How to be Green??

[Gillie]

Having read the threads in this forum, I will admit to feeling just a tad excluded, in that I don't have a green product to shout about here.

So tell me then, what steps can a business take to feel more part of the green revolution?

We do the recyling of paper thing, the not printing out unneccessary documents/emails, switching screens off when not using them etc, so what other things can a business do then to help??

As a business, I do drive a lot, its a big car too, but it has to be, I have to fly on planes as well, how can I be green?

[sirearl]

Biggest single thing one can do is switch from petrol driven cars to diesel power.If you already have a petrol powered car have an L.P.G conversion.Cost about £1500 .

Nothing else would have such a positive result for our energy use and enviroment.untill the hybrid /electric car technology is made a viable proposition.

Earl

[RayB]

Actually Gillie, you are doing more than most - well done! It is the simple things that add up and make a difference.

I'm with Earl - look into an LPG conversion - the fuel is virtually half the price of petrol and it will pay for itself and start saving you money quite quickly.

I think RedEvo mentioned this on another thread today as well

[Gillie]

Can't be done sorry .... leased car and all that!!

[Page]

Being green usually means having to make some changes in your life and ones that you may not really want to and this is when it runs into problems and needs to also be pushed forwards with legislation.

We all want to save the planet but .....
I would love a new top
Holiday abroad coming up soon
Must redecorate
Why put a vest on that is so old fashioned - just turn up the heating

Being green usually means being a little bit greener than the average and not a lot more. But that is better than nothing.

[Gillie]

Being green usually means having to make some changes in your life and ones that you may not really want to and this is when it runs into problems and needs to also be pushed forwards with legislation.

We all want to save the planet but .....
I would love a new top
Holiday abroad coming up soon
Must redecorate
Why put a vest on that is so old fashioned - just turn up the heating

Being green usually means being a little bit greener than the average and not a lot more. But that is better than nothing.

Sorry Page but how does this help my business become greener??

[AdamJ]

One thing we've been considering is switching elecy supplier to one with a larger proportion of alternatively-generated power.

[Masterfulmatt]

2 things spring to mind.

If you supply products, look at the packaging you use, you can try to move away from polystyrere packaging to greener alternatives. I use pallets and pick these up local businesses that would otherwise destroy them, which I get for free and means they are being recycled. When I need to crate goods I collect loads of plywood and MDf that's scrap from a local exhibition company. Again I get it for free and it means what was scrap has a second lease of life.

Any scrap timber I have, normally from broken packing cases or off cuts, goes to a local farmer and powers his central heating

Secondly look at your suppliers and try and reduce the carbon footprint of your purchases by buying it locally if you can

[Page]

I was trying to point out that sometimes a big change of mind set is needed.
Being green can often be in direct conflict with a business that is really trying to get people to buy more. I know it is where I am. Should I change what I do entirely? It has always given me some conflict but then I have a family to provide for and on we go.

So here is an idea- we tend to use Halogen heaters at work rather than trying to heat the whole large and dated - so not well insulated - building.

Can you lose a plane trip a year. Change your car next time the lease comes up.

[cjd]

Do you work from home?

[RayB]

Hi Gillie,

It seems like you do a lot already. One thing you could do is write this up as a page on your website as an "Environmental Policy"

You could also consider using recycled paper in the office - it is readily available nowadays.

The LPG thing would be great to look at when it's time to change your car (could save £££'s)

Finally, are there any "green" financial products (is there such a thing) that you could promote to the green business community?

[Gillie]

Sorry plane trips are a neccessity unless I drive even more and longer!! And the size of car is vital as well ... I can't get a smaller one, I have to fit two bikes in it most weekends and lots of luggage as well as at least two if not three kids!

I have always been stingy or is it my nurturing by an economic father?? So to me the turning of heating down etc comes naturally! ;)

[Gillie]

Hi Gillie,

It seems like you do a lot already. One thing you could do is write this up as a page on your website as an "Environmental Policy"

You could also consider using recycled paper in the office - it is readily available nowadays.

The LPG thing would be great to look at when it's time to change your car (could save £££'s)

Finally, are there any "green" financial products (is there such a thing) that you could promote to the green business community?

This I don't understand Ray ... why would any client be vaguely interested in reading a green policy on my site? They come to me for money etc as they know I can do that and well, so would it really affect your choice of loan/deal if the person concerned recycled their paper??

And yes there are green financial products - such as mortgages whereby lenders say take us out and we will plant ten trees, credit cards as well. But the pay off as were, is that you pay over the odds interest rates for doing so. How many would do this I wonder?? Its been suggested that going down the green route can cost you as much £2k in that you take out a cheaper mortgage and then approach the Woodland Trust, pay £200 and still get your trees planted.

