By Tina Larsson, The Folson Group

Debunking the Myths

Heat pumps have become increasingly popular as an eco-friendly and energy-efficient way to heat homes, but there is a common misconception that they don’t work well in cold weather. Recent articles in the New York Times and the NY Post have added to this confusion, but the truth is that heat pumps are more than capable of functioning in cold climates, and this has been proven in countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland. In these countries, heat pumps have been used extensively for many years and have been found to work efficiently even when temperatures drop below freezing.

One reason why heat pumps can work well in colder climates is that they don’t generate heat; instead, they simply transfer it from one place to another. This means that even when the outside temperature drops, there is still heat available to be transferred from the ground or air into the home. Modern heat pump technology has made them more efficient than ever before, and they are designed to perform well in all temperatures. According to a study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), heat pumps can operate efficiently in temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 degrees Celsius).

The misconception that heat pumps don’t work well in cold weather often arises from people’s experiences with older models. These older models were indeed less efficient in cold weather, but the newer models available today are designed to perform well in all temperatures. In addition to being efficient, heat pumps are also an eco-friendly way to heat homes. They are much more efficient than traditional heating systems, which generate heat by burning fossil fuels. They produce fewer emissions, making them a more sustainable option.

Heat pumps are not just for heating homes in winter; they can also replace old, traditional air conditioning units, making them a versatile four-season heating and cooling solution for homes. By using the same technology to transfer heat, heat pumps can provide efficient cooling during the summer months, which helps to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills. This means that homeowners who install heat pumps can enjoy year-round comfort while also saving money on their energy bills and reducing their carbon footprint. In this way, heat pumps are a valuable investment in the long-term sustainability of a home.

In conclusion, the belief that heat pumps don’t work well in cold weather is a common misconception. As stated, countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland have been using heat pumps for years, and they have been proven to work efficiently even in extreme cold. Heat pumps are efficient, eco-friendly, and versatile, making them an excellent choice for homeowners looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save money on their energy bills. With the latest technology available, heat pumps are a smart investment for any home, providing comfort and sustainability all year round.

The Folson Group is a consultant specializing in helping NYC coops and condos work more effectively. Running a building is complex; there are staff, leaks, the property management company, property managers, and the forever-changing New York City building codes. Our team of experts provides an objective analysis of your building’s financial situation and develops a comprehensive plan to lower expenses and increase your real estate property’s value. We work with you to implement the plan and make sure that it is executed flawlessly. We also help buildings with all their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-related policies. Services cover the entire process, from planning to implementation and completion, and clients have achieved energy reductions of up to 40%. If you are interested in making your building more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, consider reaching out to The Folson Group to schedule a consultation. See www.thefolsongroup.com.

Developing sound energy codes and even going beyond them to achieve sustainability goals are growing trends in the US. Advanced energy codes are important to maintain the grid during high-demand periods and to help in resiliency after a disaster. A 2022 FEMA study rated various states and municipalities when it comes to developing and enforcing effective energy codes. 39 states were in its lowest category and 19 received a score of ‘0’, including a number of disaster-prone states. Many state governments are reluctant to develop more stringent energy codes, as they wish to spur development, even at the cost of energy efficiency and resiliency. On the other hand, 10 states received a score of 99.

Thus, it is at the municipal government level that many energy codes are written and enforced. Municipal building departments used to regulate basic building functions: make sure they are built properly and will not collapse or catch fire easily. But momentum is growing to have municipal building departments develop and enforce energy codes, too, which are becoming more stringent due to concerns about Climate Change. Inherent design features have a strong influence on the energy usage of a building over time, independent of weather and operations. And with the growing concern for Climate Change and energy’s role in it, some codes and requirements are getting very aggressive.

Boston recently modified their energy “stretch” code to require new multifamily buildings to meet Passive House building requirements, making it the first major US city to require passive building standards. Boston is the 8^th Massachusetts municipality to adopt the “opt-in” building code, which includes meeting sustainability standards that go beyond standard energy codes. Starting on January 1, 2024, all new multifamily buildings in Boston must meet passive building requirements. Phius certification of passive housing standards is the surest path to meet these requirements. According to Phius, buildings that meet the Phius Certification standard use 40%-60% less energy than code-built buildings with no upfront cost premium.

