40 . Glasgow Business December 2014


>>Continued from page 39


which will encourage everyone from businesses to schools and community groups to get involved. A Green Year mobile phone


app is being developed which will enable people to keep up to speed with the activities, as well as picking up tips on how to become more environmentally aware. A major Green Jobs Fair is also


in the pipeline, which will highlight the array of employment opportunities on offer in the city’s thriving renewable energy sector and the type of skills and qualifications needed. Te Green Year celebrations


will mark the huge strides Glasgow has taken towards a greener future and the various sustainability projects which are in place, such as the creation of a network of electric vehicle charging points, the wind turbine at Cathkin Braes, scoping of vacant and derelict land in the city for mini solar farms, the national roll-out of our Stalled


“The Green Year celebrations will mark the huge strides Glasgow has made towards a greener future and the sustainability projects which are in place”


Spaces initiative and the introduction of the popular Next Bike hire scheme. A new community park will be


created in the city’s East End as part of Glasgow’s Green Year 2015 celebrations. With such a large and varied


green programme next year Alison said that Glasgow Chamber will be working closely with the Council to support each other’s efforts. She added: “We are also


delighted that Glasgow, for the first time, is hosting the All Energy Conference in May – the largest renewables energy event in the UK. We are looking forward to using the conference as a platform to continue to communicate the benefits of the Green Business Network and our collaborative projects with the Council.”


Geraldine Boylan, Mabbett Director – Environment, Health and Safety, said that companies can easily improve their profitability by adopting environmental management practices to use resources more efficiently. She explained: “Companies


can make significant savings in costs associated with overheads such as energy, water and how they deal with waste. It’s a case of getting the knowledge and then acting on it, getting organised and being aware of how your business can make these savings. But developing environmental awareness across an organisation has a spin-off benefit of upskilling staff and providing opportunities for growth. An environmental management system project is a great way to help an employee gain skills, knowledge and make a real difference in their business. “ There are some quick ideas


on how to become ‘greener’ and save money too:


ENERGY Energy costs have escalated in recent years and not only account for a large part of a business’s overall operating costs, but are also responsible for a significant proportion of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Carbon Trust estimates


that most businesses can cut energy spend by around 10 per cent by taking some simple efficiency measures. With much electrical


equipment, the energy saving mantra is simple – if it’s not in use, switch it off. In some companies, office equipment can be responsible for up to around 30 per cent of total energy consumption so it makes sense to ensure all computers, printers, photocopiers etc are switched off at the end of the day. For example, leaving on a single computer monitor without power save could cost up to around £30 per year. When it comes to buying new


equipment, look for ‘energy star’ kit which is designed to give you energy savings.


WATER/HEATING Heating in Scotland is essential during the winter months, but it comes at a high cost. It is estimated that for every one degree centigrade of extra heat, the heating bill increases by around 8 per cent, so be


aware of overheating offices and work spaces. An inefficient or old boiler


can bring extra energy costs. The Carbon Trust estimates that maintaining a boiler could save up to around £120 per year in efficiency costs, if you currently spend £400 on space heating bills. However, if it is more than 20 years old, consider replacing it for a new condensing boiler. Another good way to reduce


your energy bill is to ensure buildings have effective insulation and draught proofing to reduce heat loss – as well as limit any noise and airborne pollution.


LIGHTING Lighting is another heavy energy consumer that can be controlled to result in significant savings. Removing an unnecessary 50 watt halogen spotlight bulb could save up to £65 a year. Consider fitting high efficiency, long-life units like LEDs, or light controls such as dimmer switches, automatic presence or sunlight detector sensors to reduce use.


IDEAS ON


TO GO GREEN


HOW


WASTE Reducing waste contributes to lower overheads, but also helps to reduce the amount of material going to landfill, for which there is a cost. Scottish waste regulations require by law that businesses remove recyclable materials from the landfill waste stream. That’s why recycling is important – and sorting out different wastes into their categories ensures efficient collection. However, it is not just an environmental responsibility to deal with waste appropriately, there are further legal requirements where waste materials are potentially hazardous.


FUEL The transport sector is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world. For many organisations fuel is a major cost to their business so the efficient use of fleet vehicles is vital. Many new


vehicles have very low emission rates and high fuel efficiency, but they need regular maintenance to keep them running efficiently. GPS systems can also help


reduce fuel costs by planning the most efficient routes as well as finding alternative routes to avoid traffic jams (and burning valuable fuel while stationary in traffic). Business travel also has a


reputation for creating a large carbon footprint and this can be reduced by considering the economic benefit of such travel or the use of alternative technologies such as Skype and video conferencing to facilitate virtual meetings to save costs and time.


BENEFITS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Providing evidence of environmental management is becoming increasingly important in winning new business, as many larger companies want their suppliers to have the same environmental values as themselves.


Gaining the widely recognised


environmental management registered systems, such as the UK’s BS 8555 and the internationally recognised ISO 14001 can reap rewards by not only helping to win new business, but also by developing positive relationships with customers, suppliers, insurers and the local community.


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