Saving energy is something that concerns us all, as individuals and as organisations. But it's particularly vital that organisations get involved and make a commitment, for a number of reasons.
The first one is simple: organisations invariably consist of more than one person (or one household or family), so naturally they use more energy.
Therefore, it's more important that they try to conserve it. The good news is that they won't have to look far before they find lots of ways in which they can make substantial savings. But there are other reasons too.
Many individuals feel there's no point in them making small savings around the home, because the perception is that "Big Business" consumes - and indeed wastes - so much more than they ever could.
So the more private sector companies get involved and show that they really are cutting their consumption, the more individuals will be encouraged to play their part.
But it's vital to emphasise that ‘greenwashing’ is no longer an option. It can even damage a company’s reputation, because opinion-formers and influencers can spot the difference between ‘PR spin’ and real initiatives.
The tide of public opinion is turning. People now prefer to deal with companies that have a positive, proven record of good CSR. They will even seek them out and choose them over a competitor. Also, a recent McKinsey survey showed that 70% of global executives regard energy conservation as an important part of their brand reputation. Most believe it's only a matter of time before regulations will make it compulsory.
As yet, however, relatively few companies are turning good intentions into positive action. Will you accept our challenge and be among the first to tackle this issue wholeheartedly?
Will you be a hero?
