When it comes to business nowadays, greener is better, but the color has nothing to do with money.
Green businesses are those that follow a clearly defined set of rules, or metrics, to make their enterprise “green”, or environmentally friendly.
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These can be as simple as weather stripping doors and windows to prevent loss of heated (or cooled) air – losses which also represent an unnecessary and avoidable use of electricity or other energy source.
Businesses wanting to go green can use a number of green certification programs, ranging from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which offers four progressive categories from a simple LEED authentication to Silver, Gold and – at the most ecofriendly level – Platinum.
LEED Certification, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, provides businesses large and small with independent validation that their new or renovated facilities offer the best possible conditions relating to human and environmental health, as well as sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, renewable and recyclable materials use, and indoor air and environmental quality to eliminate possible toxic exposure, which for many people being the “victims, the awareness of he medical problems they have recently experienced is directly related to that toxic exposure”
For those new to the “green metrics” school of thought, sustainability is in essence a very simple principle:
live in the world in such a way that those who come after you will also be able to enjoy the full benefits of air, water, earth and other natural resources.
LEED is the most widely recognized of the various green building paradigms, but not the only one. Add to that the fact that Henry Gifford, a fuel savings advocate, filed a class action lawsuit in 2010 against the USGBC, charging that organization with applying green metrics which in fact increased energy use, and some environmental advocates are looking elsewhere for environmental certification.
One of these is NAHBGreen, the National Green Building Program developed and monitored by the National Association of Home Builders, a U.S. based organization. Another, the BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEM), was founded in the UK by the Building Research Establishment, or BRE, to measure the sustainability of new, non-domestic buildings.
Another program, ENERGY STAR, is a joint operation between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, and the U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE. ENERGY STAR homes are certified as at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which is another metric by which builders around the world measure their response to green building metrics. ENERGY STAR also goes one step further than the IECC, assuring that its homes are as much as 30 percent more efficient than typical new residential construction, and even more than that compared to most older homes.
Checkout my new featured guest blog post for Pledging for Change on “Green Business Metrics” ow.ly/erusZFeedback welcomed!
— Andrew Miller (@amillerblog) October 13, 2012
On a global scale, the United Nations Environment Programme, or UNEP, structures and participates in the Project Sustainability Management Guidelines set up by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) to help project engineers and other stakeholders in framing sustainable development goals that parallel local conditions and priorities – for example, sustainable water use in Somalia.
In addition to national and global green building guidelines, many U.S. states offer localized environmental and sustainability building and remodeling procedures, ranging from EarthCraft homebuilding in Alabama to Wisconsin’s unique ENERGY STAR Homes program. In both New York and Seattle (and perhaps other cities that have escaped our research), agencies have begun benchmarking buildings in a like-vs.-like metric that rates energy efficiency of both new and older buildings, based on the energy conservation and resource improvements they have made.
The U.S. is the world’s second largest energy consumer in terms of total use, right behind China, and seventh highest in terms of energy use per person.
But it is buildings that use the lion’s share of energy resources. In fact, according to the U.S.National Science and Technology Council, 1/3 of the world’s energy is used by commercial and residential buildings (homes, apartments, condos, etc.). In North America, this equates to 72 percent of the electricity generated, 12 percent of the water collected and treated, and 60 percent of non-industrial waste. Ecofriendly buildings also save workers and occupants $58 billion in sick leave and doctor’s visit costs by eliminating “sick building” syndrome. Another study, from the US Building Council, suggests that green buildings can honestly brag about $180 billing in increased worker production per year.
Are you currently implementing any green business metrics in your company? Do they seem to be helping with efficiency and safety?
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About Andrew Miller
I love the quote that you added “live in the world in such a way that those who come after you will also be able to enjoy the full benefits of air, water, earth and other natural resources.” This really sums it all up.
I never realized that there so many of these accreditation possibilities for businesses. Maybe as only a consumer we don’t always spot these things on sites unless they ( the badges or whatever) are in a prominent position?
I also feel thats lots of people, when it comes to finding a builder for example, will ask around friends and family for recommendations as to quality of work first. Then it would be hard to ask if they had eco accreditations. I had experience of this with a plumber a couple of years ago and he sort of looked at me as if to say all this green stuff is #####
So now in reality we should search the web first and then pray that an eco accredited builder ( one that has used the metrics as you mention) can still really give the quality of workmanship too.
In an ideal world Sue, we want a recommended old school quality builder who has kept in touch with the world and uses only eco certified supplies like wood from managed forests and so forth.
You are right though, which way do we go first? Do we search the web and hope they are also GOOD at the work, or do we ask a friend to recommend someone to us and then insist that he conforms to eco “metrics”
Thanks for the comments Sue!
It is amazing how many accredited green programs are available, if only more businesses would look into it. Getting referrals from your friends has always been one of the most powerful ways businesses get new clients. But sometimes, if our friends aren’t focused on environmental issues they typically won’t have any idea if the plumber or construction company adheres to green regulatory best practices.
I would suggest going to the specific industry green accrediting agency website that you are interested in, and typically they will have a directory of members. This can help you verify that the company you want to use is accredited. If for some reason the website doesn’t have a membership list, just shoot a quick email to the agency and I am sure they would be more than happy to let you know what companies are part of their program in your area.
Glad you enjoyed the post :)
I can vouch for that sick building syndrome. Many years ago I had a job which was in an office block with very few windows, which were never opened because the air conditioning was keeping everywhere regulated, as were told. The building was quite modern in itelf, square and lacking any character in anyway whatsoever. And it seemed the boring walls were in need of a fresh lick of paint on an annual basis. It was an easy job to smarten and brighten the place up keeping staff cheery and so on.
Now, this sounds terrible and I can assure you it wasnt my fault but I built the worse sickness record than ever in my life. I used to be genuinely contantly lethargic, run down, regular sore throats, dull head, ( not headaches as such but a heaviness as if the tail end of a hangover or something like that).
After 2 and half years I finally gave in my notice ( because I am sure they were going to send me packing anyway) and I took a couple of months break, used up all my savings to keep me going… and well you guessed it… I started to feel like a new person. It was all put down to stress on that job but I knew I could do the work easily had I felt well enough to do so for sure.
I look back now and I know that building was making me sick, (but don’t forget years ago (25 yrs) we didn’t know about these things so much) and if I was to stay much longer it may have had longer term effects on my health probably.
You know what Jenson, more and more people are having sick building syndrome in thier own homes nowadays. Upvc windows, and those Upvc balls for cavity wall insulation are all adding to toxicity in homes. These green certifications dont really take this into consideration do they? They are primarily concerned with saving energy and insulation of properties is a major player in the game.
Karen recently posted..A House Completely From Waste: Eco Build Brighton