Smart companies worldwide are not waiting for the economic recovery to green up their business practices. The steps they are taking now to improve the sustainability of their operations often help to accelerate their recovery from tough economic times that much more quickly.
In the past, bringing environmentalism to the workplace has been framed as a choice between saving the planet and accepting higher cost. No longer. Sustainability today means not having to choose between profit and principles. Here are three ways that greening up your business practices can immediately improve your business results.
Reduced energy costs drop to the bottom line. As the price of energy continues to rise, it makes good business sense to think hard about improving energy efficiency inside your organization. What could your company do with the savings produced by reducing the fuel bill for your truck fleet by even 10 or 15 percent? As the price of fuel creeps ever upward, the cost to heat and cool your buildings will only continue to grow. Improving the efficiency of your heating, cooling and lighting systems can you save you money today and for years to come. A free energy audit, often offered by your local utility company, is a good place to start.
Less waste means more cash. Reduction of waste usually reduces costs, since waste is a sign of inefficiency in a business process. Savings from waste reduction can be significant. According to the Zero Waste Alliance, for example, Hewlett Packard in Roseville, CA reduced its waste by 95% and saved $870,564 in 1998. Epson in Portland, OR has reduced its waste to zero and has saved $300,000. Interface, Inc. in Atlanta, GA has eliminated over $90M in waste.
Even small companies can get aboard the re-use bandwagon. Lumen Essence Lighting of Portland, OR reclaims and restores original lighting fixtures from other eras and ships them to customers in reused packaging materials and cartons. Customers like this so much that many return all boxes and packing materials to Lumen Essence to be reused again.
A lean, innovate operation increases efficiencies. As the economy slowly improves, now is a great time for companies to help their employees work smarter. People that are already working hard often appreciate the little things that a company can do to improve their workplace. Upgrading workplace conditions with things like better lighting and air quality can help improve employee morale and performance. Rebates and grants for such improvements are available in most locations. Engaging employees in discussions about how to improve efficiencies among all the vendors in your supply chain can often reveal an entire new set of opportunities to help make your operation run greener and more efficiently.
A growing segment of customers is beginning to decide whether or not to do business with a company based on the sustainability of its business practices. Don’t be left behind as this trend gains momentum. Getting started today can pay immediate benefits to your organization, and can help make your future that much more secure.
Ray Berardinelli is a principal and founder of Kalpa Consulting in Portland, Oregon, which provides sustainable solutions that deliver financial results to businesses, not-for-profit organizations and municipalities nationwide. Visit http://kalpaconsulting.com/ for more resources and information about how to bring sustainability to your workplace.
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It’s the beginning of summer: Have you had your air conditioning unit serviced yet? If not, it’s not too late. “Better late than never,” is a great philosophy to live by when it comes to servicing your a/c unit.
Air conditioning in the home definitely becomes a necessity rather than a luxury once the temperature begins reaching 90 degrees consistently. That is not the time to realize your air conditioning system is not working correctly.
There are some things you can do and some things that will require a professional. To become more educated on the subject, I contacted Tim Swan of Swan Heating and Air Conditioning in Fort Collins, CO and picked his brain. He said there are some things you can do before calling in a professional and paying a service charge.
If your air conditioner was working fine at the end of last summer then you probably just have a minor problem that’s preventing it from working this year. For example, the filter may need cleaned or replaced. Or sometimes people forget that they switched the a/c breaker to “off” last fall, so just need to turn it back on.
Checking the filter should be a regular duty throughout the hot season. Once a month you should open the door to the unit where the filter is and clean it or replace it.
Measure the opening and buy filters that fit the space exactly. You insert them according to the arrows on the filter, similar to replacing a furnace filter.
A word of caution- always disconnect the power to the a/c unit before working on it. Also, if you’re uncomfortable or unsure of what to do with circuit breakers or fuses, don’t touch them. This is a good time to bring in someone familiar with them to check your system.
If the unit is making noise then you should check the fan. Different kinds of debris, like leaves or weeds, can get clogged up in there and cause some damage to the fan. If the fan blade isn’t fixed or replaced timely, it can result in expensive repairs needing done to the unit.