Chicago recently modified its building code to include cooling requirements for landlords beginning this cooling season. The change states that if the heat index exceeds 80 degrees, certain residential buildings must provide functioning air conditioning in all apartments or have an air-conditioned indoor common area where people can gather. Affected buildings include those that house older people under the Federal Fair Housing Act and buildings that are more than 80 feet tall or have 100 or more units. Needless to say, as the cooling season is beginning, landlords are scrambling to repair or replace AC units and prepare them for reliable cooling.

New York City has promulgated a law that will have great impacts on energy efficiency and usage. Local Law 97, promulgated in 2019, goes into effect in 2024. It is not an energy code, but a greenhouse gas emission rule. Subject buildings must develop their own GHG emission limit, tied to energy usage and demonstrate compliance or non-compliance with the specific standard. While GHGs are what is being measured, it is tied to energy, either energy efficiency or using “cleaner” sources of energy. The fines are projected to be very high for wasteful or “dirty” energy usage.

CCES has the experts to provide technical assistance to help you assess and develop strategies to comply with various energy codes and GHG regulations, including the ones listed here. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or 914-584-6720.

As the warmer weather arrives, we all begin to think about taking time off and traveling. Traveling is a great way to relax and learn about the world. But it has its costs from an environmental point of view, between all the airplane travel (and jet fuel combusted), driving, and comfortable hotels, restaurants and other items causing more water and energy to be used and greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere. It would be a shame to work so hard to reduce environmental impacts to have them erased by high impacts during travel.

Thus, the ecotourism movement has grown. It emphasizes low-impact travel to and efforts in natural areas, focusing on conservation, natural processes, and education. By promoting responsible travel practices, ecotourism can help both preserve ecosystems and support local economies at the same time. Some key principles of ecotourism:

• Minimize impacts: Ecotourism aims to reduce the environmental footprint of travel through practices, such as using accommodation and transportation options that minimize impacts.
• Support conservation efforts: A good ecotourism program will result in the protection and preservation of natural areas by raising awareness and generating funds to maintain those areas.
• Respect local communities: Ecotourism encourages cultural exchange and education to understand and support local communities in their traditional cultures and livelihoods and by investing in local businesses.
• Provide educational experiences: Ecotourism offers opportunities for travelers to learn about nature, conservation, and local cultures, to better understand the interaction of all and to show a sense of responsibility. Such education can be spread to friends and family after the ecotourists return home.
• Promote sustainable development: By supporting local conservation initiatives, ecotourism can contribute to the furtherance of sustainable development and preservation of natural and cultural heritage.

As you decide how to spend your upcoming vacation time, take some time to consider the impacts of your travel options and consider minimizing your impacts and carbon footprint and how to further natural habitats.

CCES is not a travel agent, but we can help you assess whether your planned travel or other activities may be beneficial or harmful for the environment. Contact us with your technical needs today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

We waited quite awhile for spring and I hope you are enjoying the nicer weather. During the inclement weather, you and staff probably tried to avoid going out and about your facility to do routine maintenance or address minor matters. Thus, nicer weather means it is convenient and there are the right conditions to get outside and ensure that environments are safe and equipment is up to standard, important for a well-run and energy efficient building for all. And spring means that the hot weather of summer is around the corner, so it is important to begin to prepare your air conditioners or other cooling equipment for the sharp demands of summer.

You know how your spouse may have a “Honey-Do” list for you to do at home? Well, here is a suggested list for commercial buildings:

