Come to think of it, the greenhouse effect is a scary prospect. A warmer Mother Earth as greenhouse gases such as carbon trap the heat inside the planet translates to the loss of livelihood for many. Just imagine if our planet warm by just 1.5 degrees Celsius, millions will experience severe heat waves. That can mean the risk of drought rises. And with drought comes diseases and death, not just for humanity but for fauna and flora.
The good news is caring for Mother Earth can not only help the planet become a better place, but it can also better your numbers. We’re talking about talent acquisition. Specifically, it can attract millennials and various talent to your organization. Study shows that college students prefer to be in a company that has a social impact. That certainly is a wonderful spot for you. Even better, employees who belong to a business with a conscience report greater satisfaction levels.
Positive Impact of Positive Change
No doubt sourcing is a tough act. First stop, you have a very competitive market. With a lot of options available, it takes a longer time to hire new employees these days. Worse, the life span of an employee has gone shorter. Many are quitting their jobs at an ever-shorter period.
All that means Human Resources must double their efforts to land a quality hire. That’s added man-hours and added overhead on top of it all.
To confound things, old ways of hiring You must therefore find competitive advantages for your company to stem the tide and counter such negative trends.
Luckily, getting your organization actively involved in social and environmental change can be a great way to start. By doing so, you enlist your company in the good fight. That should strengthen your brand while attracting the cream of the crop.
A recent nationwide survey headed by Rutgers University and Net Impact shows what students and working professionals value most at work. The study reveals that workers who know they can positively impact the world they live in via their work are more satisfied in their jobs compared to workers who don’t have the same opportunity. That means these workers are happy they are given the opportunity to create positive change.
Furthermore, the study shows college students would like to work in a job for more than just a paycheck. They want to be in an organization that promotes positive change.
How to Reduce Carbon Footprint at Work
You can start the ripples of positive change by looking for ways you can make your company as energy-efficient as possible. And enjoin everyone in the drive.
For one, be concrete in your approach to reducing the carbon footprint at work. Your office equipment is one glorious opportunity. Make sure they’re ENERGY STAR certified. What does that even mean? ENERGY STAR means the equipment you’re using is as energy-efficient as possible. We’re talking about photocopiers, printers and personal computers. ;
EPA states that the greenhouse gases that will be saved if all office equipment in the US were ENERGY STAR certified would amount to about 1.5 billion pounds. That’s a lot.
By the same token, you should encourage buying kitchen cooking equipment that is energy efficient. Brands that espouse ENERGY STAR certifications must be catered to. At work and even at home.
A good example of such an energy-efficient brand is Viking, a top gas grill manufacturer on the planet. The brand has ENERGY STAR certified refrigerators and dishwashers.
Additionally, it does not end with just purchasing a good brand. Energy efficiency must be pursued through and through. For one, ensuring that you get Viking BBQ parts when your grill unit breaks down is wise. It means you’re keeping a most energy-efficient unit at its best. Devoid of a cheap cranky part substitute.
Moreover, you should ensure that you implement thorough waste reduction strategies in the office kitchen. There’s a lot of ways you can do this.
First up, you can make it a policy to use only kitchen utensils (e.g., mugs, plates) that are reusable, and not the one-use kind. Then, instead of relying on bottled water at work, shift to using a tap filter instead. Good brands like Brita and Pur can help you in this department.
Then you can also dig deeper. Use only organic drinks in the office. You can start with Fair Trade tea, cocoa, or coffee.
All the effort seems a lot. Know that when you pursue environment-friendly tactics as an organization, you connect to the greater good. You do not just develop a better organization in doing so but you also ensure the future of your children’s children is bright.