Good gimmicks that will get some interested no doubt, but looking past them, you can often do more good by going cheap and if you so wish doing something green as well!

[sirearl]

So here is an idea- we tend to use Halogen heaters at work rather than trying to heat the whole large and dated - so not well insulated - building.



There are grants available for insulating buildings,very good way to save energy,see

http://www.whitstablescene.co.uk/smugglers.htm

Earl:)

[indicaj01]

How about also adding ethical finance companies to your advisory portifolio?
Triodos Bank
Co-op Bank etc
I know this isnt exactly what you were after but may help the cause you are aiming towards.

[Alice3537]

This I don't understand Ray ... why would any client be vaguely interested in reading a green policy on my site? They come to me for money etc as they know I can do that and well, so would it really affect your choice of loan/deal if the person concerned recycled their paper??

And yes there are green financial products - such as mortgages whereby lenders say take us out and we will plant ten trees, credit cards as well. But the pay off as were, is that you pay over the odds interest rates for doing so. How many would do this I wonder?? Its been suggested that going down the green route can cost you as much £2k in that you take out a cheaper mortgage and then approach the Woodland Trust, pay £200 and still get your trees planted.

Good gimmicks that will get some interested no doubt, but looking past them, you can often do more good by going cheap and if you so wish doing something green as well!

Maybe less of a green 'policy' on your site and more of a green 'message', Gillie? :)

You have taken steps, as far as you can, to be more eco-friendly as a business (I trust you will re-assess the situation re the car when the lease ends etc) so maybe it is time to spread the message? I seem to remember you have a bit of a blog type section - an ideal method to mention the ways in which businesses can be more eco-friendly.....and generic rather than attached to a specific loan provider etc - therefore much more likely to touch on all aspects of their day to day business.

[Jayne]

Plant a tree every now and again and offset your carbon emission?

Jayne :)

[Gillie]

Maybe less of a green 'policy' on your site and more of a green 'message', Gillie? :)

You have taken steps, as far as you can, to be more eco-friendly as a business (I trust you will re-assess the situation re the car when the lease ends etc) so maybe it is time to spread the message? I seem to remember you have a bit of a blog type section - an ideal method to mention the ways in which businesses can be more eco-friendly.....and generic rather than attached to a specific loan provider etc - therefore much more likely to touch on all aspects of their day to day business.

Sorry size of car will be staying for quite a while ... well its either that or strangely enough, get another one as well, so that my daughter can carry on riding her bike ... now how contrary is that one??

Living in a national park, not allowed to plant trees strangely enough ... how weird is that one?

I will have to consider the green message on the site. I cannot get my head around the fact, will anyone read it, will anyone care, as they want money, hence visiting the site ... does anyone think about being green and kind to the community when worrying about how to make sure they pay their staff etc??

[An Oasis]

...I will have to consider the green message on the site. I cannot get my head around the fact, will anyone read it, will anyone care, as they want money, hence visiting the site ... does anyone think about being green and kind to the community when worrying about how to make sure they pay their staff etc??

I understand exactly where you are coming from on this one Gillie.

The more successful that we become the larger our carbon foot print is, e.g. bigger vehicles, consuming more fuel, bigger brochures, bigger more complex IT systems... ...the list is endless.

As for clients requiring a greener option they like the idea until they see the price, e.g. using UK stainless steel planters "V" imported Asian stainless steel planters 100% increase in price.

We recently slagged off a company for it's "green policy" on our blog, to give them credit they came back, so we then asked how their green donations really worked, what they really meant... ...never heard from them again!!!

[cjd]

I will have to consider the green message on the site. I cannot get my head around the fact, will anyone read it, will anyone care, as they want money, hence visiting the site ... does anyone think about being green and kind to the community when worrying about how to make sure they pay their staff etc??

If you really don't have a 'green' product or service - and there's absolutely no reason why every business should - it would be counterproductive to force one.

I really hate the bandwaggon effect - it must be real or nothing in my view.

[Gillie]

Have to agree with you ... I have no 'green' products as such, as the ones out there being offered are just to help you feel better when in fact they actually cost you more. As I do have intergrity etc and will only suggest appropriate offerings to potential clients, how can I then offer something that can be done cheaper elsewhere, ie get a cheaper loan and just go out and plant 200 trees cheaper yourself, and somehow I feel better for this as its the green option??