• Clean air conditioning and heating units, replace air filters. This may well be a time of the year that you are neither heating nor cooling your building. Thus, this is the time to have all or most of your air conditioning and heating (split units, heat pumps, rooftop units) inspected. Open up the equipment. Carefully look and reach inside. Air filters can/should be replaced. Coils, tubes, and other portions should be inspected for dust, dirt, or grease, and cleaned. Despite filters, dirt can get in and stick to equipment, reducing its efficiency. Make sure electrical connections are in order.
• Have controls checked.  Review all thermostats and similar controls. Is the temperature stated on the thermostat the actual temperature in that area? Use an IR or similar monitor to determine air temperature of the area and compare. Being off by a degree or two happens. But if it is off by 3 or more degrees, have your HVAC firm re-calibrate the thermostat. It is certainly wasteful to you to have delivered to an area heat or cooling that is already at your desired temperature. Also, does the thermostat respond as it is supposed to? Does it turn on the fans and the heating or cooling source when the temperature in the room is one or a certain number of degrees above or below the setpoint? If there is a delayed response, the HVAC firm should check and adjust. If the heating or cooling source is activated, but the fan is not delivering to the area, that’s a major waste.
• Inspect and clean exhaust fans. This is not a fun job. Exhaust fans blow out air from bathrooms and kitchens. Odors, dirt, and oils can accumulate in the duct work. They need to be cleaned out periodically. If dirt accumulates in time, it can damage the fan or motor or reduce the space for air to flow, making it work harder and use more energy than it should.
• Investigate leaks in piping, tubes, or fittings.  The heating season should be about over. Your complex heating system has many pipes, vents, and fittings that transport steam or hot water. There are many opportunities and areas for leaking. Some may be very subtle. Look for water stains. And go through your entire system, not just where people are (near radiators), but throughout the boiler room and surrounding rooms. Small leaks add up. And check your condensate. You may think it is unimportant; it is water just returning to the boiler. But it is important and its heat reduces the amount of fuel the system will need to combust. Check for leaks throughout the year when they are visible, but especially as the heating season is winding down or just beginning.
• Check your insulation.  Insulation is a low-cost way to save energy. Your system has combusted a fuel to create steam or hot water. Why lose that heat through pipes you have paid for making by not insulating. It is natural that as pieces of insulation fray or fall off, it is not the highest priority to replace. But in time, as more pipe becomes bare, it adds up. Take the time as the heating system winds down to check the insulation and replace in kind and make sure you are not missing any spots.
• Check the little things.  Yes, this is not fun and probably has been put off for awhile, but take the time to review your
  • Building plans. Are they up to date? Have changes been incorporated and are easy to access (especially as tenants change)?
  • Emergency procedures. Do you know where your emergency equipment is? Is it full, operable, and ready to go? Does appropriate staff know what to do in an emergency? Take the time to make sure.
  • Equipment information. Is there easy access to specifications or operations manuals of key equipment (boiler, AC units, motors, controls etc.)? It is tempting to install new equipment and toss the manual in a file – somewhere. Find out where “they” are and have them more accessible (for example, make an electronic copy). And throw out the old ones. And procedures. Make sure they are up to date and understandable by all.
  • Training. This is a good time to review whether you have the right number and people trained to operate your specialized equipment and for various emergencies, whether it’s health and safety or operational. There is always some worker turnover. Are there enough people around who know what to do and how to handle equipment in different emergencies?

This good preparation in this “quiet” time of the year will make your life and work a lot easier.

CCES has the experts to help you organize your systems, perform retro-commissioning on your key equipment, and ensure that equipment is operating properly. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

There has been a very robust movement in the last decade or two, recognizing the importance of worker health and productivity, to implement positive changes in the office environment. WELL and other standards have given guidance to architects and other professionals about features that can be built into buildings to attract businesses.

But the COVID pandemic changed things quickly. Many offices found in professional, commercial buildings became vacant and more workers began to work from home. Even with the health emergency waning, many workers have chosen not to return to their offices and are working from home permanently. Can features implemented in commercial offices be useful in the home office environment, too? Here are a few ways for home-grounded workers to maintain health and productivity. 

