When money is tight, it can be tempting to put green plans on hold. However, going green can help the environment and boost profitability.

A lot of environmental solutions have a cost-saving benefit, explains green business consultant Chris Chopik evolutiongreen.com. “Whether you take a capital or operating budget perspective, green is good for both the environment and the bottom line.”

Organizations can also help the environment and save money by promoting good habits.

GOING GREEN MADE EASY
Going green can be as simple as replacing lightbulbs. Chopik says conventional incandescent and halogen bulbs are energy hogs, and while compact fluorescents offer a modest improvement, the true bright light is the LED. Light Emitting Diodes offer a comparable user experience in terms of trajectory and focus and generally don’t require a wholesale change in infrastructure. “You can replace a halogen fixture with an LED fixture, and there are LED bulbs that are manufactured specifically to retrofit to halogen sockets – MR16s for example,” Chopik says. While LED bulbs cost more, they last longer and consume as little as 10 percent of the energy halogens consume. “You have a front-end capital investment, but your operating costs can pay back in as little as a year and a half,” Chopik says.

Another green strategy is switching from desktop computers to laptops, which are less energy-intensive to manufacture and are more efficient to run. “It makes sense to migrate everyone to laptops because of the operating budget and energy savings,” Chopik says. “You can also count on more people working at home if you give them a computer they can take home, and that saves money on office space and energy consumption. So, while laptops cost more up-front, this is more than offset by long-term savings.”

Organizations can also help the environment and save money by promoting good habits. Nada Sutic, environmental programs coordinator with the Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Toronto www.bomatoronto.org, says closing blinds on sun-facing windows on warm summer days can reduce the need for cooling, while opening blinds on sunny winter days can maximize solar gain and natural light. Employees should also turn off computers, monitors and other office equipment when not in use, or at least put them on standby. “Lighting used to be the second biggest energy user, next to heating and cooling, but plug loads have caught up,” Sutic says.

Some good habits can be automated. Sutic recommends motion sensor lighting controls for washrooms and other areas where traffic levels vary. Mechanical systems can allow building maintenance personnel to turn off lights at night and on weekends from a central location without visiting each room.

A strong waste reduction program can also help companies meet green targets. “Many waste haulers will pay for your paper and cardboard,” Sutic says. Office workers should also ensure printers and copiers are automatically set to double-sided print. “That’s an easy thing any IT department can take on.”

Audits that look at lighting, heating, cooling and hot water systems can reveal problems and cost-effective solutions to help companies move forward. “Setting up a management plan is pretty low-cost,” Sutic says. “An audit gives you the information you need so that you can allocate your resources appropriately.”