€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

Reducing Overheads Reducing Overheads CostsCosts

The Environmental The Environmental ‘Health-Check’‘Health-Check’Phil Walker, Phil Walker, €co€collectivellective

Tuesday 16Tuesday 16thth June 2009 June 2009

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

€€cocollectivellective - A Self-help Association- A Self-help Association

AimsAims

Comply with Env. LawComply with Env. Law Measure & Improve Env. Measure & Improve Env.

PerformancePerformance Minimise Env. RiskMinimise Env. Risk Influence others to do Influence others to do

likewiselikewise

Supported by the EPA and Waterford Chamber.

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

Environmental ‘Health-check’Environmental ‘Health-check’ A free, very informal, reviewA free, very informal, review Around 3 hours – ‘walk & talk’Around 3 hours – ‘walk & talk’ Includes www.greenbusiness.ie Includes www.greenbusiness.ie

website supportwebsite support Focus on energy, water, waste.Focus on energy, water, waste. Seeks zero- & low-cost savingsSeeks zero- & low-cost savings Confidential report & Confidential report &

recommendationsrecommendationsCan be the first step to implementing a formal management system

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

Case Study 1 – Legal FirmCase Study 1 – Legal FirmModern office buildingModern office building

MeasureMeasure FirstFirst

CostCost

AnnualAnnual

SavingSaving

Pay-back Pay-back TimeTime

Control landfill bins & Control landfill bins & review waste contractreview waste contract

€€00 €€900900 immediateimmediate

Remove excess bulbsRemove excess bulbs €€00 €€800800 immediateimmediate

Replace T8 light-tubes Replace T8 light-tubes with T5 retro-fittingswith T5 retro-fittings

€€1,2001,200 €€800800 18 months18 months

TotalsTotals €€1,2001,200 €€2,5002,500 6 months6 months

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

Case Study 2 – Childcare Case Study 2 – Childcare FacilityFacilityPurpose built, brand new building.Purpose built, brand new building.

MeasureMeasure CostCost SavingSaving Pay-backPay-back

New waste contractNew waste contract €€00 €€150150 immediateimmediate

Use gas - summer waterUse gas - summer water €€00 €€200200 immediateimmediate

Fit 7-day gas timersFit 7-day gas timers €€200200 €€1,0001,000 3 months3 months

Remove excess bulbsRemove excess bulbs €€00 €€7575 immediateimmediate

Replace T8 ‘s with T5’sReplace T8 ‘s with T5’s €€450450 €€300300 18 months18 months

New electricity contractNew electricity contract €€00 €€300300 immediateimmediate

TotalsTotals €€650650 €€2,0252,025 4 months4 months

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

Why seek a ‘Health-Check’?Why seek a ‘Health-Check’?

Costs nothing Costs nothing (a good start)(a good start) Identifies real savings Identifies real savings (still good?)(still good?) Emphasis on zero and low-cost savingsEmphasis on zero and low-cost savings

Typical SME saving €1,000 p.a.Typical SME saving €1,000 p.a. (even better!)(even better!) Helps you improve your business. . . . Helps you improve your business. . . .

- and save the planetand save the planet

(so makes you look good too)(so makes you look good too)

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

So, what’s the catch, then?So, what’s the catch, then?

Yes, unfortunately there is one. Yes, unfortunately there is one.

Wouldn’t you just know it.Wouldn’t you just know it.

Our funding is tenuous.Our funding is tenuous.

So, use us now, or we may be gone.So, use us now, or we may be gone.

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

€€cocollectivellective FutureFuture PlansPlans Develop as a low-cost, high-return Develop as a low-cost, high-return

Environmental Certification SchemeEnvironmental Certification Scheme 80% cheaper than the commercial 80% cheaper than the commercial

alternatives alternatives (Typical SME cost @ €250 p.a.)(Typical SME cost @ €250 p.a.)

Based on ‘health-check’, so members will Based on ‘health-check’, so members will usually save much more than they pay.usually save much more than they pay.

Gives a formal certificate, so members Gives a formal certificate, so members can demonstrate their ‘green’ credentials.can demonstrate their ‘green’ credentials.

€€cocollectivellectiveBusiness Environmental Association

Thank you for your attention.Thank you for your attention.

Prospective new members should contact:Prospective new members should contact:

Phil WalkerPhil WalkerEnvironmental Advisor, Waterford ChamberEnvironmental Advisor, Waterford ChamberTel (dir): 051 311272Tel (dir): 051 311272

E-mail: E-mail: phil.walker@waterfordchamber.iephil.walker@waterfordchamber.ie