• Indoor air quality.  The vast majority of commercial office buildings must meet ventilation standards to ensure circulation of fresh air for workers. Such codes do not exist for residences. The best way to get fresh air in a home office is to open the window. In my home office, I try to open the window to let in fresh air at least once a day for at least a few minutes, even in the coldest or hottest days. This is important as workplace air quality correlates with how one feels and productivity.
• Comfort. Thermal comfort is also crucial, both being too hot or too cold. This is troublesome in a commercial office shared by many people with different needs, but can be more easily navigated in the home office.
• Lighting.  Lighting is another important factor for mood and productivity. Lighting that is too dim leads to potential errors. Lighting that is too bright can lead to eye strain. IESNA has published illumination standards for different types of work and tasks. Make sure you meet the minimum standards to better ensure good work and not to go too far over them for energy savings and reduced eye strain
• Looking outside. Workers near plants or with a view of nature from a window are more productive than those without a connection to nature. Some commercial offices do not allow plants or have limited window space. Setting up one’s own home office allows you the freedom to maximize exposure to nature.
• Noise. Probably the greatest factor affecting worker productivity is noise that causes distractions. Most commercial offices are built to attenuate outside noise (traffic, other people, etc.). But this is not true necessarily in residential home offices. Take some time to determine where there may be noise issues around your home (i.e., kids playing after school, trucks and construction) and plan for them. This is especially true if you lead Zoom meetings regularly.
• Your Own Amenities and Feel. Sometimes a commercial office does not have the “feel” or “vibe” you like; you have to give in to the group vision of your firm. But in your own home office, you can add the colors, the feel, and amenities that mean a lot to you, such as snacks (or no snacks) nearby, weights or other exercise equipment, artwork you like on the walls, background music, etc.

So invest some time, money, and effort, but make your home office a special place for your feelings and vibe to feel more comfortable, happy, and productive.

CCES has the experts to help you design your office or other spaces to be green and sustainable. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.  

OK. It’s May. You came into the year with budget and revenue goals. It’s no longer early in the year. What if you are falling behind? What can you do to make the numbers look better? Well, one approach is to study and implement smart energy efficiency projects. Smart, well-thought-out ones can have a ROI of 20, 30, 40, 50, even more % per year, better than so many others.

Energy conservation is a low hanging fruit for reducing operating costs, especially in this era of high inflation, led by energy costs. Think of energy efficiency as a financial investment. What is a sound investment? You spend money upfront for something that will save you costs or make you money for many years to come. You get a robust return on this investment with low risk. This perfectly describes smart energy efficiency projects. For a well-thought-out project, the risk (of failure) is low. You replace a 60-watt light with a 20-watt LED, you will save 40 watts of electricity; no doubt about it. You replace a cooling unit with an efficiency rating of 9 with one of 13.5, your efficiency goes up 50%; no doubt about it.

There is a particular value of smart energy projects. If you spend money upfront for the lights, cooling units, etc. and you save, in total, $100,000 per year in avoided energy costs, that’s good. But the changes made in year 0 continue year after year (it’s not like you’ll put back in the old light bulbs or AC units after that first year, right?). So you will save $100,000 the next year and the year after and the one after that without having to do anything more – for the entire life of the equipment. And then it gets better than that. Your $100,000 per year savings is based on a certain reduction in energy usage times its cost rate. Energy rates are, of course, only going upward, especially in this last year. Assuming an average of 3.5% per year rise in energy costs (about what it has been for the last decade, but lower than this past year), then the $100,000 you saved in year 1 automatically becomes $103,500 in year 2 – again, without doing anything. And it becomes $107,000 in savings in year 3 and $110,000 or so in year 4, etc. All from the one set of upgrades you made in year 0. Compare that to sales. Given an average profit of 10%, one would have to sell an additional $1 million of widgets to get your $100,000 per year of gain. Even if you were successful in doing this, then you have to go right back out there and do the same thing (sales, manufacturing, transport, etc.) again the next year and sell more in future years ($1,035,000 in sales in year 1, $1,070,000 in year 2, etc.) to equal the gains of smart energy efficiency.

And smart energy efficiency projects result in other palpable direct financial benefits. Such projects usually result in lower O&M efforts and costs. For example, an LED light lasts much longer than a standard fluorescent (8-10 years vs. 2), saving not only maintenance efforts of replacing lights, but allowing your staff to concentrate on bigger picture items and being distracted much less rarely, satisfying tenants. Fewer LEDs needed to be around as backup frees up space, too, and free space is valuable. Using less gas, oil, etc. on equipment because of energy efficiency means the equipment lasts longer, reducing your long-term high capital expenditures.

And one more thing. OK, for some energy efficiency projects a lot of money may need to be spent upfront for that very useful technology. Well, because of the low risk and relatively high returns of such projects, money can be borrowed for such projects at very competitive rates. Lenders know energy projects are low risk and the borrowers will get financial benefit (compared to other projects), so they’re willing to compete for such loans – to your benefit!

