We know you will have heard these suggestions many times before.  And yes, reducing emissions really is straight forward.  Here is our version of Sybil Fawlty’s specialist subject*.

To reduce your business’ emissions try some or all of the following ideas.  Most of these will also save you money and tax.

Generally

  1. Reduce carbon emissions and resource usage
  2. Monitor your business’ emissions
  3. Tell your suppliers, employees and customers that you care
  4. Draw up a simple one page environmental policy
  5. Ensure that you meet all environmental legislation

Travel

  1. Plan your work to avoid or reduce travelling
  2. Travel by foot or cycle when possible
  3. Travel by bus, coach or train
  4. If you must use a car avoid rush hour and scenic routes
  5. Drive a car with low emissions, preferably below 120g/km
  6. Don’t exceed speed limits or accelerate hard
  7. Allow employees to work from home if you can
  8. Don’t fly for business reasons, use technology instead
  9. Create a car share scheme with incentives for employees

Deliveries

  1. Maximise order quantities as far as possible
  2. Buy goods made locally, in the UK and Ireland, or Europe (in that order)
  3. Purchase goods delivered from local warehouses

Heating and Power

  1. Buy certified 100% renewable electricity
  2. Turn off computers at night and monitors at lunch time
  3. Leave lights on all night (…just kidding)
  4. Use energy efficient bulbs
  5. Use heating sensibly, 20C is warm (16C is the minimum)
  6. Set timing controls to avoid heating empty buildings
  7. Avoid air conditioning (combat global warming instead!)
  8. Turn down water heating, many taps run far too hot
  9. Turn off appliances at the plug when not in use
  10. Only boil the amount of water you need

Water

  1. Toilets should not flush all night long
  2. Installing grey water systems if water usage is high
  3. Tap water in the UK is perfectly safe, chill it in the fridge

Purchasing

  1. Purchase recycled goods whenever available
  2. Check for manufactures’ environmental policies
  3. Use green lists to establish best choices
  4. Don’t buy over packaged products

Printing and Stationery

  1. Offices that are almost paperless have huge efficiency gains
  2. Use paper made from 100% recycled post consumer waste
  3. Print double sided, and set printers to default to this
  4. Use a print company that has a waterless printing system

Waste

  1. Only buy what is needed
  2. Service and repair is often better than buying new
  3. Compost kitchen waste and tea bags
  4. Recycle everything
  5. Measure waste that goes to land fill
  6. Don’t use disposable cups, plates or cutlery
  7. Monitor all possible pollutants

Buildings

  1. Ensure insulation is maximised
  2. Installing a grey water system save water and energy
  3. Consider wood burning boilers

* Sybil Fawlty’s specialist subject on Mastermind should be “The bleedin’ obvious”, according to Basil.