What Businesses Can Do

Whether your business has one employee or hundreds, you can have a positive effect on climate change. You can:

• Get inspired! The articles in the right column highlight some of the great work that businesses are doing in Nova Scotia to reduce their carbon footprint. Do you have a story to share? Contact us.

• Measure your carbon footprint. You can start by trying out our new online Carbon Calculator tool hosted on this website. Organizations like the Eco-efficiency Centre at Dalhousie can also help you better understand your business's energy use and how to reduce it

• Make action on climate change part of your corporate culture:
  • Start a ride share program that connects employees from the same communities and encourages them to carpool to work.
  • Offer incentives to employees who can lower their environmental impact by using public transit, walking or cycling to get to work.
  • Add a climate change discussion forum to your intranet and encourage employees to submit and discuss ideas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Discourage business travel by promoting teleconferencing, videoconferencing or online meeting tools.

• Promote energy efficiency and conservation:
  • Ensure all lights, computers and other equipment is turned off when not in use for long periods, e.g., at night and on weekends.

  • Switch to compact fluorescent or other more efficient lighting to reduce costs and energy.

  • Install lighting controls to turn lights on only when needed and to provide only the required amount of light.

  • When the time comes, replace old, outdated appliances and equipment with the most energy efficient available. Look for printers, photocopiers, computers and more with the Energy Star symbol. It's the surest way to know what that the appliance or equipment uses less energy and contributes less greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Invest in energy efficiency upgrades and/or retrofits. While often requiring a significant upfront investment, you may be surprised at how quickly you can offset your costs through avoided energy expenditures. For ways to help save electricity, visit Efficiency Nova Scotia's Business Programs.

• Create renewable energy.
  • Nova Scotia is moving towards more renewable energy and you can be part of the shift! Visit www.nsrenewables.ca to find out more.

Do you have more ideas for what your business can do? Please contact us.

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