Tips for Reducing Your Company’s Utilities Carbon Footprint

Christie Hao
October 25, 2024
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Managing a company’s carbon footprint involves addressing emissions across multiple areas, including utilities such as heating, electricity, and waste management.Today, Aclymate offers some effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions in this sector – we break down such strategies in terms of the scopes they fall under.

  • Scope 1 emissions: smarter heating solutions
  • Scope 2 emissions: optimizing electricity use
  • Scope 3 emissions: waste management
  • Think long-term: electrify and align business goals with environmental impact

Scope 1 emissions: smarter heating solutions

When it comes to direct emissions, especially from fossil fuel-based heating sources like propane or natural gas, consider switching to cleaner heating options.

In colder environments, switching from a traditional furnace to a cold-climate heat pump can significantly reduce emissions. These heat pumps are designed to operate efficiently even in low temperatures. They are much cleaner in providing heat since they run on electricity instead of fossil fuels.

Additionally, companies with larger floor areas should consider ground-source heat pumps. While they require a bigger upfront investment, these systems are more reliable and climate-friendly in the long run.

Scope 2 emissions: optimizing electricity use

Here are several practical strategies for reducing electricity-related emissions in your business.

Multiple light bulbs with warm yellow light
  • Cut down everyday electricity use: Implementing energy-efficient practices, such as using LED lighting and encouraging employees to turn off devices when not in use, can directly lower electricity demand.
  • Install solar panels: Investing in solar panels greatly contributes to clean energy. This approach addresses both market-based and location-based emissions accounting (wondering what that is? Book a call with us).
  • Purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs): If installing solar panels is not feasible, companies can buy RECs either from their energy provider or third-party vendors. Aclymate can help you identify relevant opportunities curated to specific business needs. Note that this option only accounts for market-based emissions reductions.

Scope 3 emissions: waste management

Waste and recycling are often overlooked when addressing emissions, but they contribute significantly to a company’s carbon footprint.

Choosing products with minimal packaging or opting for reusable alternatives can reduce waste generation. While these choices may require upfront investment, they tend to pay off over time through reduced disposal costs.

After reducing overall waste and choosing reusable packages, compost the organic waste that cannot be eliminated. Aim to send as little waste to a landfill as possible, since methane – a greenhouse gas – is produced along with the landfilling process.

Think long-term: electrify and align business goals with environmental impact

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When upgrading utilities, Aclymate encourages you to consider the long-term lifecycle impact of your choices. Each installation carries a set amount of emissions over its lifespan. In the age of shifting towards net-zero, carbon-heavy installations have a higher discount rate since they may incur higher costs due to carbon taxes or offset requirements.

In a similar vein, electrification is key for future-proofing operations. The electric grid is becoming increasingly powered by renewables. This means that electrifying everything allows your company to ride the wave of sustainability improvements and automatically reduce emissions as the grid gets cleaner.

Finally, reducing carbon emissions tends to align well with business objectives. Lower utility costs and streamlined carbon reporting processes translate into financial savings. Strategic investments in sustainable utilities not only do good to the environment but also improve the company’s bottom line.

Want to learn more about evaluating and offsetting your business’s carbon emissions? Book a free 30-minute consultation call with our sustainability expert now!

Christie Hao
October 25, 2024

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