There’s been a lot of talks lately about global warming and the pressing need to find successful paths to climate neutrality and creating a carbon-neutral footprint. Yet, if these are such important, critical steps to saving our planet, why is no one talking about what any of this really means to business owners?
How can you be expected to do your part to help the planet and reduce carbon emissions if there’s no how-to guide?
Plus, it’s a common misconception that “going green” means you’ll have less green in your pockets. In fact, there are tons of ways you can contribute to climate neutrality all while saving your business big bucks on your energy contract.
Let’s clear this up once and for all, shall we?
What Does Climate Neutrality Mean?
The term climate neutrality refers to a state of balance between the amount of carbon emissions we as a species are contributing to the planet and the amount we’re effectively removing from the atmosphere.
According to the experts at MyClimate in Switzerland, “Climate neutrality can be achieved if the CO2 emissions are reduced to a minimum and any remaining CO2 emissions are compensated with climate protection measures.”
On an individual level for business owners, the carbon emissions caused by generating the energy that powers your business need to be offset somehow. And that’s the tricky part that no one talks about, right?
What Will It Take to Get There?
If we as a society want to achieve true climate neutrality, we need to make some serious changes. According to experts, industrialized countries – like the U.S. – need to reduce their greenhouse emissions by 60 to 80 percent (you read that right). Furthermore, this cutback needs to happen before the end of the century in order for there to be any hope of avoiding catastrophe.
Greenhouse gasses like carbon emissions lead to a rise in global temperatures. If we want to avoid the worst effects of climate change, “we must limit global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celsius,” according to the 2019 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
So… how exactly do we do that?
Massive Buy-In
Big things need to happen. We have to make some massive changes to dramatically reduce our carbon emissions – and fast. The only way to accomplish this on a global scale is for everyone to get on board.
While it may be tempting to think that one business sticking with old-school, non-eco-friendly energy consumption isn’t going to make a big impact on the world, the truth is that success requires every one of us to move in the same direction.
Just like a crew team needs every member paddling in unison at full force, humanity needs to take consistent, committed steps toward climate neutrality by choosing green options at every opportunity.
Energetic Steps for Climate Neutrality
In 2017, the commercial and industrial sectors consumed 2.5 times as much energy as the residential sector, according to a study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
While homeowners are doing their part to go solar, recycle, ride-share, and reduce household waste, businesses have the power to carry us to climate neutrality.
A good first step to doing your part for climate neutrality is to calculate your business’s carbon emissions. If your business is unique or has some special considerations, consult with a trusted energy advisor to identify your true carbon footprint.
Once you know what impact you’re having on the atmosphere, you can take steps to measurably decrease your carbon emissions and improve your carbon neutrality.
Upgrade Your Lighting
Even something as simple as replacing one 100-W incandescent bulb with a 20-W compact fluorescent bulb can reduce approximately 330 pounds of CO2 in the atmosphere over three years of use, according to the American Meteorological Society.
If you have that lightbulb on for more than 3 hours per day, your impact may be even greater!
LED lighting can save even more energy while providing brighter, safer conditions, particularly for nighttime operations. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, “LED is a highly energy-efficient lighting technology and has the potential to fundamentally change the future of lighting in the United States. Residential LEDs — especially ENERGY STAR rated products — use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer, than incandescent lighting.”
Making an upgrade to your lighting can have some seriously cha-ching ripple effects on your energy bill, too.
Switch to Green Energy
If you’re still buying your power from your local utility company or REP without purchasing any carbon offsets, you’re old school! Switching to green – aka, renewable – energy is the way of the future… and the way of a wise wallet.
From wind power to solar power, there are numerous ways to set your business up for climate neutrality and an easier-to-swallow energy bill. If your business relies heavily on consistent, dependable power, you may even consider setting up a microgrid for your facility. Microgrids eliminate any worries about brownouts and rate hikes.
According to The Climate Group, “if 100 companies double their energy productivity by 2030 – generating twice as much economic output for every unit of energy consumed – over 170 million metric tons of emissions could be avoided cumulatively, equivalent to taking 37 million cars off the road for a year.”
Talk to a trusted energy advisor to find out more about the most effective, cost-cutting energy strategies for your business so you can start contributing positively to climate neutrality.
Consider Offsetting
If you’ve done all you can to reduce your business’s carbon emissions, the next step is to consider how you can mitigate your ongoing emissions with offsetting.
The term “offsetting” refers to financially supporting projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere. While some carbon emissions are unavoidable, you can still make a massive impact by compensating by planting trees or supporting other initiatives to make up for the carbon your business does emit.
The idea of purchasing offsets may make your budget cringe, but when you factor in that most carbon offsets are often contributed to 501(c)3 non-profit organizations and are therefore considered tax write-offs, you end up coming out on top.
Win for the planet, win for your accounting, and a win for your company’s reputation in the public eye.
Carbon offsets are an emerging field with little regulation. Be sure to consult with your trusted energy advisor before signing on the dotted line.
Have more questions about climate neutrality and how you can be a part of the solution? Drop a comment below!