So you can see that smart energy efficiency is one of the best financial investments a business can make, and can make your bottom line numbers look better in this and future years.

CCES has the experts to assess opportunities at your facilities for energy efficiency, recommend ones with the greatest potential, and act as your project manager to bring in vetted, experienced vendors and specialists to bid and implement the project and ensure that you get the savings promised. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

I recently worked for a client that had a large roof that just “sat there”. It had a few rooftop units for heating and cooling and that was it. A lot of space not being used at all. To them a roof was just a covering over the building. I first suggested using it for a viewing location for their local 4^th of July celebration. It had a great view of the fireworks and with some minor adjustments could be a social gathering venue. But the roof can have many other uses, too. The institute has a small school and it could be a good location for a “green” roof, growing plants. It also has minimal shading from nearby trees and, thus, can be ideal for solar panels.

Focusing on the energy issues, the Global Cool Cities Alliance has developed material summarizing the many benefits of “cool” roofs on large commercial facilities, particularly in urban areas. See: https://globalcoolcities.org/discover/unlock/

The first and easiest step to utilizing your roof to save you energy usage and costs is to make a “cool” roof. This is defined as a roof painted white, silver, light blue or similar light color. We are used to black shingles or coverings on roofs as normal. But, of course, black roofing material absorbs all types of radiation, keeping the energy in the material or right below (inside the building and, particularly, on the top floor). This not only damages the roofing material and potentially portions of the building proper, requiring repair and replacement necessary more often, but also raises the temperature inside the building, raising the demand which your air conditioner system must address, causing more electricity to be used in the summer, when the demand rates are highest. Painting a black roof a light color or if it’s time to replace material, replacing with a light color is a low cost way to save energy costs, up to 20%, depending on the building. Black roofs cause a heat “island”, a high intensity area of very high heat, which can damage roofing material and be unhealthy for people nearby.

It takes more time and effort, but one can also make a roof cool and save energy by planting appropriate vegetation. This seems to go against reasoning. Plants with soil, holding water, may put a strain on your roof (and you should have an experienced, qualified mechanical engineer confirm that your roof can hold vegetation). But vegetation is a location for the Sun’s rays to go and not hit and be retained in your roof or building. Plus, you and occupants have something nice to look at and healthy to eat, as well.

Finally, solar panels to generate electricity (photovoltaic or PV) or to generate hot water for bathrooms and kitchens is now mainstream. Panels are more efficient in converting the Sun’s energy into electricity or warmth and have come down in price. As the industry matures, more and more good, experienced firms are out there to ensure the system works at a reasonable cost. If you can displace some of the electricity you use from the grid with electricity you generate on your roof, that’s a great savings. Most areas can have such solar PV systems installed for no upfront cost (Power Purchase Agreement or PPA requires you to pay a set rate for the electricity the panels produce over time, usually lower than the utility’s rates). In addition, a growing number of states and utilities offer rebates and direct tax incentives as utilities around the country are under pressure to produce and deliver electricity and solar is a way to reduce that pressure. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has further incentives that even allow non-profits to be able to benefit financially from installing solar on your roof.

Yes, the roof of your building, often ignored, can benefit you in terms of what you offer occupants and to save energy. Research and take advantage of new technologies.

CCES has the experts to help you assess whether you may be a candidate for a “green” or solar PV roof, and bring in and manage experienced vendors in these areas. Contact us today at karell@CCESworld.com or at 914-584-6720.

People who study electricity usage have concluded that one major opportunity to save is to have more submetering. It is simple for a building (residential or commercial) to have a single electric meter to give the owner one bill to pay the utility each month. The owner then apportions that bill to the tenants, using some formula to pay back for tenant usage. This is fraught with many problems. First, it is wasteful because if a tenant is not directly billed for its usage, then it is not motivated to conserve electricity and will, thus, be wasteful. The New York State Energy Research & Development Agency (NYSERDA) estimates that submetering – the tenant knows it will pay directly for their specific usage – reduces overall electricity usage by 15 to 30%. Savings in this range have been estimated in other locations in both the residential and commercial market. This is the impetus behind NYC Local Law 88, which requires all buildings 50,000 sf or greater to submeter all tenants of a certain minimum size by January 1, 2025.

