| One of the common queries or comments I | | | | make is usually their built environment. |
| receive when presenting on sustainability is the | | | | Therefore, it stands to reason that a lot of the |
| matter of costs. | | | | inefficiencies that occur with running your business |
| "What will it cost me"? | | | | can be found in the built environment. |
| "Is it cost effective"? | | | | It is these inefficiencies, whether it be the design, |
| "What is the pay back period"? | | | | the construction or the operations of your building |
| "It is a waste of money" | | | | where, with appropriate sustainable manage |
| "It will cost too much!" | | | | expertise, you can make the most improvement |
| All of these are valid questions and statements, | | | | to those inefficiencies. |
| especially as costs are the base for any business. | | | | These include reducing wastage, while also at the |
| But there is obviously a lot of fear around the | | | | same time providing the improved profitability |
| subject. | | | | opportunity while minimising the environmental |
| If sustainability is not cost effective, no one will | | | | loads currently produced by your business. |
| use it; no person, no company will implement it. | | | | As we are all aware, the current climate change |
| Irrespective of how much they are concerned | | | | issues are now being linked to the waste of our |
| about the environment. | | | | Natural Capital. This Natural Capital is currently |
| I have good news though. | | | | ridiculously undervalued, especially as it is a |
| Sustainability is definitely cost effective. | | | | resource that we cannot reproduce in any way. |
| In order to appeal to the CEO who is concerned | | | | We cannot produce water or air or earth or |
| about value, about life cycle costings, Return on | | | | nature. The list goes on. Yet we consume them |
| Investment etc, sustainability must be practical, | | | | unabated, propelled by the massive cheapness of |
| cost effective and have measurable outcomes. | | | | these integral components that are necessary for |
| It is interesting though, when one analyses a | | | | our survival, as well as the rampant belief that |
| business from a sustainable perspective we | | | | these resources will always be there for our use. |
| usually find a massive amount of waste being | | | | In addition we have a core belief that we have a |
| generated by that business that is uncosted; yet | | | | right to use them as we wish, relatively free of |
| it is an exact measurable cost against the bottom | | | | charge. |
| line of that business. Those costs of Natural | | | | How long can these beliefs sustain us? |
| Capital (Water, Energy, Waste etc) should be on | | | | But this is not a doom and gloom story. |
| the ledger. | | | | The application of sustainable practice to your |
| Then we would take more notice of them as a | | | | project is relatively cheap and has many benefits. |
| cost | | | | The US Green Building Council (USGBC) (Cost of |
| Conversely, quite often, it is the businesses that | | | | Green Buildings 2004) has done significant |
| are concerned about the cost of implementing a | | | | research on this issue and has found that if there |
| sustainable philosophy that are the biggest | | | | is any cost up front for a sustainable building it is |
| wasters. And therefore we find outstanding | | | | usually around .6% -2% of total project cost. |
| opportunities for improvement, for benefit, for | | | | Sometimes there is no increased construction |
| profit, for these businesses that are often the | | | | cost. |
| sceptical ones. Not to mention the environmental | | | | It has also identified that these costs are usually |
| benefits!! | | | | recoverable 10 times over within 20 years just |
| In all businesses we review there is waste in | | | | through reduced energy useage. |
| areas such as power, water, resource | | | | Yet there is much more benefit to be found in |
| management including staff, loss of productivity, | | | | defining a sustainable outcome from your |
| inefficient operational practices etc. Most of the | | | | business. This applies to new or refurbished built |
| business premises are inappropriately designed for | | | | projects. |
| their location, function and climate. | | | | The earlier in a project you identify a sustainable |
| Yet these same businesses are run by the same | | | | outcome requirement, the greater these |
| people who will ask the question about cost, | | | | outcomes will be. |
| detailed above. | | | | When deciding to take a sustainable approach, |
| "No business makes money if it is inefficient" | | | | many options and benefits arise. |
| (World Business Council for Sustainable | | | | The design of your structure becomes suited to |
| Development) | | | | the local climate; the occupant comfortability is |
| Sustainability is about, in broad terms, improving | | | | significantly improved, resulting in reduced |
| efficiencies. | | | | absenteeism (25%, USGBC) of staff while |
| It is about improving your profitability while at the | | | | increasing productivity. |
| same time improving your environmental | | | | Internal environment quality is greatly improved; |
| outcomes. | | | | resulting in improved occupant and staff health |
| Sustainability is not just about adding a water tank | | | | .The EPA (USA) has identified 'Sick Building |
| to your premises or changing light globes. It is a | | | | Syndrome' as one of the top 5 health issues |
| science and it needs to be integrated wherever | | | | facing the world today! |
| possible right through your business operations, | | | | A sustainable approach will significantly reduce that |
| from the management philosophy right through to | | | | risk. |
| your built environment. | | | | There is no need to be fearful of a sustainable |
| All businesses do have a connection to the built | | | | approach. It is the way of the future. |
| environmental whether it is through their offices, | | | | It will measurably increase your profit while |
| their production facilities, their operational facilities | | | | improving your environmental outcomes. These |
| etc. | | | | two features have for years been considered |
| The biggest financial investment most businesses | | | | mutually exclusive. Sustainability changes all that. |