Before we help you go green, you may first want to know what Green Business Program is all about

Green Business Program is designed by Green Crusader to support your organization to “go green”, no organization too big or too small. Due to the crucial role you play in your organization, Green Business provides you with the knowldge, skills and resources you need to build a “green culture”, share your green successes with the world, get your products out there and become a “green” champion, reaping all social, environmental and financial benefits in return.

These are the green numbers you want to know, 79% of small and medium size enterprises believe it is possible to grow the economy and protect the environment at the same time (Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 2007). 90% of the top Global 500 companies see a business opportunity in “going green”(Carbon Disclosure Project Report 2010).

Green business Program is committed to support you build a financially, socially and environmental rewarding “green culture”. To achieve this green objective, the Green Business Program helps you build a “green culture” around your values, interests and mission statement based on the foundation that:

a. All organizations are capable of going green with no exceptions.

b. All organizations can take advantage of new green policies, grants and incentives to reap financial, social, and environmental benefits from going green, with no exceptions.

Green Business Program could change the way you view “going green” forever. Give us a call today on 780.709.0965

Yes, you too can take advantage of Green Business Program today and share your green stories, request workshops, presentations, consultations and go green.

You may also take advantage of new green policies, grants and incentives to grow your business.

Don’t Just Read…Get Involved Today!

To request a Green Business Program, Call 780.709.0965, or email info@greencrusader.ca

 

To know what others are doing, first you want to know why they do what they do…right?

During media interviews, presentations and from young people in schools, this question keeps coming up. About a decade ago, most products and services were marketed pointing out their competitive advantage: price, quality, service, or class. Today, Eco-conscious consumers demand a fourth category, called “green” or “sustainability”. The market place has evolved and most organizations and individuals see “going green” as a moral responsibility. 79% of small and medium size organizations and 90% of large organizations found these benefits when they made the transition to ”go green”:

16 Reasons to “Go Green”

• 1 – Improved company or brand image

• 2 – Increased competitiveness through lean operations and reduced operating and life-cycle costs

• 3 – Greater utilization of assets 

• 4 – Reduced environmental footprint 

• 5 – Optimization of new and better technologies

• 6 – Improved benefits to and greater support from the community 

• 7 – Improved work environment for employees leading to higher productivity 

• 8 – Reduced environmental, health and safety risks

• 9 – Cost savings

• 10 – Competitive advantage

• 11 – Improved employee satisfaction, morale or retention

• 12 – Product, service or market innovation

• 13 – Business model or process innovation

• 14 – New sources of revenue

• 15 – Effective risk management

• 16 – Enhanced stakeholder relations

 

Small organizations with 1-50 employees

Before you follow our 7 steps to go green, listed below, here are the questions you small organizations want to respond to: 

• Are your organization’s objectives aligned with your green objectives?
• Do you know how your organization impacts the environment and how you can create value out of that?
• Have you evaluated how collaborating with customers/clients could derive shared benefits through a green agenda?
• Have you assessed the full range of your adverse environmental impacts and chosen the most achievable alternative?
• Have you aligned with company’s objectives and values?
• Have you carried out a strength, weakness, opportunities and threats – SWOT Analysis for all stakeholders when you go green?
• What scope would you consider for inputs and outputs?
• How does success look like?
• If your organization makes a green headline 5 years down the road, what will the headline read?

 

The 7 Steps to Going Green

• 1. Engage your colleagues, contractors, immediate bosses and top management
• 2. Measure carbon footprint of your organization – It is easy to manage what you can measure.
• 3. Select high carbon emitting aspects of the activity of your organization or community or family and take action 
• 4. Set a target and pick an activity e.g. recycling, reduce and reuse, energy efficiency, green energy, education …
• 5. Obtain carbon offsets if target cannot be met by internal practices chosen in (4) above e.g. plant trees, or buy carbon credits.
• 6. Monitor carbon dioxide reduced or absorbed from tree planting and subtract earned carbon offsets from your institution’s carbon foot print to meet your target set in (4) above
• 7. Share your experience with others, apply carbon footprint results into your PR and other green campaigns and probably get third party verification to join the VIP Zero Carbon Club.

