Sustainability: business, life, environment

Leading companies are becoming increasing aware the cost savings and long-term benefits associated with implementing sustainable changes in their organization.  Managing and planning a company’s operations to reduce environmental impacts can result in reductions in resource consumption, emissions, and waste streams. 

A recent study by the Pew Center, Corporate Energy Efficiency, invited 95 companies to participate in a 65-question survey on corporate energy efficiency strategies.  The results of the survey condensed down to six key findings:

•    Firms recognize the energy paradigm is changing rapidly: The study cites future oil/gas prices and carbon legislation.
•    Companies are responding by establishing corporate-wide energy efficiency targets: The respondents were evenly split between the environment and cost.
•    Senior management support is critical in the development and implementation of energy efficiency programs.
•    The most common challenge companies face in pursuing efficiency gains are resource constraints, especially limits on capital: Active respondents cited the inclusion of more intangible benefits in their project evaluations.
•    Employee engagement is an effective, but possibly underutilized strategy for improving energy efficiency.
•    Energy efficiency can be a gateway to wider business innovation: Engages stakeholders in broader process evaluations.

The implementation of efforts to improve business operations that are aligned with sustainability concepts can be part of the larger continuous pursuit of business sustainability.  In our own sustainability consulting practice, we work with companies who are moving past the energy savings to sustainable energy efficiency through:

•    Improve operational effectiveness
•    Discover areas for improvement in current operations
•    Create sustainable process that are aligned with the overall business strategy
•    Deliver value to the bottom line through process improvement activities
 
It has become critical for many companies to have comprehensive business sustainability strategies in place to reduce emissions.  For the first time, the business world is becoming aware of the risks and costs of both their direct and indirect exposure.  At Taiga Company, we offer professional consulting and small business resources to integrate energy efficiency into a broader business sustainability program.