cool ideas
cool business ideas
How efficient were you at work today? A lot of our emissions come from inefficiency, the sort of things that easily slip by in the course of a busy day. Consider these ideas and plan ahead. It makes good bottom-line business sense as well as reducing your energy usage.
Combine your trip with another - Whether you're flying, driving or catching the bus, combine several meetings and appointments. You'll save time as well as cut costs and energy consumption.
Carpool - Are your sales people getting together with others to do sales calls? Imagine if two or three Cairns based reps did their fortnightly calls to Port Douglas together. Wow, great savings all round for the environment, less traffic on the highway and your vehicle expenses reduced by at least 50%.
Go the extra mile, walk it - That trip to the bank or Post Office and those around town brochure deliveries. Walking cuts traffic congestion, pollution and energy use. The great benefit is health and fitness for you and your team. Set the example yourself, and then make it policy. Umbrellas work fine even in a tropical downpour.
Think about it - Do you need to take this trip at all? Can it be done by phone, email or web hook-up? Just because you've always done it 'that' way doesn't mean there isn't a more efficient way.
Night light, who needs it? - Why are those lights left on and those computers still running through the night? We have all done it because it's easy. Ensure we all shut down each night, it only takes a couple of minutes to get going the next day.
Have you done an Energy Audit? - You might be surprised how many little things waste energy and cost you money. For a small investment you could get some really big results. Great for the Planet, Great for Business!
cool travel tips
You can be saving energy and your hard-earned cash by taking a few simple steps before and during your travel. By just being a little mindful along the way can make a great difference, and it takes very little effort.
before you go
- Turn your water heater to its lowest setting, or even better switch it off.
- Switch off or adjust the thermostat on heating and air-con units.
- Turn water off at the main. This prevents flooding should a pipe break while you're gone. When you return, turn on the water slowly and check for problems.
- Turn off and unplug appliances, such as TVs, stereos, etc. They can draw or "leak" as much as 40 watts per hour even when they're off.
- Stop your newspaper delivery.
while you're away
- Purchase electronic-tickets for airline travel whenever possible. If paper tickets are lost, there may be a cost to have them replaced.
- Enjoy walking tours. It's amazing how much you can see on a stroll.
- Use public transportation when available.
- Share taxis. Less pollution and you can enjoy the sights.
- Don't allow anything to be thrown out of your car windows--ever.
- Take only photographs. Do not take "souvenirs" from natural areas, historical areas or hotels.
- Leave only footprints. Take everything out that you brought with you. No graffiti, no litter.
- Support local conservation programs. You can even get involved in some.
- Pick up at least one piece of litter every day - it helps the locals with their efforts.
- Take photos with a digital camera. Disposable cameras are very wasteful and expensive and film requires energy and creates waste in its production and processing.
where you put your head down
- Participate in hotel linen programs, or let the hotel know that it's not necessary to change your sheets and towels every day.
- To keep track of which towel belongs to which family member, pack a handful of safety pins and small coloured beads. Attach a pin and bead to each towel, using a designated color for each family member. Remove the pins before checkout.
- Go easy on the amount of water you use with shorter showers or having a full load in the washing machine or dishwasher.
- Turn off the air-con and heating, lights, TV & radio and close the curtains when you go out.
- Participate in hotel recycling programs by placing recyclables in appropriate bins.
- Leave little bottles of amenities in the guestroom if unopened.
- Let hotel management know that you want them to conserve energy and that you want to participate in this.
- Patronize hotels, airlines, tour operators who support "healthy planet" programs.
- Don't leave the bathroom lights on all night.
- If the hotel provides complimentary newspapers, pass yours on to someone else, or leave it in the lobby for another reader. Ask the hotel to see that it's being recycled.
- Be sure to turn off exercise equipment, sauna, whirlpool, Jacuzzi or tennis court lights when you're through.
- Check out of the hotel via the hotel's electronic program available on the TV in some hotels. You can view your bill, approve it, and help reduce paperwork.