You too can take advantage of Green Business Program today and go green. Call us 780.709.0965

Big organizations with over 50 employees

Before you follow our 5 steps to go green, listed below, here are the questions you big organizations and municipalities want to respond to:

• How do you measure the key elements of sustainability successes that all companies, regardless of size and type, can incorporate? 
• Do you make carbon footprint data publicly available in a timely manner, and detail the scope and methodology used? 
• Do you provide past data to allow comparisons, and are reduction measures both relevant and consistent? 
• Have you set carbon reduction targets for the short and long term that are both ambitious and achievable? 
• Have you outlined a plan of action to achieve these goals, and how you are going to measure progress and success? 
• Have you reported operational, technical and behavioral change initiatives that are part of your carbon reduction program, and documented their results? 
• Do you offset residual carbon emissions? If so, do you document the type of carbon offset credits and the number of tones? 
• If you claim carbon neutrality, do you document the methodology and/or standards used? 
• Do you develop low-carbon products or services, and if so do you document the basis on which low-carbon claims are made? 
• Do you engage with your customers on carbon related issues, and if so do you go beyond information provision to encourage low-carbon behavioral change? 
• Do you engage your supply chain to ensure that your carbon reduction activities extend beyond your operational boundaries? 
• Do you encourage your staff to contribute to your carbon management program, and keep them informed of progress and plans? 
• Do you undertake initiatives in the community to promote environmental or low-carbon messages, or to promote sustainable behaviors? 
• Do you report to your investors, for example by participating in the Carbon Disclosure Project?  
• Are you involved in shaping policy at local or national government level, for example by participation in carbon or energy-related consultations? 
• Is your executive team committed to your carbon management agenda, and how?

 

5 Steps to Green your Business

The seven steps process described in Green Crusader’s ”7 Steps to Going Green: How to Make Green Claims that Lead to Effective Marketing”, Step ONE, have been compressed here to five.

Step 1 – Carry out an energy audit of your organization or a greenhouse gas inventory

This step will point out direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions sources. It is important to isolate specific operations and facilities within your management and infrastructure which can benefit from sustainable practices. For example, the ability of an organization to control many aspects of the activities and operations conducted by tenants of its facility are often limited. However, the effectiveness of an organization’s sustainability program can be enhanced through education, cooperation and engagement of tenants, who can see reduced operation and maintenance costs as a result of these programs. Assess and verify current greenhouse gas emissions actions in your organization. Recommend a greenhouse gas emissions inventory methodology for all sectors of your organization.

Step 2 – Draw a sustainability action plan

The importance of approaching sustainability in an organized manner cannot be overstated. As sustainability becomes a larger part of a global business landscape, one emerging trend is that many organizations are setting sustainability goals and targets without a coordinated approach or a system to measure and report on their successes. Green Crusader believes that organization’s sustainability program will achieve greater success through a consensus-based approach that is carefully planned and where metrics are identified and used to gauge progress.

Once a definition of sustainability is adopted, the drivers and rationale for pursuing a sustainability program are understood and embraced throughout all levels of the organization, efforts can then turn toward developing an approach for planning, implementing, improving, and maintaining a sustainability program. A successful approach to sustainability planning includes engaging stakeholders to identify short-term and long-term goals, prioritizing and selecting actions to achieve those goals, and establishing processes for measuring, evaluating and communicating progress. A sustainability program should also address the interconnections between an organization’s sustainability practices and other sustainability initiatives at the local, regional, and worldwide level. As a result, sustainability practices will be integrated into the day-to-day management activities of the organization.

Green Crusader together with all stakeholders, will recommend feasible greenhouse gas emissions reduction actions and measures to set sector specific targets which are to be summarised and prioritized based on a cost benefit analysis approach for your organization.

Step 3 – Implement sustainability action plan

With all stakeholders of your organization, Green Crusader will support the implementation of the action plan for a period of 2 years.

Step 4 – Monitor, evaluate, audit and report progress

Reporting of your organization’s sustainability may be in line with provincial, federal, regional and international programs such as Carbon Disclosure Project with a collection of sustainability reports from 500 largest global companies.

Step 5 – Green marketing and conversion of carbon savings to trad-able carbon credits

Some companies are put off sharing their sustainability stories with the public for fear of attacks on the credibility of their claims. Sustainability is an ongoing process and will need to start somewhere. Sharing the little progress adds up to bigger successes in future. Sharing sustainability stories makes it easier to monitor progress over time. Sharing sustainability information with the public also helps you evaluate successes and monitor progress. Sharing brings openness, transparency and the public is more likely to trust claims when there is openness than when nothing is made known to the public Coca Cola was the first corporation to carry out a life cycle assessment when it analyzed the environmental impacts of beverage containers in 1969. In 2011, the company has moved the sustainability bar to a whole new level by changing its red cans engraved in our memory for over a century to polar bear white cans (for a while though). It worked as it created buzz around the media world and consumers never stop talking about it. Who better to learn from how to use sustainability to lead your marketing than the most recognizable brand in the world?

