...GREEN BUSINESS PRACTICES: BALANCING ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMIC DESIRES MUKHTAR AHMAD1 Abstract Individual organization government and even business enterprises are becoming more and more environmental conscious. This environmental consciousness has lead to the emergence of green business practices .Green business involves promotion and production of eco-freie3ndly products. This research paper presents the detailed study on the concept of green business practices which are essential for improving environmental condition in a profitable manner. This paper primarily focuses on fulfilling responsibilities towards environment through following green practices, and secondly, it explains the competitive advantages of green business. Green business...
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...Vol. 14 Nº 27 Ben Tran: Green Management: The reality of Being Green in Business 21 GREEN MANAGEMENT: THE REALITY OF BEING GREEN IN BUSINESS GESTIÓN VERDE: LA REALIDAD DE LA SOSTENIBILIDAD ECOLÓGICA EN LA GESTIÓN GERENCIAL Ben Tran1 ABSTRACT Green management and going green are not as clear cut and easy as hyped by the general media. While going ecologically green is indeed beneficial and appropriate, the process and procedure of becoming green is anything but easy. Firstly, turning green is largely not a legal requirement, but a voluntary process. Thus, even though LEED (which is by far the more publicly known green certification standard) governs the certification of the green management effort, it is not a compulsory condition for practitioners to go green. Secondly, even with the encouragement of incentives to comply, practitioners are skeptical in becoming green due to: (a) a lack of true understanding of the benefit of ecologically friendly procedures (the practice of profits versus the theory of benefits); (b) lack of short term gain in life cycle costing (practitioners want instant incentives); and (c) mostly, because it is not a legal requirement for the vast majority of municipalities. Keywords: Green management, green business practices, barriers toward green management, encouragement & incentives for green management, LEED Certification. RESUMEN La gestión ambiental sostenible y el tornarse ecológico no es tan claro ni factible como lo pregona la prensa. Mientras...
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...important characteristics of a “green business” or “sustainable business?” How can business be a force for good by addressing the problems associated with the environmental crisis? In answering this question, be sure to draw from chapter 10, the Anderson video, and 3 additional outside sources. Going Green or going home. Business throughout the world has evolved since the first traders used to barter for goods. Today we keep in mind the ever changing global economy, and how it has effected our environment as a whole. In this paper we will be looking at different characteristics of a “green business” or in other words, “sustainable business”. How businesses can be a force of good by addressing some problems associated with environmental issues of our world as we see it today. Also we will be drawing and interpreting some additional sources that will further support as well as debate our “green business” characteristics. Lets start by stating there is a difference between “green business” and a “sustainable business”. A sustainable business is not necessarily green. You can have a company who makes many profits and has many millions of dollars invested into it, but they could be doing absolutely no environmentally friendly to help the world. Just because they could be considered a successful company, does not mean that they have reached the level that they are at today by doing things completely environmentally friendly. On the other hand the term “green business” truly expresses...
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...Module Number: U54062 Environmental Management in Hospitality and Tourism Annotated Bibliography Module Leader: Mr. Sandeep Munjal By Himanshu Sharma SHTM 2011-2015 Contents Hotel’s Going the ‘Green’ Way with Technology. 2 Environmental Impact of Hotel Minibars 3 Environment Responsive Solutions for Hospitality. 4 Beas river – turning into dumping site for hotels and others 6 Hotels undertake water conservation 7 Hotel’s Going the ‘Green’ Way with Technology. Source: IDS Softwares Pvt. Ltd. 2011, ‘Hotels Going the 'Green' Way with Technology’ (online) (cited on 14 December 2011) available from URL:http://www.4hoteliers.com/features/article/6500 'Green' is no longer just a fad for the hospitality sector. The hotel industry is growing at a rapid scale and hence programs such as recycling and water and energy conservation are high in demand and are readily adopted. Moreover, efforts to reduce carbon emissions are quickly gaining public notice. This has emerged as one of the biggest global phenomenon in which eco - conscious consumers are doing their part to minimize their impact on the nature. This can be achieved in many areas and there are different levels being of green. Many companies in various industries are looking for ways to be more green. Various hotels and resorts has already taken the initiative and have started doing their bit by adopting environment friendly practices. They've started using the CFL bulbs and has even invested in high...
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...China’s Green Credit Policy: Building Sustainability in the Financial Sector World Resources Institute June 8, 2011 Motoko Aizawa, Sustainability Advisor, IFC The Green Credit Policy - the Domestic Context • Pattern of rapid economic growth characterized by: High consumption of energy and natural resources Environmental pollution & biodiversity loss Growing social tension and inequality • Recognition that administrative measures need to be coupled with market-based policies • Turning to the power of the market: Environmental economic policies Environmental Tax Ecological Compensation Mechanism Green Trade Policy Green Government Procurement Green Insurance Green Securities Green Credit China’s Green Credit Policy • Context: Banks provide 80-90% of funding to Chinese enterprises • Dual Purpose: Direct credits away from highly polluting and high energy-consuming enterprises and projects Direct credits toward energy conservation and emission reduction at preferential terms • Launched in July 2007 by three agencies: Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) People’s Bank of China (PBOC) • New feature: Inter-agency collaboration with clear implementation responsibilities Based on lessons learned from the 1995 policy experience IFC Partnership with Chinese Agencies on Green Credit • Objective: Knowledge transfer of IFC experience in sustainable...
