Make It Count, Be Accountable #2: Let's start at home

Let's start at home!: Choosing Environmentally Responsible Solutions and Suppliers for Home and Business Infrastructure

As environmental awareness grows, consumers increasingly seek solutions and suppliers that prioritize sustainability. Making eco-conscious choices for home or business infrastructure not only reduces your carbon footprint but also supports broader environmental and social goals. Here’s how consumers can identify, evaluate, and choose environmentally responsible solutions every time they invest in infrastructure.

1. Research and Verify Supplier Sustainability Practices

One of the best ways to ensure environmentally responsible infrastructure is to carefully vet suppliers. Here’s what to look for:

• Transparency in Sourcing: Look for companies that provide information on their materials' origins and manufacturing processes. Responsible suppliers typically share details about the sources of their products and the sustainability of their supply chains. For example, Patagonia (LinkedIn: Patagonia) discloses its environmental impact reports and material sources transparently.
• Certifications and Standards: Trusted certifications like Energy Star, LEED, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), and ISO 14001 indicate a company or product meets high sustainability standards. For instance, Interface (LinkedIn: Interface, Inc.) offers sustainable flooring with certifications for low emissions and eco-friendly sourcing.
• Environmental Reporting: Many companies release sustainability or corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports, like Unilever (LinkedIn: Unilever), which provides extensive data on its global sustainability practices and targets.

2. Choose Renewable Energy Options When Possible

Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro can significantly reduce your reliance on fossil fuels. Here’s how to assess the availability of clean energy in your area:

• Check Your Utility Provider’s Energy Mix: Many utility companies provide a breakdown of their energy sources. For instance, Green Mountain Energy (LinkedIn: Green Mountain Energy) specializes in offering renewable energy options to customers in select U.S. states.
• Consider Solar Installation: For a direct impact, solar panels are an effective way to generate clean energy on-site. SunPower (LinkedIn: SunPower) and Tesla Solar (LinkedIn: Tesla) offer residential and commercial solar solutions, and tax incentives are often available.
• Look for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs): If renewable energy isn’t available locally, some utility companies offer RECs, like Arcadia (LinkedIn: Arcadia), which allows users to offset their electricity usage with renewable sources.

3. Opt for Energy-Efficient Appliances and Systems

Energy-efficient systems and appliances can reduce both energy consumption and long-term costs. When selecting new infrastructure components, look for:

• Energy Star-Rated Appliances: Whirlpool (LinkedIn: Whirlpool Corporation) and LG Electronics (LinkedIn: LG Electronics) produce Energy Star-certified appliances, ensuring energy efficiency across a range of products.
• High-Efficiency HVAC Systems: Carrier (LinkedIn: Carrier) and Trane (LinkedIn: Trane Technologies) offer high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, which can substantially reduce energy costs.
• LED Lighting: Philips Lighting (LinkedIn: Signify (Philips Lighting)) and Cree Lighting (LinkedIn: Cree Lighting) provide energy-saving LED solutions for both residential and commercial settings.

4. Choose Sustainable Building Materials and Practices

Construction and infrastructure development have a significant environmental impact, but consumers can reduce it by selecting eco-friendly materials and suppliers. Here’s how to build or renovate sustainably:

• Sustainable Materials: Bamboo Flooring from Cali Bamboo (LinkedIn: Cali Bamboo) and Recycled Metal Roofing by EcoStar (LinkedIn: EcoStar) are excellent options for sustainable construction materials.
• LEED-Certified Contractors: Many contractors are LEED-certified, such as those affiliated with Turner Construction (LinkedIn: Turner Construction Company), which has extensive experience in green building projects.
• Water-Efficient Fixtures: Companies like Kohler (LinkedIn: Kohler Co.) and Moen (LinkedIn: Moen Incorporated) offer a range of water-efficient fixtures to help conserve water resources.

5. Engage with Environmentally Conscious Suppliers

When choosing suppliers, prioritize companies that actively minimize waste, reduce emissions, and are committed to sustainability. To identify these suppliers, look for:

• Zero-Waste Initiatives: Etsy (LinkedIn: Etsy) and Lush Cosmetics (LinkedIn: Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics) are examples of companies with zero-waste initiatives that promote sustainable packaging and minimal waste.
• Carbon-Neutral Goals: Microsoft (LinkedIn: Microsoft) and Apple (LinkedIn: Apple) have both committed to ambitious carbon-neutral goals.
• Recyclable and Biodegradable Packaging: Seventh Generation (LinkedIn: Seventh Generation) and Who Gives A Crap (LinkedIn: Who Gives A Crap) are leaders in using sustainable packaging materials.

6. Monitor and Control Energy Usage with Smart Technology

Smart technology is making it easier than ever to control energy usage in homes and businesses, providing greater insights and facilitating greener practices:

• Smart Meters and Thermostats: Companies like Nest (LinkedIn: Google Nest) and Ecobee (LinkedIn: Ecobee) offer smart thermostats that optimize heating and cooling for energy efficiency.
• Home Automation: Control4 (LinkedIn: Control4) and Crestron (LinkedIn: Crestron Electronics) provide advanced home automation solutions that help manage lighting, HVAC, and other systems efficiently.
• Energy Management Software: For businesses, platforms like Schneider Electric (LinkedIn: Schneider Electric) offer energy management software that identifies energy-saving opportunities.

7. Support Green Financing Options

Eco-conscious infrastructure choices can sometimes come at a premium. Green financing options can help make sustainable investments more accessible:

• Green Loans: Bank of America (LinkedIn: Bank of America) and JPMorgan Chase (LinkedIn: JPMorgan Chase & Co.) offer green loans for sustainable home and business improvements.
• Government Incentives: Many governments, including the U.S. Department of Energy (Energy.gov), offer tax credits and rebates for renewable energy projects and energy-efficient upgrades.
• Eco-Friendly Investment Plans: Investment firms like BlackRock (LinkedIn: BlackRock) offer sustainable investment funds to help finance eco-friendly initiatives.

Making a Difference, One Decision at a Time

By choosing environmentally responsible solutions and suppliers, consumers can actively contribute to sustainability. Opting for green suppliers, energy-efficient products, and renewable energy options supports a cleaner future, one infrastructure decision at a time.

However, high upfront costs and operational complexities often hinder the adoption of eco-friendly options. The concept of Energy as a Service (EaaS) is reshaping traditional energy management by removing these barriers, making it easier to achieve sustainability goals.

EaaS is a model that enables businesses and consumers to access energy-efficient and renewable infrastructure solutions without the need for upfront investment. Companies like Redaptive, Inc offer financing, installation, and management of energy-efficient systems, such as LED lighting, HVAC, and renewable energy sources. By taking on the costs and operational responsibilities, EaaS providers make energy efficiency accessible and easy to manage, helping clients realize immediate cost savings and environmental benefits.

EaaS plays a crucial role in supporting sustainable infrastructure choices by offering tailored, flexible energy solutions that are both cost-effective and scalable. Here’s how EaaS enhances traditional approaches to eco-friendly domestic and business infrastructures:

·        It reduces upfront costs for immediate energy-efficient upgrades

·        It improves ongoing monitoring and optimization for performance and impact tracking

·        Seamless integration combining traditional and renewable energy sources

·        It simplifies Transition

·        It allows scalability without further investments

·        It is customizable

·        It allows us to improve sustainability while reducing costs.

Keep it in mind, sustainability starts at home.