BUSINESS
u s to take advantage of the benefits that flow from becoming carbon n eutral.
Achieving carbon neutral status required us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. This is achieved through a combination of reducing internal emissions from business activities, and purchasing carbon credits and renewable energy certificates.
The process requires a detailed analysis of all business activities in line with The Carbon Neutral Protocol. Introduced in 2002, this is revised every year in line with the latest scientific findings and environmental standards. It is considered the gold standard in the field, and the Protocol is n ow used by hundreds of businesses around the world to ensure their carbon neutral claims are credible and robust.
It required a detailed assessmen t of energy consumption and carbon emissions across all of our activities, down to the level of commute journeys by employees to an d from work. It also in cludes an assessment of waste and how this is dealt with.
The carbon offset process is managed by Natural Capital Partners, which works with companies and project partners globally who deliver renewable energy programmes to reduce
carbon emissions and protect the natural environment.
We began the process in Jun e 2011, and were awarded carbon neutral status in February 2012. In addition to our carbon offset plan , we
purchased lan d in Staffordshire and planted some 1100 trees to reflect the VRF condensing units we sold during the early period in our growth, before we became carbon neutral.
Aside from the ethical issue of doin g the right t hing for the environment, what are the business benefits of being carbon n eutral?
End users, particularly major corporates,
often have strict CSR supplier policies as well as having a legal obligation to report ann ually on their environmental performance. Dealing with a certified carbon neu tral supplier gives end users confidence that their own green policies are bein g reflected through the supply chain.
Other carbon n eutral businesses include major companies such as Microsoft, BBC Worldwide, Coca-Cola, M&S, and Bentley, to name a few. Government departments and local authorities are also adopting green procurement policies. Our main supplier, Toshiba Air Conditioning, became carbon neutral shortly after us, becoming the first air conditioning man ufacturer in the
UK to achieve the standard. The result was that our whole logistics supply chain achieved carbon neutral status, again something which we believe is a first in our industry.
Air conditioning contractors and installers find themselves in the middle, required to meet the environmental standards and procurement policies of their own clients. Dealing with a carbon neutral air conditionin g supplier can give them an important edge, and ensure market access to projects that might otherwise be unavailable.
Reducing our energy use as a business is also a bottom line issue. Every pound we save on energy is a pound available to invest in the business. This obviously benefits both us and our customers, and is a win-win for all concerned.
We all have a responsibility to do the right thing, and do what is within our power to be wise custodians of the world we live in.
If the purpose of your business is to create c omfortable, safe, productive in door climates for people to live and work in, we have to take seriously our responsibility to safeguard the outdoor environment with equal care. At Cool Designs, our view is the two go together and are inseparable.
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