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...practices, in particular the section of housekeeping. It is the Luxors aim to operate in quality service in economic growth, employment retention and environmental protection. It is out initiative to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations, actively improve out environmental performance and reduce our impact and create environmental education and awareness for our staff and customers. The reason the Luxor hotel Melbourne is actively going “green” is for a number of reasons, the first being a competitive advantage with over half of potential customers stating they are more inclined to use a environmentally friendly hotel as apposed to one that is not (Kirk 1995). Another advantage of going green is employee retention, as employees are more likely to be enthusiastic and motivated when they share the same values as the company (Graci 2009). The most prominent but by no means the main reason for going green is the cost saving associated with going green (Brebbia 2004). The main reason the Luxor is committed to implementing environmental management systems is because as Hervé Houdré, general manager of the Willard intercontinental states “ it is not and opportunity but a responsibility” (Green convergence pp. 10). Herve has created an extensive sustainable development program for his hotel and the blue prints for the intercontinental to follow suit (Green convergence), this is what the Luxor Melbourne hopes to accomplish and set the standards for all Luxor hotels...
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...Let’s Go Green What is Green Building? Green building, or sustainable design, is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment over the entire life cycle of the building. Green building concepts extend beyond the walls of buildings and can include site planning, community and land use planning issues as well. Why is Green Building important? The growth and development of our communities has a large impact on our natural environment. The manufacturing, design, construction, and operation of the buildings in which we live and work are responsible for the consumption of many of our natural resources. In the United States, buildings account for: 39% of total energy use 68% of total electricity consumption 30% of landfill waste 38% of carbon dioxide emissions 12% of total water consumption The Environmental Benefits are enhanced and protected biodiversity and ecosystems, improved air and water quality, reduced water streams, conserved and restored natural resources. The Economical Benefits are reduced operating costs, improved occupant productivity, enhanced asset values and profits, and optimized life-cycle economic performance. The Social Benefits are enhanced occupant health and comfort, improved indoor air quality, minimized strain on local utility infrastructure, and improved overall quality of life. Why go green? Thanks to more...
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... | The article I’ve chosen is “Going Green”, an article featured in the Safety & Health Magazine. The article discusses the not-so ongoing challenges of going green. How business continually seek ways to improve their safety measurements with products that are reliable and provide maximum protection. The questions proposed in the article “how can you take your safety program to the next level?” and “How about product solutions that not only protect the workplace, but also protect the environment and support a company’s overall sustainability program?” Well implementing green safety products is easier then thought. Majority of distribution is a wide selection of sustainable safety products that you can choose from, including safety and traffic signs, personal protective equipment, lockout/tag-out, and many others. Green safety products offer the same guarantee as their non-eco counterparts in meeting OSHA regulatory standards and maximizing workplace protection. Quality is not lessened using green materials, and they provide the same performance requirements at competitive prices. As stated in the article green safety products bring equal value to corporate safety programs but with many more advantages than that of traditional safety products. One of the biggest advantages is that green safety products protect the environment. So the impact on the environment can be significant. It just makes sense for companies to go green. Green safety products can take a safety program...
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...Clean Technology: A greener aspect to development Institute of Business Administration University of Dhaka 1 Economics of Geography and Environment (G101) Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development Clean Technology: A greener aspect to development Prepared for: Dr. A. M. M. Amanat Ullah Khan Professor, Department of Geography and Environment University of Dhaka Prepared by: Ahamed Najeeb Rahman ZR-74 Tasnia Azim Choudhury RH-76 M. Samiul Haque ZR-84 Jidny Rubaiyat Shoummo ZR-85 Zahin Azad Moslem ZR-121 BBA 20th Date of Submission: June 15, 2012 Institute of Business Administration University of Dhaka 2 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 15 June, 2012. Dr. A. M. M. Amanat Ullah Khan Course Instructor Economics of Geography and Environment University of Dhaka Subject: Letter of transmittal for Economics of Geography and Environment course termpaper. Dear Sir, Here is the report which you asked us to submit for the requirement of our undergraduate course- Economics of Geography and Environment (G101). The title of the report is “Clean technology: a greener aspect to development”, which is a descriptive analysis of how Green Technology works and can help the environment. This report has been prepared under your authorization. Without your permission, no part of this report can or will be revealed. This report never has been, and never will be, reproduced for any other IBA course. We sincerely hope that you we were able to fulfil the course requirement...
