APICS Magazine's Bottom-Line Green Webinar Series

If I don't stay at green a hotel, will I sleep just as soundly?

My husband and I have been saving our pennies recently (well, trying to) in hopes of a Disney World vacation with our daughters in the fall. I’ve begun researching airfare, park ticket prices, rental car deals, and accommodation options—which I have narrowed down to two hotels. Both are within one mile of Disney World, and both offer free shuttle service to the various theme parks. The suites are of equally nice size and quality. And our girls will be happy to learn both have “the breakfast spread” and swimming pools.

However, one hotel is about $40 a night more than the other. And while that fact normally would make this an easy decision for a passionate and highly skillful bargain hunter such as myself, this time, that is not the case. Turns out, the more expensive hotel is green, while the other is not (or, at least, it does not advertise being so on its Web site).

The more expensive hotel’s site says it “supports green initiatives,” which designates its participation in an environmental program, consisting of the use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, water conservation via guestroom towel and linen re-use, and on-premise recycling and waste reduction. Some hotels in the program also have installed low-flow showerheads and toilets, donate leftover food to area pantries, and have employee “Green Teams” to brainstorm new ways to be sustainable. (I did note that “supports green initiatives” does not represent an official sustainability-related certification of any kind.)

According to the 2008 National Travel Monitor, 4 out of 10 leisure travelers would select an environmentally friendly travel supplier if they knew about its commitment to the environment. Nearly one-half of these people say they are willing to pay higher rates for the services provided by such suppliers; however, the majority of them will pay only up to 9 percent more.

I have to say, I agree that paying more than an additional 10 percent for essentially the same hotel room seems like a foolish choice for our family budget. Still, if my monetary support can benefit this particular green hotel—and maybe even encourage others to follow suit—shouldn’t I also take that into consideration when making my decision? While I appreciate the ability to be green away from home, I’m just not sure it’s worth the extra cost. Somehow, this is different from paying more for locally grown produce or household products made from recycled materials (both of which I do regularly). I have a feeling many people feel the same way, and I’m interested to figure out exactly where is that threshold. There’s no doubt that determining how much more consumers are willing to pay to go green is a key question asked by many businesspeople.

My mind is not made up.

My husband and I have been saving our pennies recently (well, trying to) in hopes of a Disney World vacation with our daughters in the fall. I’ve begun researching airfare, park ticket prices, rental car deals, and accommodation options—which I have narrowed down to two hotels. Both are within one mile of Disney World, and both offer free shuttle service to the various theme parks. The suites are of equally nice size and quality. And our girls will be happy to learn both have “the breakfast spread” and swimming pools.

However, one hotel is about $40 a night more than the other. And while that fact normally would make this an easy decision for a passionate and highly skillful bargain hunter such as myself, this time, that is not the case. Turns out, the more expensive hotel is green, while the other is not (or, at least, it does not advertise being so on its Web site).

The more expensive hotel’s site says it “supports green initiatives,” which designates its participation in an environmental program, consisting of the use of energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, water conservation via guestroom towel and linen re-use, and on-premise recycling and waste reduction. Some hotels in the program also have installed low-flow showerheads and toilets, donate leftover food to area pantries, and have employee “Green Teams” to brainstorm new ways to be sustainable. (I did note that “supports green initiatives” does not represent an official sustainability-related certification of any kind.)

According to the 2008 National Travel Monitor, 4 out of 10 leisure travelers would select an environmentally friendly travel supplier if they knew about its commitment to the environment. Nearly one-half of these people say they are willing to pay higher rates for the services provided by such suppliers; however, the majority of them will pay only up to 9 percent more.

I have to say, I agree that paying more than an additional 10 percent for essentially the same hotel room seems like a foolish choice for our family budget. Still, if my monetary support can benefit this particular green hotel—and maybe even encourage others to follow suit—shouldn’t I also take that into consideration when making my decision? While I appreciate the ability to be green away from home, I’m just not sure it’s worth the extra cost. Somehow, this is different from paying more for locally grown produce or household products made from recycled materials (both of which I do regularly). I have a feeling many people feel the same way, and I’m interested to figure out exactly where is that threshold. There’s no doubt that determining how much more consumers are willing to pay to go green is a key question asked by many businesspeople.

My mind is not made up.

