Your Organization or Business can make a Difference

Why

By working with others to fight climate change, you can ensure your business will continue with fewer interruptions from extreme weather caused by a heating planet.  One way is to support policies that help businesses become sustainable.  “The U.S. government understands the need for sustainable and renewable energy. so it offers various tax advantages to businesses that go green. This includes tax breaks, rebates, and other monetary enticements. These financial incentives are offered on both the state and federal levels. Some examples follow.

• Business deductions for installation of HVAC, interior lighting, or hot water systems that significantly reduce power use.
• Tax credits and grants of 10 and 30 percent for use of renewable energy sources.
• Tax credits for use of alternative vehicles that meet specific fuel-efficient standards.
• Bonus depreciation for qualified recycling and reuse of certain equipment or machinery.”
• Small businesses, together, can advocate for cost-saving and climate saving policy. Time Magazine

“Small and mid-size businesses have the power to impact eco-friendly policy. “It’s important for policymakers to hear members of the business community embrace a transition to a clean energy economy,” Teplitz says. Business leaders are simply seen differently than politicians or environmental activists—they’re sometimes more trusted.”

“Backing policies that reflect your values are good for the bottom line, too. 87% of customers will purchase a product from a company that advocated for an issue they care about, and 82% of US Fortune employees want to work for the CEO of a company that is vocal about social issues. Depending on your supply chain and workers, this could include anything among the spectrums of human rights, climate change, cultural values, and public health, to name a few.” Green Business Network

“Being a green business means taking traditional practices out of their linear state and thinking circular: how does this action affect my workers, my consumers, my planet, and back to my business? The days of the single-financial-bottom line business model is not enough anymore because the newest generation of customers – millennials – represent $2.45 trillion in spending power with 70% willing to spend more on brands share their values.” Green Business Network

Why

“In a November 2020 Ipsos poll, roughly 63 percent of U.S. adults said they believed “purchasing sustainable brands or products makes a difference for our environment,” with 57 percent noting that they felt “better” when buying “sustainable brands or products.” The Hill

“66% of all respondents and 75% of millennial respondents say that they consider sustainability when they make a purchase. 1“ This can help your business stand out to customers, and help you establish leadership in dealing with the climate. That’s important for your small business. According to Forbes, Gen Z makes up 40% of consumers in the US, and Millennials comprise another 22% of consumers in the US. These consumers want to do business with companies that are authentically committed to doing the right thing.

More job applicants are interested in working for responsible, sustainable businesses, and employees working for sustainable businesses are retained for longer. Business News Daily

“Research has shown that millennials are fast making up the largest workforce generation in the US […] Millennials are willing to sacrifice a portion of their salary to work for a company that is sustainable and can provide social benefits.” Green Business Bureau

“[A] company that implements sustainability initiatives such as donating a portion of its profit to an environmental cause and allowing employees to work from home is more likely to attract, and retain employees than a company that does not commit to environmental or social sustainability.” Green Business Bureau

“Focusing on sustainability in business models and corporate governance can give businesses a lasting competitive advantage, according to Boston Consulting Group.” Forbes

“Winning more customers: Many current and potential customers are attracted to businesses with a commitment to sustainability. Examples abound of businesses that have won large contracts due to their solar investments – buyers love products and services that are sun-powered! In addition, a solar installation is a great opportunity to promote your organization and raise awareness of your offering in the community.

Improving employee satisfaction: Employees are increasingly looking to work for sustainability-minded companies. By demonstrating your company’s commitment to solar power, your employees will be happier, more productive, and invested in the company mission.

Supporting the local economy: When a business contracts with a solar company, workers in the local market complete the installation. Greater demand for solar projects increases the availability of high-quality, well-paying jobs. Those workers could become your future customers, too.” Inc.com

Why

“An average business uses more than 20 percent energy than it needs.” That is wasted money. Freelancer.com

“LEDs have a longer lifespan, and use up to 80 percent less energy without sacrificing power.” Freelancer.com

“[S]mall businesses could reduce their energy costs between 10 and 30 percent through competitive rates, straightforward efficiency upgrades and simple behavioral adjustments – all without sacrificing service or comfort.” Business Direct Energy

Why

“According to EnergySage marketplace data, the average commercial property owner pays around $557 in monthly electricity bills before going solar. After their installation, their electricity bill was reduced by approximately 89%.” Energy Sage

“Energy prices change over time, and sometimes they fluctuate suddenly and severely. Changes in the amount of available fuel, demand for electricity and the costs of generating, distributing and transmitting electricity all impact the price of energy. If a business owns its own generation resources, however, it doesn't have to worry as much about potential price fluctuations. This enables them to forecast costs with more certainty.” Renewable Energy Magazine

“If a business installs an energy generation system that produces more energy than it uses, it can often sell that energy back to the grid. This means that renewable energy can be more than just a money saver. It can also be a source of extra revenue. Selling energy back to the grid can help offset the costs of installing solar panels or another energy system.” Renewable Energy Magazine

“Approximately 63% of the electricity produced in the U.S. is generated by burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. Small businesses, acting individually and collectively and with the strength of their purchasing power, can provide an impetus for electric utilities to move as quickly as possible to replace this capacity with electricity generated from renewable sources, in most cases, solar and wind” through the purchase of renewable energy programs through utilities. Yale Climate Connections

Why

“Simply put, for every $1 invested in things like training staff” saved $14 or more. World Resources Institute.

