Save Money by Going Green

SAVE MONEY BY GOING GREEN

SSC Webinars

The Importance of Going Green

In these tough economic times, it’s easy to brush off “going
green” as something for another day. Not so fast! We’ll show
you how making simple environmental changes can positively
impact your bottom line. And for each suggestion, we’ll include
a calculator so that you can measure the environmental
benefits and financial savings to your company. You’ll be
surprised by how the little things add up!

www.sustainabilityconsulting.com
Copyright © 2012, Strategic Sustainability Consulting. All rights reserved.

Points of Exploration

 A Green Business Case
 Nine ways to save money in 2012 by “Going Green”

 How to calculate savings for your own organization

 Ideas for how to “Green Up” for no additional cost


A Business Case For Going Green

A Business Case for Going Green

Cost Savings Increased Profits

• Reduced energy bills • Greater productivity
• Increased efficiency • New innovation
• Increased productivity • Higher brand recognition
• Lower absenteeism • Improved reputation
• Lower turnover • Access to capitalism


Simple Changes You Can Make

Switching to CFLs
 CFLs use 65-75% less energy than
incandescent light bulbs.
 Although CFLs cost up to 50% more
than regular bulbs, they last ten times
longer, saving you $77 off your energy
bill during the life of the bulb.
 Cost of incandescent light bulbs per
year= $9
 Initial cost= $1 per light bulb (bought
in bulk)
 Annual savings in an office= $400
Assumptions: 50 people, 50 light bulbs. A normal 60 watt bulb over the 8000 hours will cost you $48.00 in electricity. But the lower
wattage on the fluorescent bulb for that same 8000 hours will only cost you $12. That’s $36 for the life of the bulb. Assume 4
years per bulb.


Turning Computers Off at Night
 Numerous studies have shown
significant waste, both financially and
environmentally, from IT equipment left
on overnight.
 Cost of electricity powering a computer
during non-working hours each month=
$3.38
 A conservative estimate

 Initial cost= Free

Assumptions: 50 people, savings extrapolated from
http://www.climatesaverscomputing.org/docs/Energy_Report_US.pdf.


Automating Your Thermostat
 Even 1 F of overheating raises heating
costs by 3-5%.
 Most people are comfortable at 66.2 F.
Try setting the air conditioning threshold
at 75 F.
 Savings of heating/cooling per person=
$0.25 monthly
 Initial cost= $30
Assumptions: 50 people, based on average utility data from SSC clients.



Installing Occupancy Sensors
 A typical office spends 29% of its electrical energy costs for
lighting.
 Occupancy sensors reduce these charges by %50, perhaps
even more, at an energy savings of 5¢- 20¢ per square foot.
 Initial cost= $30 per sensor
 Annual savings in an average office= $1130

Assumptions: 50 people, 250 square feet per person, $0.10 savings per square foot, assume 4 sensors.



Recycling Your Ink Jet Cartridges
 Both Office Depot and Staples
have buy-back programs that will
take your used ink-jet printer
cartridges.
 Each returned cartridge= $3
 Initial cost= Free
 Annual savings of an office= $288

Assumptions: 50 people, 8 cartridges per month



Switching to Low-Flow Toilets
 Install a 1.5 gallon/flush model, rather
than the usual 3.5 to 7.0 gallon/flush
model.
 Cost of 1,000 gallons of water= $7
 Initial cost= $260 per toilet

Assumptions: 50 people, 2 flushes each/day, 20 days/month, switch from 3.5 gallon/flush to 1.5 gallon/flush



Switching to Reusable Coffee Filters
 Instead of using a new paper filter
every day, switch to a reusable
basket-type filter.
 Cost of 40 disposable coffee
filters= $15
 Initial cost= $15
 Annual savings of an office= $345

Assumptions: 50 people, 4 pots of coffee a day (= 2 packages of filters a month)



Utilizing GreenPrint
 Green Print (www.printgreener.com) reduces the number of
pages you print by highlighting and removing unwanted
pages. It even calculates your environmental impact for you!
 Cost of each printed
page= $0.06
 Initial cost= individual
user license is free
 Annual savings of an
office= $4,510
Assumptions: 50 people, 118 pages saved per employee each month (from GreenPrintwebsite)

Idea Single Cost Average Office Initial Cost Monthly Annual Savings
Saving Savings

Recycling Ink $3 per cartridge 8 cartridges a $0 $24 $288
Cartridges month

Switching to $0.75 per light 50 light bulbs $50 $37.50 $400
CFLs bulb per month

Installing $0.06 per page 118 pages saved $0 $376 $4,510
GreenPrint per employee

Installing New $0.014 per flush 100 flushes per $260 $28 $76
Toilets day

Switching to $0.38 per pot of 4 pots of coffee $15 $30 $345
Reusable Coffee coffee per day= 2
Filters packets of 40
filters a month
Turning Off $1.38 per $68.75 for entire $0 $68.75 $825
Computers computer per office
month
Installing $2.08 per person $104.17 for entire $120 $104.17 $1,130
Occupancy per month office
Sensors
Automating Your $0.25 per person $12.50 savings $30 $12.50 $150
Thermostat per month for entire office


Total Savings

 Based on past client offices of roughly 50
employees, $7,724 in savings may be
calculated annually.
 Calculation inclusive of initial fees which
total about $500.


Other Ways to Save

Raising Your Refrigerator Temperature
 Accurate Refrigerator Temperature: 36-40 F
 Accurate Freezer Temperature: 0-5 F
 Having your fridge 10 lower and your freezer 5
lower can decrease energy efficiency by as much
as 20-25%.


Other Ways to Save

Closing Off Unused Rooms
 Closing off a 100 sq. ft. room in an 1,800 sq. ft.
office saves about 4%, roughly $25, on your
heating bill.
 The thermostat should not be in the room you
close off.
 No more than 20% of the total office area should
be closed off.


Other Ways to Save

Adjusting Your Water Heater
 Lower the thermostat from 145
to 120
 Not a noticeable change in most
cases
 Annual Savings= $20 for a gas
heater, $50 for an electric heater


Other Ways to Save

Finding Water Leaks
 One drip can waste 250 gallons of water a month!
 3,000 gallons wasted annually

 Annual Savings= $21
 Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank of a
toilet.
 If the color appears in the bowl, then a “silent
leak” is present.


Ways to Save

Going Low Flow
 For older toilets, fill a plastic
bottle with water and recap it
tightly.
 Place the filled bottle into the
tank.
 The flow will be reduced by 40%
while maintaining enough water
for a good flush.


Final Thoughts

Going green is not just about saving
the world, it’s about saving
your bottom line.


Final Thoughts

Consider a green program that reinvests all or part
of the savings into more ambitious initiatives that
have great payback, but may take longer.
 Solar Panels
 Green Roofs
 New Windows
 Improved Insulation


Check out www.sustainabilityconsulting.com for
ways you can work with a professional sustainability
consultant on creating a green plan that is good for
your triple bottom line!

What are your thoughts? Join the
conversation on twitter @jenniferwoofter!

Save Money by Going Green

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