Calling All Cell-Phone-Using Professionals

Following Earth Hour  on March 28, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) is promoting this week’s “Plug-In To eCycling National Cell Phone Recycling Week” in hopes to collect as many cell phones for reuse and recycle as possible. With many businesses distributing phones to their employees and rapid technological advancements, the number of cell phones is increasing at a phenomenal rate.

 

Company leaders at Sprint no doubt are aware of this turnover. They are so invested in phone recycling efforts, in fact, that they hope to collect 9 phones for every 10 they sell over the next few years. Though Sprint sets a lofty goal, it is refreshing to see such a large company invested in green's bottom line.

 

Sprint’s recycling program, established in 2001, has eliminated thousands of tons of wireless equipment from becoming waste. More than 90 percent of the phones collected are manufactured into refurbished phones, and any equipment not reused is recycled. These efforts help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent air and water pollution, and conserve resources.

 

The initiative also is personally motivating, because I’ve been more than a bit lazy with my phone recycling. As a Sprint customer, I receive postage-paid envelopes with every phone purchase, but I am always a bit hesitant to send in my old phones. However, after reading estimates that energy saved from 100 million no-longer-used cell phones could power more than 18,500 homes in America for a year, I’m sold. That, to me, is all the motivation I need.

The efforts of Sprint leaders send a good message to businesses everywhere. Their goal of 9 recycled for every 10 purchased shows that their investment in the environment almost equals their investment in profit. It’s a good lesson, and one that I hope will motivate professionals not only to think twice before tossing their flip phones into the trash, but also to rethink their companies’ commitments to the bottom line.

 

--Ingrid Ostby, editorial assistant, APICS magazine.

Revisiting the Dark Ages

This Saturday, March 28, at 8:30 p.m. local time, millions of people around the world will participate in Earth Hour by turning off the lights for 60 minutes and showing support for global sustainability initiatives. Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, with 2.2 million families and businesspeople going 1 hour bulb-free in their homes and companies. By 2008, the message matured into a universal call for green action, with 50 million people participating.

According to earthhour.org, 18,783 businesses; 5,491 organizations; and leaders from more than 2,398 cities, towns, and municipalities and across 83 countries and territories have pledged their support—and this number continues to climb on a running counter on the Web site’s home page.

While critics call the event an empty promise to Mother Earth—and point out that paraffin candles (which numerous participants certainly will burn) create more carbon dioxide than running a low-watt CFL bulb—Earth Hour does give people the pride associated with being part of a global movement. And if the event really does its job well, it even may alter the way society as a whole uses natural its resources. By making people aware of some of the simplest ways to save electricity, real and lasting change can occur in all areas of green. Some examples include

• turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and offices
• switching off unused electronic equipment, items with standby functions, and battery chargers
• saving energy and money by using fluorescent bulbs
• turning off outdoor lighting during the day
• closing window blinds on hot, sunny days
• using fans instead of air conditioning whenever possible
• regularly cleaning and replacing air conditioning filters
• planting shade trees.

While working on the feature story “Energy Efficiency How-Tos” in the March/April issue of APICS magazine, I learned of numerous ways to immediately and significantly reduce natural resource usage in your organizations. Authors David Rucker and J.D. Cunningham provide easily applicable, clear steps to take that lead to sizeable savings. Don’t miss this article (www.apics.org/resources/magazine), and be sure to register for Rucker and Cunningham’s free APICS Extra Live Webinar (apics.org/extra).

Finally, chime in right here on the Working Green Blog with examples of what you’re doing at home and in the office to reduce your energy consumption. And tell us if you’ll be going dark along with me on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

--Elizabeth Rennie, managing editor, APICS magazine

This Saturday, March 28, at 8:30 p.m. local time, millions of people around the world will participate in Earth Hour by turning off the lights for 60 minutes and showing support for global sustainability initiatives. Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, with 2.2 million families and businesspeople going 1 hour bulb-free in their homes and companies. By 2008, the message matured into a universal call for green action, with 50 million people participating.

According to earthhour.org, 18,783 businesses; 5,491 organizations; and leaders from more than 2,398 cities, towns, and municipalities and across 83 countries and territories have pledged their support—and this number continues to climb on a running counter on the Web site’s home page.