In addition to energy savings, submetering is also good for building management, not to mention the stress level and health of the manager. Without submeters, how does one apportion electricity usage among tenants who perform different operations or have different routines or equipment? I was involved in a project years ago involving a mall that rented space to a variety of retail and professional firms. They were serviced by a single electric meter and that landlord apportioned monthly charges for electricity based on square footage size. The more room you took up, the more you paid for electricity. There was no motivation to reduce energy usage. After a dispute with one tenant, a restaurant, the landlord started to question his approach. In response to the dispute, the landlord changed the apportion and requested double the share to this restaurant. The restaurant owner, as you can imagine, was incensed and sued. I was brought in to determine the more likely inequities of charging the same rate per sf for a variety of tenants. It turned out that because of the large amount of refrigeration equipment, lights, and long hours of this restaurant, even doubling their electricity share was still not fair. They used more than three times as much electricity per square foot as the simple accounting or law firm or insurance agency, which operate a moderate number of lights, only one small refrigerator for worker lunches, and generally only from 9 am to 5 pm. Even the landlord himself had been shortchanged, as he operated in common areas just a small number of lights and other trivial electricity sources. The landlord submitted my report to the judge who agreed and ruled against the tenant and that it was fair to apportion more than the others. The landlord eventually submetered his mall, so this kind of dispute (and aggravation) will not come up again. Even the tenants applauded this, no longer having to worry about others taking advantage of the situation and knowing they would be charged for their actual utility consumption rather than a pro-rata share based on the square footage of their leased space.

Be aware that submetering is not just a simple installation and re-wiring job. For long-lasting benefits, this must be done professionally and should have input from IT professionals and electrical engineers.

It is likely worth the investment to tie submeters into building management networks to give landlords and tenants real time visibility into energy usage. Tenants can see where their electric bills are heading and incorporate changes in mid-cycle and not wait for their bill. Building owners and managers can use submetering data to plan for maintenance, upgrades, and future expansions.

CCES has the experts to advise you on potential submetering for your building and bring in experienced vendors to bid and implement such efforts to save you costs and reduce your stress. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

You have probably all seen news stories about severe weather, flooding, drought, and extreme heat or cold hitting different parts of the world, including the US. Scientists universally believe that Climate Change has not caused these conditions but have made them more extreme. More energy is in our atmosphere from the greater amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) trapping more radiation. This clearly is contributing to the severity of effects. You accept that Climate Change is an important issue. But what can you do? Even if you implement your own plan and reduce your own energy usage and contribution of GHGs, how much can that make the Earth better when every new coal- or oil-fired power plant coming online anywhere in the world negates your efforts many times over?

The first thing to remember is that small and medium-sized businesses are more harmed by the physical and economic impacts of Climate Change than large companies because large firms often have backups and diversification to survive a downturn in one or several areas. Also, small businesses do not have the resources to determine Climate Change risks and do proper business planning. A poll by Small Business Majority indicated that one-third of small business owners report having been personally affected by extreme weather. And that poll was conducted 10 years ago!

What should you do? What can make a difference? Despite the news stories, don’t focus on the planet. Focus on your business. Plan and take Climate Change into consideration when making decisions on your business. Weather extremes are expected to occur more often. Think about your business, your markets, your operations and how they may be affected by Climate Change impacts.

Here are just some of the impacts Climate Change may have on your business:

• Rising risk of damage
• Rising insurance premiums
• Power outages
• Access to sufficient and high-quality water
• Damage to roads and critical infrastructure
• Injuries or illness; loss of work hours
• Increased need for energy (due to severe heat or cold), and its higher costs

So, get away from thinking about the global impacts of Climate Change and think about how these items influence your business. Are you located in an area that may be particularly vulnerable to any of these issues? Might your customers, clients, or suppliers be impacted by any of these? Prioritize which of these factors are most important to your business and begin to plan and act.

