business. Some businesses are creating positions for a Sustainability Coordinator that can be a point person to move the effort forward and provide resources. St. Petersburg College offers a degree program in Sustainability Management. If a new position is not created, companies are forming employee teams to promote activities like recycling, waste reduction, green purchasing and energy conservation.

A good place to start is by writing a company environmental policy statement. This statement is a set of goals that helps a company put its commitment into practice. Sound environmental policies can reduce overhead and be a valuable tool in efficiency. A policy statement should be developed with the participation of employees and include legal compliance, product stewardship, continual improvement and involvement with employees and customers.

To support local efforts for businesses to go green and provide recognition to companies that meet specific criteria, Pinellas County Extension has developed a Green Business Partnership assessment. Over the next few months, a series of articles will outline that program and how any business can begin the exciting process of being a green business. The new website provides information and resources.
Sign up for the Introduction to the Green Business Partnership, December 15, 2009 to learn more: www.pinellascountyextension.org On Line Registration
Resources:
Walmart’s Sustainability Efforts

State of Green Business 2009

St. Petersburg College Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainability Management

Business.gov Green Business Guide

Business.gov Environmental Planning

Pinellas County Extension’s Green Business Partnership

Developing an Environmental Policy Statement

Pinellas County Small Business Lending Fair

Pinellas County Small Business Lending Fair

September 24, 2009 from 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.

at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th Street North, Clearwater, Convention & Meeting Room 1-453

Hosted by the Pinellas County Business Development Center & Gulf Coast Business Finance

Featuring exhibits by over 25 business lenders, this event offers entrepreneurs and business owners the opportunity to discuss their needs with loan officers or just browse among the many lending options available for business growth and expansion. A buffet lunch will be provided by Gulf Coast Business Finance.

Advanced registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Please register online at pced.org/calendar, by email at businesshelp@pced.org or by phone at (727) 453-7200.

“The Lending Fair was a terrific experience.
With so many lenders in one place, it was easy
to shop for the option that worked best for us.”
- Sean Dorisinski,
Dorisinski Campbell Design Associates

Green Business Practices

Mary Campbell, Urban Sustainability Agent, Pinellas County Extension

Becoming a more environmentally- friendly business is a choice that can reap big rewards. Green Business practices can help save money, attract customers, enhance your reputation and help make a business more efficient. A company policy of environmental stewardship or mission that includes sustainable practices will help create the vision. There are three main areas where a business can become more green and sustainable:

Improve energy efficiency and water conservation
Changes in work practices
Recycling and waste reduction

Improve Energy Efficiency and Water conservation
There are simple ways to reduce energy and water use and save money at the same time. An energy audit can be done by Progress Energy to review where there may be easy impacts to reduce energy use, as well as long-term investments for the future.

Implement staff guidelines for turning off computers, peripherals, as well as office and meeting room lights. Water conservation in outdoor landscapes can save thousands of gallons of water each year (see Florida Yards and Neighborhoods ).

Changes in Work Practices
To become a green business, employees need to be a part of the practice changes that will make it successful. Creating a green committee that promotes these new practices will be a good start, as well as educational programs for staff. Discussing green purchasing practices, energy conservation, double- sided copying, green meetings , reduction of paper use through electronic sharing, telecommuting and other innovative sustainable practices will help the team get started. Start small and build on these practice changes gradually until they become habits. Develop a staff pledge program and rewards around the new practices (take the Check Your Green Commitment At Work Pledge to get started).

Recycling and Waste Reduction
Reducing waste in an office can make a positive impact on the bottom line as well as reduce your carbon footprint. Get a waste assessment to determine strategies and options from Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste.

Develop an Action Plan

1. Evaluate environmental programs that fit well with your vision and mission.
2. Communicate your environmental initiatives to customers and staff.
3. Report successes and get feedback.

Resources:
Ten Steps to Green Business Practices

Leaving PCs on overnight wastes billions in energy costs, study says: Scientific American Blog

In the world of sustainability and the "green movement," the converted already understand how small changes add up to BIG resource conservation. As educators we strive to get this message out to the rest of the populace, and in these tough times perhaps there is no better incentive than underscoring how much MONEY can be saved by adopting sustainable practices.

A recently released study conducted by Stamford, Connecticut and the Alliance to Save Energy, (a Washington, D.C., coalition of business, government and environmental organizations) found that in the US alone, energy waste by PCs adds up to $2.8 billion.

Just think what we could do with that $2.8 billion if it were not being spent unnecessarily...

See the full article here:

Leaving PCs on overnight wastes billions in energy costs, study says: Scientific American Blog

Get to Work at Going Green

by Mary Campbell, Pinellas County Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

Here are some simple things you can do to be GREEN at work:

• Print double-sided whenever possible.
  
• Narrow your margins to reduce paper.
  
• Reuse the back of a one-sided document for drafts before you recycle the paper.


• Use reusable mugs and dishes for your drinks and food during the day to reduce waste.


• Ask for and order recycled content office paper, supplies and products. Buying recycled content helps turn recyclables into new products.
  
• Turn off your lights when not in your office.
  
• Turn off your computer screen when you are away from your desk for long periods of time.
  
• Turn off your computer when not in use.
  
• Open window blinds to let in natural sunlight and turn off overhead lights whenever possible.
  
• Turn off vehicles when stopped. Idling vehicles waste energy and cause increased pollution.
  
• Use recycling containers at your desk and in common areas for unsoiled paper, cans and bottles to reduce waste going to the landfill.
  
  Remember to take the At Work Pledge at: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/sustainability/index.shtml