With a basic understanding of where environment intersects energy,
you can better understand where your organization fits in a sustainable world.
you can better understand where your organization fits in a sustainable world.
Sustainability is where productive activity is performed with no direct or indirect environmental consequences.
Essentially, an organization has reached sustainability when their products and/or services have no impact on the environment, from cradle to cradle. This reflects a perpetual nature to the resources and processes of doing business, and thus is sustainable.
Some examples of sustainability goals include:
Sustainability does not require improving upon the environment; however, goals for carbon sequestration and environmental recovery promote environmental stewardship and corporate citizenship.
Essentially, an organization has reached sustainability when their products and/or services have no impact on the environment, from cradle to cradle. This reflects a perpetual nature to the resources and processes of doing business, and thus is sustainable.
Some examples of sustainability goals include:
- All packaging of only recyclable materials
- All fleet vehicles to operate on renewable bio fuels
- All electricity to come from renewable energy sources
- All water consumption limited to naturally replenishable sources
- Become a net-negative greenhouse gas emissions company
Sustainability does not require improving upon the environment; however, goals for carbon sequestration and environmental recovery promote environmental stewardship and corporate citizenship.
Although it can seem like being sustainable will be costly, uncompromised profitability is often achievable by making simple changes to processes or sources of materials, or converting liabilities into assets.
For example, many "Blue Chip" corporations with extensive campuses can generate up to 50 tons of trash per day of post recycle waste (landfill trash). With typical removal and disposal fees of $50/ton, the cost of managing this liability is about $1M/yr. Just a part of the cost of doing business.
The same company with an effective sustainability plan could look at their waste as an asset with 4000 BTUs of energy per pound. By removing free liquids, separating recyclables and preparing the organic materials in the waste, as much as 250 watts of electricity can be generated per pound. Scaled up, this company could generate power with their own waste while saving up to $1M/yr in trash removal fees and up to $2M/yr in electricity. Thereby, turning a $1M liability into a $3M asset.
This "Blue Chip" company is now a "Green Chip" company by acting as a Good Corporate Citizen through their Sustainability Program. And..., it saves them $3M/yr.
For example, many "Blue Chip" corporations with extensive campuses can generate up to 50 tons of trash per day of post recycle waste (landfill trash). With typical removal and disposal fees of $50/ton, the cost of managing this liability is about $1M/yr. Just a part of the cost of doing business.
The same company with an effective sustainability plan could look at their waste as an asset with 4000 BTUs of energy per pound. By removing free liquids, separating recyclables and preparing the organic materials in the waste, as much as 250 watts of electricity can be generated per pound. Scaled up, this company could generate power with their own waste while saving up to $1M/yr in trash removal fees and up to $2M/yr in electricity. Thereby, turning a $1M liability into a $3M asset.
This "Blue Chip" company is now a "Green Chip" company by acting as a Good Corporate Citizen through their Sustainability Program. And..., it saves them $3M/yr.