SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS EQUALS PROFITABLE BUSINESS
AS CLIMATE CHANGE remains top of mind for global leaders , businesses continue to recognise a growing need to incorporate carbon strategies into their business plans . While the key driver for carbon strategies is to improve the environment , such programs also have positive impacts on business performance .
In fact , a study by the We Mean Business Coalition estimates that companies are achieving , on average , a 27 percent rate of return on their low carbon investments . Here to discuss the importance of carbon footprint management and energy efficiency solutions is Scott Tew , Executive Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand .
Why do you think organisations should continue to prioritise energy management ? At the most basic level , organisations and businesses should consider their role in fostering sustainability , especially as it relates to their contribution to energy consumption and greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions . Increasingly , the associated benefits and return on investment for managing energy use is also becoming clearer . ENERGY STAR reports that organisations can achieve 2-10 percent annual energy savings through energy management improvements such as energy efficiency solutions , including optimised compressed air and HVAC systems .
According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ( ACEEE ), on a larger scale , fostering efficiency and lowering energy use also supports resiliency by improving reliability of power while keeping energy costs down in times of emergency and high demand . Not only do businesses improve their own resiliency through managing their energy use , but in doing so they also contribute to the overall resiliency of the surrounding infrastructure and grid system . For example , energy efficiency can help communities responding to severe weather events by providing a reliable energy supply and reducing overall electricity demands . In addition , energy efficient buildings that maintain comfortable temperatures can serve as shelter options for communities recovering from severe weather events , according to the ACEEE .
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