While critics call the event an empty promise to Mother Earth—and point out that paraffin candles (which numerous participants certainly will burn) create more carbon dioxide than running a low-watt CFL bulb—Earth Hour does give people the pride associated with being part of a global movement. And if the event really does its job well, it even may alter the way society as a whole uses natural its resources. By making people aware of some of the simplest ways to save electricity, real and lasting change can occur in all areas of green. Some examples include

• turning off lights in unoccupied rooms and offices
• switching off unused electronic equipment, items with standby functions, and battery chargers
• saving energy and money by using fluorescent bulbs
• turning off outdoor lighting during the day
• closing window blinds on hot, sunny days
• using fans instead of air conditioning whenever possible
• regularly cleaning and replacing air conditioning filters
• planting shade trees.

While working on the feature story “Energy Efficiency How-Tos” in the March/April issue of APICS magazine, I learned of numerous ways to immediately and significantly reduce natural resource usage in your organizations. Authors David Rucker and J.D. Cunningham provide easily applicable, clear steps to take that lead to sizeable savings. Don’t miss this article (www.apics.org/resources/magazine), and be sure to register for Rucker and Cunningham’s free APICS Extra Live Webinar (apics.org/extra).

Finally, chime in right here on the Working Green Blog with examples of what you’re doing at home and in the office to reduce your energy consumption. And tell us if you’ll be going dark along with me on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

--Elizabeth Rennie, managing editor, APICS magazine

Excerpt from APICS Operations Management Now

The manufacturing community has long recognized the efficacy of lean. Lean incorporates a set of people-centric tools used to reduce waste and improve agility, competitiveness, and profit. In this complicated economic environment, lean naturally resonates. Our goal now is to combine sustainability and lean. The new metric of success will be what experts are calling the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit.

I would be very interested in your perspective on the following: In today’s economic climate is the triple bottom line achievable?

-Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE

APICS Chief Executive Officer

Green at Work

You may consider yourself green in your personal life, but are you green at work? Do you crank up your space heater, in order to ensure your toes are nice and toasty? Do you pick up your lunch and bring it back to your desk in a plastic bag? Is sustainability at work someone else's job?

On February 9, 2009, The Wall Street Journal published "How to Go Green in Hard Times." The authors list 10 ways to help the environment and save money. My challenge to readers of this blog is to consider how many of these are applicable at work as well as at home.

1) Install high-tech, programmable thermostats.

This one hits home for me. My office is in my house. It doesn't make sense to keep heating my entire house, while I spend the majority of the day in my office. I've set my thermostats at 62 degrees from 9 a.m. to  4 p.m., and I use a new electric space heater, with a thermostat, in my office. (This has the added bonus of motivating me to work, because I get way too cold sitting on the family-room couch.)

2) Implement drain-water, heat-recovery systems, which warm up water by capturing the heat from waste water as it travels down the drain.

Speaking of water, are you turning it off when you soap your hands and brush your teeth? This can save three to five gallons of water every minute.

3) Seal air leaks.

Think about this in particular with regard to warehouses and loading docks.

4) Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.

5) Lease solar panels: While buying the panels may be cost prohibitive, many companies don't charge anything upfront for the panels. They promise to immediately reduce your electric bill by about 11 percent.

6) Replace air filters.

Maybe your office building's operations team needs a little nudge about this. If you have a window unit in your office, you might be able to take care of this yourself.

7) Use compact fluorescent lights.

Duh. This one is so easy. These bulbs use 75 percent less energy than a regular light bulb, and they last 6 to 12 times longer. This is a great initiative for warehouse managers to undertake.

8) Install motion sensors that turn the lights off when the room is unoccupied.

9) Use window treatments: they can help bring down bills for air conditioning in the summer, and they can help keep heating bills in check in the winter.

At work, think about closing your office shades when the sun is shining in during the summer months.

10) Insulate your attic.

 

No matter what your role is within your organization, you do have a voice. You make decisions everyday. Are you making those decisions with sustainability in mind?

Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine

For more information on green and sustainabilty, check out the March/April issue of APICS magazine, which includes special "Bottom-Line Green" content.

You may consider yourself green in your personal life, but are you green at work? Do you crank up your space heater, in order to ensure your toes are nice and toasty? Do you pick up your lunch and bring it back to your desk in a plastic bag? Is sustainability at work someone else's job?

On February 9, 2009, The Wall Street Journal published "How to Go Green in Hard Times." The authors list 10 ways to help the environment and save money. My challenge to readers of this blog is to consider how many of these are applicable at work as well as at home.

1) Install high-tech, programmable thermostats.