The fan motor should also be lubricated if necessary. You’ll need to remove the fans to do this on some models (don’t forget to first turn off the power!).
Here’s an easy one- clean the outside of the unit. Vacuum and blow away all the leaves, animal hair, dirt, etc. that are clogging the outer fins on the machine. Remove weeds or other vegetation growing too close to the a/c unit.
Concerning the fins- straighten any that are bent. If the fins are bent, it can restrict proper air flow. Most home supply stores, such as Lowe’s, Ace Hardware or The Home Depot, sell fin combs.
You should also check to make sure the a/c unit is still level. The movement of the air conditioner can cause it to become un-level. This can cause it to run less efficiently.
Many air conditioners that are over 10 years old use R-22 Refrigerant as its cooling agent. The federal government is soon eliminating production of R-22 completely, meaning that an A/C that uses it will be useless without it.
This is the time to contact and consult a professional. For example, a Widget 72 Degrees System Rejuvenation is conducted by many HVAC companies, including Swan’s.
This is a multi-point inspection of the a/c system. It includes a system cleaning, adjustment, lubrication AND adding R-22 if needed. This is crucial to take care of now before the price of R-22 skyrockets and before it is discontinued all-together.
These tips should all be considered when you’re considering air conditioning service. Even though it’s already the beginning of summer, it’s never too late to get them taken care of- either by yourself or an air conditioning service professional.
If you enjoyed this article by Terry Schuman on air conditioning service tips, please visit our Fort Collins air conditioning [http://www.swanhomecomfort.com/index.html] website today. Find out more about our off-season pricing to save money on your purchase. Get a free Fort Collins air conditioning estimate today. http://www.swanhomecomfort.com
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There are many different ways to cut the costs of air conditioner repair, and a lot really depends on how much you can do yourself, and the type of unit you have. It also depends on how much money you are willing to spend in preventative measures. There are several different options when it comes to cutting down on these costs.
The first thing is preventing the need for air conditioner repair in the first place. You need to do routine maintenance on the unit, and there are many things you can do yourself. Changing filters, cleaning areas that you have easy access to, are all things that will help keep you air conditioner running smoothly. If you have a window or outside unit, you can often replace simple things, depending on your skill level. You have to realize your limitations, and know what you can do, and what you should call in a professional for. No matter what, a professional should come in at least twice a year, and do a thorough inspection of you appliance.
If you have an old model unit, you can cut down on the costs of air conditioner repair by buying a new unit. Old products are not that energy efficient, have a tendency to break down more often, and in some cases have parts that are no longer made. While there may be some higher initial costs to replace your old unit, there are many tax credits available to help you get a more energy efficient model. Having a newer model will not only cut these cost down, but also reduce your electricity bill as well.
The next way you can cut the cost of repairs down it to buy extended warranties when available, and get appliance insurance in addition to your homeowner’s insurance. Standard warranties for air conditioners are usually under ten years, sometimes as low as two or three. You need to find a unit with the longest warranty possible, because the longer the warranty, the better it is made. You also need to spend the extra money on the extended warranty, because it seems that everything breaks down a few weeks or month after the first warranty expires.
Home appliance insurance can also help lower air conditioner repair costs. What this kind of insurance is is and additional insurance policy for the major appliances in your home against break down. In addition to your air conditioning unit, it can cover the dishwasher, refrigerator, and even your washer and dryer. Homeowner’s insurance only covers these if they were damaged or destroyed as a result of flooding, fires, or other covered disasters. You can get as little or as large of a policy you want, depending on how much out of pocket expenses you want to pay.
So as you can see, there are many different ways that you can save money on air conditioner repair costs. You can find an abundance more information available online. It is also important that you always read your appliance owners manual, they include other valuable tips and information you can use.
Doc Savage Air Conditioning Repair Augusta offers the most reliable HVAC Contractor Augusta and Repair services. We proudly serve all of the CSRA and offer our services at prices you can afford. Visit our website to find out about our latest specials pricing.
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