Marc Stoiber, green brand specialist and writer, in his article, “How Pepsi Made Water Its Sustainability Cause”, he advises businesses to first start inside, and radiate out. “To earn the legitimacy you need to be trusted in the community, you need to start sustainability within your own four walls”, says Mark. Secondly, Mark suggests businesses tie their sustainability to insight. Mark added that, PepsiCo produces beverages, so it makes perfect sense that conservation of quality water would be a primary focus. What’s more, water is a real, universal need. So not only can PepsiCo claim a strong internal motivation to preserve water, they can also build on the insight that water will be tied increasingly to consumer happiness in the future.

Carbon trading in North America is poised to double to $782 million this year with the inauguration of carbon markets in California and Quebec, Thomson Reuters Point Carbon, 10 Jan 2012 21:29. The news service said the volume of permits and credits traded could reach 179 million tons, valued at $782 million. Point Carbon also reported that world carbon markets last year shrugged off global economic woes to trade at volumes 19 percent higher than in 2010.

 

Carbon Offsets  Credits

 

Interview with Dr. Robert Falls, generation of carbon credits from restoration of ecosystems with ERA Carbon Offsets

• Development for voluntary and regulated markets
• National, regional and international markets
• Traded publicly

Watch video

 

Greening your organization through the use of renewables

In a year described by UN as, Sustainable Energy for All. With Net-zero energy buildings on the rise across Canada and the U.S. according to New Buildings Institute, what are you doing to green your business? Is your power bill going up? Of course Edmonton Sun demonstrates it with real stories http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/02/14/steep-power-bills-spark-outrage

Call us, 780.709.0965  to weigh your options.

More and more Canadians businesses are taking steps to change to cleaner and greener ways.

You too can generate your own renewable energy and go green!

One renewable energy source is the sun. By installing solar PV system to supply electricity to your business, you can reduce your impact on the environment and save money.

 

3 Steps to generate renewable energy, save money and green your business

• 1 – Ask a qualified contractor to provide an assessment of the suitability of your home for solar energy

generation. The contractor can assess your roof’s solar potential, determine the amount of energy that can be

produced, identify suitable products, and provide a quote for installation. Green Crusader can help you find a qualified contractor

• 2 – Research provincial and municipal environmental incentive programs. Green Crusader can educate you and put you in the right direction

• 3 – Contact your local utility provider to discuss what approvals and permits you require. Some utilities will also require specific insurance for the system.

Contact our Go Solar Program for help at info@greencrusader.ca or 780.709.0965

More and more Canadian businesses are changing to greener ways to not only save money, but to reduce their impacts on the environment. One of such ways is to generate their own green energy and offset the increasing cost of utility bills, such that one day they will be proud to tell their great-grandchildren,”sweety…I did it for you”.

How to Green your proposal (RFP)

Do you need help with greening your proposals or making your bids (RFP) sustainable, to stand out and earn points and be victorious during decision making process by municipal, provincial and federal governments bidding?

(a) understand how the organization’s purchasing decisions are made, and by who.

(b) learn what the purchasing organization is looking for in terms of goods and services, check if they have a sustainable purchasing policy.

(c) learn how you can meet their needs.

(d) figure out how you cn incorporate your sustainability successes to your bid package

(e) explain how your green products or service will impact the purchasing organization’s costs, wastes and sustainability vision.

For help on how to green your proposal, Contact us at info@greencrusader.ca or 780.709.0965.

Domestic Emissions Trading for Greenhouse Gases

Domestic emissions trading will be an important component of the Government’s market-driven approach to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, and air pollutants.  Well-designed emissions trading systems can reduce overall costs associated to complying with regulations by allowing firms with high costs of emission reductions to fund lower cost emission reduction projects at other firms. Learn more

 

Alberta Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program

Alberta requires facilities that emit more than 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year to reduce emissions intensity by 12 per cent, as of July 1, 2007.

Companies have four choices to be in compliance:

• Make improvements to their operations
• Purchase Alberta-based offset credits
• Contribute to the Climate Change and Emissions Management Fund
• Purchase or use Emission Performance Credits

Learn more

Do you want to sell your products or services to governments and other big buyers? 

Green Crusader can help point you in the right direction of new sustainable purchasing policies.

The City of Edmonton’s Sustainable Purchasing Policy

Green Procurement is the integration of environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision-making process.

City of Edmonton Sustainable Purchasing Policy encourages staff to purchase quality products, services and construction at competitive prices while considering key environmental and social benefits over the entire life-cycle of the product or service, including:

• Energy and water efficiency
• Reduced resource requirements
• Recyclability
• Biodegradability
• Minimal packaging
• Durability
• Workplace health and safety
• International labour standards and
• Human rights
• Total cost of ownership
• Supporting small and medium businesses where possible

Learn more

 

Office of Greening Government Operations

The Office of Greening Government Operations (OGGO) was created in April 2005 within Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). OGGO’s mandate is to accelerate the greening of the government’s operations by working closely with other federal departments, particularly Treasury Board Secretariat and Environment Canada.

