Business Take Responsibility

Going green is a common phrase used to describe the social movement regarding environmental concerns.  Large and small companies have caught on to this trend and are concerned about what impact they have on the environment.  Businesses looking to minimalize their impact on the world have not only saved money, but have increased the annual income. Two ways businesses can save money is through cost saving practices and healthier work environment.

                LEED stands for leadership in energy and environmental design.  LEED certified buildings go through a rigorous qualification process before receiving a rating (Council).  LEED certified buildings have less impact on the environment and although usually more expensive upfront saves the building owner/user money as well as makes the business money due to increased productivity of the employees. "According to the Green Business Bureau website, companies that promote a healthier workplace report a 20 percent decrease in the number of sick days used by employees.  This benefits companies through increased productivity and less money paid  out in medical benefits.  A healthy workplace can feature organic food selections in the company cafeteria or the use of environmentally friendly industrial and cleaning products (Joseph)."

Healthy habits a business can focus on will reduce the annual cost as well as benefit the company. "Companies that focus on reducing energy consumption not only help the environment, but also reduce their cost in the form of lower energy bills (Joseph)."  Carbon emissions are one practice businesses find effective.  Some companies have saved over $1.5 billion over a decade’s time through improving this single practice.  Another habit is “using sustainable resources and employing proper recycling and waste reduction measures can not only have a positive effect on the environment, but can also improve your profitability and your reputation with customers (An Australian Government Initiative).”

Businesses that care about their employees seek to create a better work environment, which in return benefits the business due to increased performance by their employees.  Simple environmentally friendly practices save companies money.  Taking initiative on the concepts discussed enhance a business’s image to all involved with them.  Businesses looking for success will embrace environmentally appropriate behavior and reap the rewards.

Works Cited

An Australian Government Initiative. n.d. 10 October 2012. <http://www.business.gov.au/BusinessTopics/Environmentalmanagement/Minimisingyourimpact/Pages/default.aspx>.

Council, U.S. Green Building. USGBC. 2012. 10 October 2012. <https://new.usgbc.org/leed/developing-leed>.

Joseph, Chris. Chron. n.d. 10 October 2012. <http://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-going-green-business-3225.html>.