“Food loss and waste has many negative economic and environmental impacts. The global economic, environmental, and social cost of food wastage is estimated at US$2.6 trillion, which is nearly equal to the GDP of France (FAO, 2014). Food waste generates unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and wastes both water and land, harming ecosystems.” Drawdown.org

“Sweden uses food waste to create biogas – a kind of fuel that powers everything from their buses, to heating resident homes. Why not sell your food waste to a local biogas company for profit?” Look for a local biogas producer who could use the food waste. RecycleCoach.com

“Your business doesn’t have to be a restaurant or grocery store to reduce food waste. An office that caters from local fares can still reduce their overall waste. By purchasing from other businesses that support local farmers and the community, you are indirectly reducing food waste by minimizing transportation in the food system. Additionally, creating an office compost program will recycle food waste into fertilizer.” Green America

Why

According to Time Magazine, “on average, switching a light duty truck from gasoline to electric will save about 6,000 pounds of CO2 emissions annually.”

No-cost employee benefit: Data shows the average employee saves up to $4,000 per year just by teleworking part-time. Further, a recent survey shows that 83% of employees prefer this—a point that helps you retain staff. Nextiva.com

“Small businesses can provide employees with public transit benefits that help the environment, either directly or through their human resources (HR) software.” Check with your city transit agency to see if it offers “subsidized passes for businesses. Alternately, these benefits may be available to add through HR software that centralizes all benefit programs. Greenbiz.com

“The transportation sector is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the U.S.  EPA data indicate that light-duty vehicles collectively produce the most emissions (59%), followed by medium- and heavy-duty trucks (23%) […]” Yale Climate Connections

“With the emissions data in mind, companies could make a significant contribution by transitioning from gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, so long as that electricity itself comes from non-fossil fuel sources whenever possible.” Yale Climate Connections

Why

“There’s no doubt you’ve heard the phrase “reduce, reuse, recycle” – but any business new to the green movement will find its starting line here. The Three R’s should apply to every facet of your business – from packaging, to office supplies, to operations, and supply chains.” Green America

“Always opt for reducing and reusing first, as these practices skim the excess. When there’s no reusable alternative or reusing simply doesn’t work for your business, start a recycling program in your office.” Green America

“Make it easier to recycle” at work. SmallBusiness.Co.UK

“Removing recyclable products, such as paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum, from your main waste stream will significantly reduce the amount of impact waste removal costs have on your budget.” TheBoonRoom.com 

“For businesses in office settings, striving to create a paper-free workplace can cut costs on supply and waste disposal ends, too.” TheBoonRoom.com 

“Having a recycling program in effect doesn’t just create the foundation for an innovative, positive workspace, it also turns loyal employees into brand-loyal customers[…] It can cost your business anywhere from 50-200% percent of the departing employee’s salary trying to find a replacement. Such a large amount of time, money, and effort can be saved by developing employee loyalty through a positive work environment.” TheBoonRoom.com 

Why

“Increasingly, climate innovation expenses come in the form of capital expenditures (currently in an environment with very low interest rates), which will end up lowering operating expenditures later. Even more important is the fact that those investments will quickly translate to revenue, creating value and jobs—sustainability for the planet and for the strength of the organization.” QuickBooks.Intuit.com

“When possible, use local suppliers to reduce the need for intercontinental or transoceanic transportation.” QuickBooks.Intuit.com

“Increasingly, climate innovation expenses come in the form of capital expenditures (currently in an environment with very low interest rates), which will end up lowering operating expenditures later. Even more important is the fact that those investments will quickly translate to revenue, creating value and jobs—sustainability for the planet and for the strength of the organization.” Fortune

Why

"Saving the environment may save your business. USA Today

“Many studies have shown that volunteer programs boost productivity, increase employee engagement, and improve hiring and retention.” Harvard Business Review

Why

“Building electrification is key to a safe climate future.” GreenBiz

“Building electrification is the most cost-effective way to decarbonize buildings.” GreenBiz

“Electrification allows heating through a number of clean electricity sources.” GreenBiz

“America’s electric grid continues to get cleaner as more solar and wind power is added each year.” NRDC/National Resources Defense Council. 

Efforts are underway in “decarbonizing transportation, a sector that is now responsible for about a quarter of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.” ScienceNews.org