Then ask yourself whether you are most protected from these issues. For instance, if you live on a coast or in hurricane or tornado zone, are your business assets protected from severe damage as storms are likely to become more severe? If infrastructure is an issue, are there alternative ways for suppliers or for customers to reach you if a key highway or train track is severely damaged? Are your energy systems able to function in extreme heat or cold? Are there things you can do to reduce the risk of a business slowdown or shutdown and – at the same time – limit physical damage and reduce insurance risk? Again, remember to do this exercise not only for your business, but for your key supply chains and customer base.

This planning and implementation is a lot to ask of a small business owner. Take the opportunity to use free services from those around you to address these issues.

• Partner with local authorities. More and more cities and counties are establishing boards to deal with Climate Change impacts and they may offer literature or free advice.
• Seek advice from other business owners. What may happen to you will impact other businesses, too, and together you can plan better.
• Work with your elected officials and appropriate agencies. Make them aware that Climate Change’s impact on your town and business is important and should not be ignored or “kicked down the road” for another year or budget. This is a NOW issue. Resources can be made available. Vote!

Additionally, small businesses can take this opportunity to change its business model by launching new products or services to take advantage of increased consumer demand for products as a result of Climate Change and grow revenue.

CCES has the experts to help you develop and execute a Climate Change plan to benefit your specific business, reduce your critical riak points and potentially grow revenues. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.

This is the season for spring cleaning and I took the time to find some old articles I had stored, and one came up listing the top 10 hurdles keeping businesses from being more sustainable. The article came out in 2011. How have we progressed? Are these still hurdles? Can we “laugh” at the concerns in 2023?

The top 10 hurdles for business sustainability in 2011:
1. There are too many metrics that claim to measure sustainability— and they’re too confusing.
2. Government policies need to incentivize outcomes and be more clearly connected to sustainability.
3. Consumers do not consistently factor sustainability into their purchase decisions.
4. Companies do not know how best to motivate employees to undertake sustainability initiatives.
5. Sustainability still does not fit neatly into the business case.
6. Companies have difficulty discriminating between important opportunities and threats on the horizon.
7. Organizations have trouble communicating good deeds credibly to avoid the label as greenwashing.
8. Better guidelines are needed for engaging key stakeholders, such as aboriginal communities.
9. There is no common set of rules for sourcing sustainably.
10. Those companies that try leading the sustainability frontier often end up losing.

In general, I think we can say that American society and government has addressed most of these concerns. Nothing is perfect. Nothing is easy. But the concerns holding back businesses that existed 12 years ago have certainly been lessened looking at how we have grown today.

Yes, there are still many sustainability metrics. But at least there are established, recognized programs, such as LEED and Energy Star. If you have either label, then you are accepted as “sustainable”. Also, more and more companies realize that a “plaque” is not necessary to prove one is sustainable. Doing good science and recordkeeping and demonstrating a decline in energy or water usage, in waste generation, and/or in greenhouse gas emissions is sufficient to demonstrate success in sustainability.

While there is inconsistency throughout the US, most states and regions incentivize programs that make companies, buildings, and communities more sustainable, whether it is specific for energy, water, or waste. This is generally based on the needs of the community (water, energy grid). But government or utility programs with direct financial incentives for verified, sustainable projects do exist.

It is probably true that consumers still do not factor sustainability or the environment in their purchasing decisions, although this has risen since 2011. Certainly, the growth in sales of EV cars is an example. However, the market contains too many other factors of importance (price, quality, etc.) for consumers to overwhelmingly base purchases on sustainability. The same is true of staff. Many people just focus on doing their jobs (job security) and do not look at other pictures.

There is a lot more support for companies that wish to be more sustainable than 12 years ago. There is experience in what types of projects will be more successful than others and how to manage them better to both benefit the bottomline and environment. Also, with social media booming the last 12 years, there are many opportunities to communicate success, and also to check that greenwashing has not occurred.

Finally, the last item has been proven to be a myth. Designing and implementing a smart, organized sustainability program is most likely going to benefit a company in many ways, including direct financial. There have been many case studies to show this is true. In addition, over time, more companies are being led by people who have studied this in business school and understand sustainability.

CCES has the experts to help you design and implement a robust sustainability program to help your bottomline and make actual gains in energy, greenhouse gas, water, and waste goals. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.