This one hits home for me. My office is in my house. It doesn't make sense to keep heating my entire house, while I spend the majority of the day in my office. I've set my thermostats at 62 degrees from 9 a.m. to  4 p.m., and I use a new electric space heater, with a thermostat, in my office. (This has the added bonus of motivating me to work, because I get way too cold sitting on the family-room couch.)

2) Implement drain-water, heat-recovery systems, which warm up water by capturing the heat from waste water as it travels down the drain.

Speaking of water, are you turning it off when you soap your hands and brush your teeth? This can save three to five gallons of water every minute.

3) Seal air leaks.

Think about this in particular with regard to warehouses and loading docks.

4) Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.

5) Lease solar panels: While buying the panels may be cost prohibitive, many companies don't charge anything upfront for the panels. They promise to immediately reduce your electric bill by about 11 percent.

6) Replace air filters.

Maybe your office building's operations team needs a little nudge about this. If you have a window unit in your office, you might be able to take care of this yourself.

7) Use compact fluorescent lights.

Duh. This one is so easy. These bulbs use 75 percent less energy than a regular light bulb, and they last 6 to 12 times longer. This is a great initiative for warehouse managers to undertake.

8) Install motion sensors that turn the lights off when the room is unoccupied.

9) Use window treatments: they can help bring down bills for air conditioning in the summer, and they can help keep heating bills in check in the winter.

At work, think about closing your office shades when the sun is shining in during the summer months.

10) Insulate your attic.

 

No matter what your role is within your organization, you do have a voice. You make decisions everyday. Are you making those decisions with sustainability in mind?

Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine

For more information on green and sustainabilty, check out the March/April issue of APICS magazine, which includes special "Bottom-Line Green" content.

Business Advantage

Even during these difficult economic times, four out of five people still are buying green products and services—which sometimes cost more, according to a new study commissioned by Green Seal and EnviroMedia Social Marketing.  

 

Half of the 1,000 people surveyed buy as many green products now as they did before the economic downturn, while 19 percent of survey respondents indicated they are buying more green products.

 

Consumers seem to be responding to green products and green marketing. Have you evaluated your products and services to see if there's something "green" on which you can capitalize?

Even during these difficult economic times, four out of five people still are buying green products and services—which sometimes cost more, according to a new study commissioned by Green Seal and EnviroMedia Social Marketing.  

 

Half of the 1,000 people surveyed buy as many green products now as they did before the economic downturn, while 19 percent of survey respondents indicated they are buying more green products.

 

Consumers seem to be responding to green products and green marketing. Have you evaluated your products and services to see if there's something "green" on which you can capitalize?

Green is the new color of corporate responsibility

As any publication editor will tell you, the job comes with a lot of press releases. On a busy day, I can get 50 to 100 of these news announcements, and I try to look (or at least glance) at every one. I'm a news person, and I don't want to miss anything. Increasingly, I get items related to green, ranging from technology solutions meant to enhance the green supply chain to air filters created to improve factory air quality. Today, the folks at Ryder sent a link to the company's Corporate Responsibility Report www.ryder.com/aboutus_home.shtml. Number 1 on the list: Driving Environmental Leadership.

According to Aberdeen Group, "corporate responsibility posits that firms have a responsibility to be social and environmental stewards and that having a positive impact on society and the planet is as important as profit."

Is it the positive impact that drives these corporate responsibility efforts, or is it more bottom-line driven? Is green going to gain popularity even as the economy continues to stall? Instead of getting my information from a press release, I would appreciate practitioners' viewpoints.

 

--Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine

Making the Most of Technology to Go Green -- and Save Green

Speaking of bottom-line green, Kevin Piotrowski, director of discrete solution marketing for Infor, has submitted the following story on using technology to achieve sustainable business and significant cost savings.

Before the current global economic crisis, everyone seemed to be talking about how to “go green.” After the crash, however, people and businesses have shifted their focus to another kind of “green” – the kind that gets stuffed into a billfold. It seems the scientific community has standardized on its opinion that urgent action is essential to reverse the negative effects of global climate change, but has the economic crisis set us back in terms of rising to meet this need? One might think so.

The public, and business especially, operates under the misconception that becoming more eco-conscious is expensive. The truth is that there are many ways for corporations to quickly make a change with no effect on the bottom line, such as recycling programs and resource reuse – but much more can be done. Companies can identify ways to reduce waste, which not only makes them greener, but simultaneously reduces costs and makes them leaner - a win-win for both the environment and the bottom line.