[Dawg]

Thats right. Make the money and then use it how you want, according to your priorities.
Paying more/earning less from a product, financial in this case, is a waste of resources, and labelling it 'Green' doesn't make the waste acceptable.

[Cornish Steve]

An even bigger waste is allowing the government to steal more money in the form of taxes, waste a majority of it on bureacracy, and spend the rest of it on ideological claptrap. At least overpaying for a 'green' product puts money in the pocket of someone who may be trying to help. As you say, though, the best option is simply to buy products that deliver the most value and use the spare change to support directly initiatives with which we agree - green or otherwise.

[AdamJ]

I had to buy a new colour laser today and chose one specifically with duplex printing so we can use a lot less paper. Quite pleased with myself. Green and should save some cash.

That's enough 'green' in the bank to fund another flight somewhere...

[Alice3537]

Living in a national park, not allowed to plant trees strangely enough ... how weird is that one?

I will have to consider the green message on the site. I cannot get my head around the fact, will anyone read it, will anyone care, as they want money, hence visiting the site ... does anyone think about being green and kind to the community when worrying about how to make sure they pay their staff etc??

Hi, Gillie,

The National Park comment - I just shake my head and wonder about the logic of things!

I'd like to mention (given some of the responses) that by 'green message' I was kind of referring to one blog post about the issue, not turning your site into Greenpeace! :D A kind of 'by the way' type of thing - after all (and I have worked in mortgage lending, personal lending and corporate lending....not stating that to be arsy or to blow my own trumpet, but to kind of validate my point) and many people seeking finance are not cash poor or on an incredibly stretched income so the message could still be valid.

And you are so right when you say "I do have integrity etc and will only suggest appropriate offerings to potential clients" which was also part of the reason I suggested the blog post over and above shoving 'green but expensive products' down clients' throats! Interestingly, when I was working in financial services, less than 2% of my clients SPECIFICALLY stated that they wanted an ethical investment fund!

[AdamJ]

Hi, Gillie,

The National Park comment - I just shake my head and wonder about the logic of things!


We wanted to change our front door for a near-identical one. According to the National Park we needed planning permission to make the change.

Door: £95
Fitting: Free, about an hour of my time

Mandatory architect's plans showing the front elevation before and after: £500 upwards
Planning Permission application fee: £200.

Surprisingly enough, I just changed the door without making the application!

[Alice3537]

We wanted to change our front door for a near-identical one. According to the National Park we needed planning permission to make the change.

Door: £95
Fitting: Free, about an hour of my time

Mandatory architect's plans showing the front elevation before and after: £500 upwards
Planning Permission application fee: £200.

Surprisingly enough, I just changed the door without making the application!

Madness.

And that certainly isn't about your actions!

[ozskins]

Hi Gillie

funny you should ask but as a subsidiary we are just setting up a water technology company and broadening to a wider remit. We are now registered with the govt and are just going through product approval as we speak.

I feel there is a lot of spin around this but i feel the only way it will work if it make sense financially for people to do so and also happens to save the planet.

In an average commercial washroom we can specify and install products to reduce water use by up to 80%. This has serious savings to the water and sewerage bills, with average ROI if paid for in full of 18-24 months.

Also it can attract funding equivalent to 30% of the total cost of product and all specification and fitting cost on top of this. So a financial near no brainer and a very warm green feeling that you can shout about to suppliers and customers etc.

this is just one example and the roll out across other areas can be significant as well. If you need any help or advice just mail me.

Austen

[Cornish Steve]

In an average commercial washroom we can specify and install products to reduce water use by up to 80%. This has serious savings to the water and sewerage bills, with average ROI if paid for in full of 18-24 months.
This is great, and I wish you every success.

I've noticed recently that most taps in airport toilets in the US have been switched to be motion-driven: They operate only when you place your hands in front of them. Are you offering something similar?

[sailflags]

Hi Gillie,

I know how you feel, I think that people need to look at how important what they are doing really is & is the world going to fall apart without it. In the news it seems that the world is starting to fall apart so we all need to do something.

Many eople have the attitude that they will be greener if it is not inconvenient to them, but I think unless we change our convenient ways & start inconveniencing ourselves future generations will suffer.

I will not get a ladder & climb off my soap box!

pete

[ozskins]

the range of products is vast but here is a flavour

taps infra red sensors
flow limiters in taps
non concussive taps or push taps only on for pre defined time

low flushing wc's as low as 2.6/4 ltr and 3/6 ltr
again infra red flushing

waterless urninals as well as low flush urinals

low flow shower heads.

there are many more technologies but id you want any more info just shout