Being environmentally friendly is not a new concept, but for many of us, conserving energy and using it more responsibility, has become REAL in recent years. The increasing costs of electricity and other resources have a direct effect on the bottom line of businesses.
At the most recent SBA Networking Session hosted at the Simon’s Town Country Club in July 2013, Kim Kruyshaar of “Green Audits into Action” shared her expertise on environmental auditing with local businesses. Kim recommended businesses support each other and tap into each other’s resources for a more sustainable Simon’s Town.
Business or homeowners can do a “DIY First-Party Audit” to get a basic understanding of how much energy is being consumed, where and at what price. Kim can be contacted at kim@greenaudits.co.za for more information and for audit sheets to use in a self-audit.
A Third-party Audit is conducted by a Green auditor external to the business. This includes a baseline audit of the entire home or business, or an audit of just one aspect, such as lighting, energy, water, waste or chemicals. An audit should answer the following questions:
1. Do I have a baseline against which to measure the efficiency of equipment and actions to set targets for saving costs and resources?
2. How do the service tariffs work? Is my business/home on the correct tariff for energy, water, waste etc?
3. Can I benefit from incentives and rebates to subsidise efficiency measures, e.g. Eskom lighting rebates?
4. What are the financial risks associated with the increasing costs of essential services and resources?
5. What are the economic and marketing benefits of an environmentally sustainable business?
If a full assessment is too daunting, rather than delaying your Green Journey, audit either e.g. energy, water or waste. This way you can focus on a priority area for your business and see the economic and best practice benefits of a focused Green Audit.
Reduce, Recycling & Re-using: Find out where you can recycle all those things that should not go into the refuse from plastic, paper, cardboard, and bottles to batteries, CFL lights, motor & cooking oil, bread tags, computers and other electronics, etc.
Click on link for more local Recycling information.
Round & About 