Technologies are emerging that help companies achieve their green goals while satisfying their lean objectives. While most of the technologies have yet to be fully developed, solutions are currently available that help companies become lean and green through enterprise asset management and supply chain network design. Though such solutions are not free, their overall effect on cost can quickly produce a positive return on investment.

Studies have shown that by properly maintaining assets, companies can reduce overall energy consumption by 15 percent. Accounting for the high costs of energy, that saves a lot of green! The technology behind such a solution monitors each of a facility’s major assets, like air conditioners, refrigeration systems, etc., and tracks performance against the optimal levels. When assets fall below the predetermined acceptable point, a work order is generated to fix the problem so the equipment runs efficiently again.

With supply chain complexity continuing to grow, companies are spending large amounts of money and resources transporting parts and goods from various nodes such as plants, warehouses and stores in a variety of methods like rail, air, water and trucking. Companies wishing to reduce their carbon footprint and costs can take advantage of software systems that strategically model their supply chain and determine the optimal locations for nodes and methods of transport. These systems analyze the company’s current supply chain network and make recommendations to reduce environmental and bottom line impact.

The current economic climate provides an ideal time for companies to reevaluate their operations from a lean and green standpoint. Businesses should not only look for the low-hanging fruit and establish viable recycling programs, but also examine their practices and make use of technologies that help reduce the environmental impact of their assets and supply chains. There is no better time than the present to help promote the sustainability of our environment while also boosting profit margins.

A better buy

It's no secret you can find anything on the Web. Today I dug up an old story on "upcycling" from The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/businessspecial2/24worm.html?scp=4&sq=landfills%20and%20bag&st=cse Upcycling takes waste and turns it into new and usable products. The article focuses on a company called TerraCycle, which collects used yogurt cups, cracker wrappers, and more and makes this trash into hip messenger bags and pencil cases.

The article quotes Ryan Vero, the chief merchandising officer for OfficeMax, which features TerraCycle products. "TerraCycle is not selling a specific product line, but an idea and a vision for consumers to grab hold of."

A new generation of consumers is buying based on ideals. not simply need and price. Are companies ready for this? How are they creating and marketing products that will appeal to socially minded buyers—whether they are individuals or organizations? Is your company ready to compete based on product, price, and sustainability?

—Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine

It's no secret you can find anything on the Web. Today I dug up an old story on "upcycling" from The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/businessspecial2/24worm.html?scp=4&sq=landfills%20and%20bag&st=cse Upcycling takes waste and turns it into new and usable products. The article focuses on a company called TerraCycle, which collects used yogurt cups, cracker wrappers, and more and makes this trash into hip messenger bags and pencil cases.

The article quotes Ryan Vero, the chief merchandising officer for OfficeMax, which features TerraCycle products. "TerraCycle is not selling a specific product line, but an idea and a vision for consumers to grab hold of."

A new generation of consumers is buying based on ideals. not simply need and price. Are companies ready for this? How are they creating and marketing products that will appeal to socially minded buyers—whether they are individuals or organizations? Is your company ready to compete based on product, price, and sustainability?

—Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine

Green-Collar Jobs?

Yesterday's metro section of the Washington Post featured an article about how Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine is urging a major expansion of environmentally oriented jobs. Part of U.S. President-Elect Obama's economic recovery plan includes an emphasis on employment in the so-called "green sector." Yesterday, the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, announced his plans to create 400,000 new jobs—in small business, capital investment projects, and as part of the green economy—over the next six years.

So, there's an awful lot of important people putting a lot of expectations into the little-known green sector. Is this a legitimate strategy, or is it wishful thinking? What must U.S. lawmakers consider as they work to tie economic recovery and green?

—Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine

Yesterday's metro section of the Washington Post featured an article about how Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine is urging a major expansion of environmentally oriented jobs. Part of U.S. President-Elect Obama's economic recovery plan includes an emphasis on employment in the so-called "green sector." Yesterday, the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, announced his plans to create 400,000 new jobs—in small business, capital investment projects, and as part of the green economy—over the next six years.

So, there's an awful lot of important people putting a lot of expectations into the little-known green sector. Is this a legitimate strategy, or is it wishful thinking? What must U.S. lawmakers consider as they work to tie economic recovery and green?

—Jennifer Proctor, Editor-in-Chief, APICS magazine