OGGO is:

• Providing advice and guidance to departments on a wide range of activities related to the greening of their operations
• Supporting the development of policy and performance management related to greening government operations
• PWGSC provides environmental services to federal government departments throughout its regional operations

As a common service provider of procurement services, PWGSC‘s Acquisitions Branch supports Federal Departments and Agencies in meeting their green procurement targets mainly through the development of consolidated procurement instruments, which include environmental considerations and enable Departments and Agencies to purchase more environmentally preferable goods and services.

Set within the Acquisitions Branch of PWGSC, the Green Procurement Team of the Procurement Renewal Office has the mandate to coordinate and support the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement within Acquisitions Branch (AB).

 

Why is your company not leading its marketing with sustainability?

Some companies are put off from sharing their sustainability stories with the public for fear of attacks on the credibility of their claims. Well, ladies and gentlemen, no sustainability claim is perfect. We have to understand that sustainability is an ongoing process and you need to start some where. Sharing the little progress adds up to bigger successes in future.

It is easier to monitor progress over time, much better than sharing nothing. Sharing sustainability information with the public also helps you evaluate successes and monitor progress. Sharing brings openness, transparency and the public is more likely to trust your claims when there is openness than when nothing is made known to the public except for the fact that: you say you are green, or you have a leaf on your logo, or you have changed your corporate colors or logo or products’ packaging to green, or have added the word “green” in front of your name.

Coca Cola was the first corporation to carry out a life cycle assessment when it analyzed the environmental impacts of beverage containers in 1969. In 2011, the company has moved the sustainability bar to a whole new level by changing its red cans engraved in our memory for over a century to polar bear white cans (for a while though).

Like it or hate it, it worked as it created buzz around the media world and consumers never stop talking about it. Who better to learn from how to use sustainability to lead your marketing than the most recognisable brand in the world.

 

John Brock, CEO of Coca-Cola Enterprises, speaks with Toby Webb about his company’s sustainability plans and work with suppliers. Posted by Ethical Corporation Newsdesk on May 14, 2012. Take a listen

 

Popular request for workshops or presentations to go green:

1. Greenwashing…Are You Guilty?

2. Solar and your business: assessment, installation, financing and carbon credits

3. Sustainable Purchasing Practices and Policies. This 1 day course will enable you and your employee: (a) understand how an organization’s purchasing decisions contribute to their environmental performance. (b) learn how to introduce a green mindset into the purchasing decisions within all departments throughout your organizations’ supply chain initiatives. (c)learn about some successful organizations with sustainability policy and practices such as Nike, and City of Edmonton. (d) walk away with knowledge of how to define Green Purchasing and how Green Purchasing is achieved. (e) EPA’s DfE program (f) how to involve your Purchase Department in Sustainability. (h) explain how greener purchase decisions can reduce both costs and wastes across the board. (i) a list of local green vendors offering environmentally products and services. (j) How to distinguish green products from fakes (k) explain why companies need a green purchasing department and policies.

4. How to Make Going Green Work for your Organization

As we move into an era where green is deeply integrated into the business function, it’s logical to align your business goals with your green programme. The IBM Institute for Business Value recently surveyed a group of 250 business leaders worldwide and found that over 68% are focusing on green activities to create new revenue streams. In addition, more than 54% of the surveyed business leaders believe that their companies’ green activities are already giving them an advantage over their top competitors. learn about some successful organizations making green work for them and you too can make it work for you-.

5. How to Make Green Claims that Lead to Effective Marketing?

6. Drawing a Sustainability Plan for your Organization

7. Green Guidelines and Regulations to Watch out for when you Market your Products and Services

8. Carbon Credits…What is it for me?

9. Drawing a Simplified Recycling Plan that works for your Organization

10. Marketing you Organization’s Green Actions and Programs

11. Using National and International Protocols to Measure and Report your Greenhouse Gas Emissions

12. How to pick a Green Action or Program to Implement in your Organization

13. Carbon credits…What is in it for you?

14. Green Your Organization. General Introduction – (definitions, green planning and success stories…)

• Module 1 – Lighting (calculate cost savings from retrofitting light bulbs, choose energy efficient light bulbs…)
• Module 2 – Electrical (reduce your utility bills through energy conservation and efficient appliance use…)
• Module 3 – HVAC (pick the most efficient and cost effective HVAC system, improve quality of life and comfort…)
• Module 4 – Water (tips to reduce water use, sustainable landscaping practices, save money and go green…)
• Module 5 – Waste (develop a waste management plan, waste audit, compost, reduce cost from waste collection…)
• Module 6 – Green Shopping (Know what green products to pick when shopping, how to identify green products…)

For our Library of inspiring green success stories, click here

For green products, services and recent stories, click here