How to . . . Go green

THERE is a lot of pressure on companies to reduce their carbon output, but success requires serious homework to avoid some of the pitfalls, says Neil Cameron, area general manager at Johnson Controls, which helps companies optimise energy and operational efficiency.

“Going green may require a substantial investment. By putting a solid strategy in place there is greater opportunity to realise a solid return on investment much more quickly,” he said.

Cameron had this advice on developing a green strategy:

Set a clear goal of what needs to be achieved and how to get there;

Make sure there is an approved budget to back the strategy. A green strategy needs to be determined and approved at the board level and an executive appointed to ensure proper execution. If it is done right, significant savings are possible;

Take the time to have a consolidated energy audit done rather than a fragmented one. Failure often results from appointing a project manager that sub-contracts various aspects of the energy portfolio to various suppliers, creating complexity and leading to little or no accountability;

Organisations often want to immediately begin installing renewable solutions such as solar panels, but a slower approach, beginning with any grid inefficiencies, is more likely to yield results;

Take a holistic approach, not a product-focused one. This will ensure that ultimately all the different components will work together; and

Many companies will offer to do an energy audit for free, but beware. A lighting expert, for example, will measure your lumens (brightness), tell you what the international standards are and how you can best achieve these with the most energy-efficient products. But few will commit financially to achieving any energy efficiencies. An organisation that can do an integrated audit is more likely to help you get where you want to go.