NRDC Offers Free Greening Advisor
Small and mid-sized businesses can now "green" their operations with the "Greening Advisor" a Web-based tool developed by Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the nation's largest and most influential environmental organizations.
"The Greening Advisor is a free and easily accessible resource that points the way toward cost savings and environmental responsibility," said Frances Beinecke, NRDC president. "With the Greening Advisor as a guide, greening a business or organization no longer needs to be a daunting task, but an achievable goal that can be integrated into every company's mission."
The on-line resource is available at www.nrdc.org/greeningadvisor. "Greening" means that a company reviews its operations and supply chains to reduce environmental impacts. The tool provides a broad range of steps companies can take to promote energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, minimize paper usage, and improve their financial bottom line.
It recently won an "Environmental Merit Award" from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to the role it played in making the Boston Red Sox more sustainable.
The Greening Advisor takes a localized approach to greening, enabling users in communities all over the country to find nearby vendors for everything from organic produce to environmentally-friendly building products. It also helps companies navigate their way through every conceivable aspect of the greening process, including:
• Using cost-effective "Low Impact Development" techniques to control stormwater pollution, even in dense urban areas;
• Providing step-by-step instructions on developing a company-wide "Smart Paper Plan" to conserve energy and save money;
• Replacing an old HVAC system with an energy-efficient one that cuts energy costs by as much as 20 percent and creates a healthier work environment;
• Encouraging employees to bike to work.
"NRDC wanted to provide this valuable tool at no charge to ensure the authenticity of corporate greening efforts and make certain that companies have the benefit of the most current and credible resource," said Allen Hershkowitz, Ph.D., NRDC senior scientist. "All businesses have an environmental impact, so whether you have three employees or three thousand, taking steps toward improving the environmental performance of your business helps to ensure a clean and healthy environment for future generations, as well as a healthy and more efficient economy."