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...From the frontlines of demand and supply > Summer 2008 ViewPOINT It Isn’t easY Being green “The volume of global trade has more than doubled in the last decade – reaching six times the rate of growth of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP),” according to Mastering carbon measure emissions as a first step to limiting them. In many cases, it may be more cost effective to shift to lowercarbon practices now rather than wait for the inevitable regulations. As companies decide how to reduce the damage being done, it is understandable that they focus on the lowest hanging fruit first – their direct impact from their immediate operations. Increasingly, however, there will be an expectation to look beyond the emissions from an office block or a factory, to the extended supply chain. This adds its own complications. “There are questions about how and where boundaries are drawn when it comes to carbon emissions,” points out Iain Walpole, company environment manager of Castle Cement Limited. “For example, a UK-produced cement might produce 800kg CO2 direct emissions per tonne. If you then included the transportation of raw materials and electricity within the footprint, the total would be larger. As such, a cement produced in a similar plant in China would have the Insight and analysis from IBM Global Business Services But it’s worth it. Ben Schiller considers the climate change that’s driving business. same direct emissions, but the CO2 from transporting this tonne could...
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...CASE STUDY QUESTIONS 1. What business and social problems does data center power consumption cause? Excessive power consumption uses vast amount of electricity that must be generated through hydroelectric plants or coal-fired power plants. While hydroelectric generation plants are less stressful on the environment than coal-fired, nevertheless, they do pull resources from more useful purposes. Coal-fired power plants generate huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which some scientists and politicians claim is a major cause of global warming. Social implications of increased power consumption point to global warming. 2. What solutions are available for these problems? Which are the most environment-friendly? Some of the solutions to cut power consumption discussed in the case study are a good beginning. Building data centers that take advantage of hydroelectric power generation rather than coal-fired power plants; renewable energy projects; alternative energy; employee telecommuting; thin client computers, software that automatically turns computers off; more efficient chips. Perhaps the most environment-friendly solutions are those that control the hardware and software, thereby controlling the problem at its source. Virtualization holds great promise as a way to reduce power requirements by reducing the number of servers required to run applications. 3. What are the business benefits and costs of these solutions? Even though...
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...countries have chosen to develop national-level strategies, Canada’s federal system of governance required an approach that acknowledged that many of the levers for promoting sustainable development are controlled by different levels of governments (e.g. municipalities, provinces, and territories). The FSDA (Federal Sustainable Development Act) articulates the Government of Canada’s long-term vision, goals, and targets, including its plans for reducing the federal government’s environmental footprint. Environmental sustainability and economic development can be considered contending imperatives. We are now seeing more and more concern for ‘sustainable development’ that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” While a consumerist lifestyle is inevitable in a highly globalised society, careless consumption is something that can and should be curbed. Achieving sustainable economic growth...
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...Introduction s environmental issues gain greater attention, pressure is being placed on all industries, including financial services to implement “green” initiatives. While green banking is not yet a key reason for most customers to select one financial institution over another, customer demands and greater environmental awareness are driving a number of financial institutions to go green. Environment is a key focus amongst ethical banks (in this field specially called sustainability or green banks) as well as amongst many conventional banks that wish to appear more ethically oriented or that see switching to more environmental practices to be to their advantage. In general bankers “consider themselves to be in a relatively environmentally friendly industry (in terms of emissions and pollution). However, given their potential exposure to risk, they have been surprisingly slow to examine the environmental performance of their clients. A stated reason for this is that such an examination would ‘require interference’ with a client’s activities. While the desire to not meddle in the business of the client is valid, one could also note that banks are required to interfere in the business of their clients regularly to ensure that the clients’ business plan is viable before issuing them a loan. The kind of analysis that all banks partake in is termed a single bottom line analysis (this analysis only considers financial performance). It is arguable whether or not performing a triple bottom...
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...Discuss three major drivers that motivate organizations to introduce green IT initiatives. The idea of green technology has been around for many years following the trend of green movement which has been raising its hype over the past decade. Green IT refers to the study and practice of using computers and IT resources in a more efficient and environmentally responsible way (McCabe, 2009). It focuses on reducing the environmental impact of industrial processes and innovative technologies caused by the Earth’s growing population. Mainly this means creating fully recyclable products, reducing pollution, proposing alternative technologies in various fields, and creating a center of economic activity around technologies that benefit the environment (Gingichashvili, 2007). Molla (2008) identified three generic forces that can influence the adoption of Green IT — economic forces, regulatory forces, and ethical forces. Economic forces refer to the need for pursuing internal efficiency and market performance (Molla, et al., 2009). A research reveals that cost is the overriding factor for 70% of small businesses IT decision makers to invest in green technologies (Silcock, 2010). Green technology offers the same functionality as traditional technology, and for much the same up-front price. However, it also adds a host of additional benefits in terms of costs, technology and its influence on the organization. For example, green networking switches use less energy and so generate less heat....
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...Objectives 1 1.3 Scope 1 1.4 Methodology 2 1.5 Limitations 2 2.0 What is Green Technology 3 3.0 Prominent Examples of green Technology 7 3.1 Solar Energy 7 3.2 Biofuels 15 3.3 Green Building 21 4.0 Conclusion 33 ii Economics of Geography and Environment (G101) Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development SUMMARY In a world of rapid growth, both in terms of economy and population, human beings have sought to influence the environment around them for a better, more efficient and easier life. The resources that we have used up from the environment have often been nonrenewable and in our heedless march to glorious comfort, we have ignored the consequences of the effect that we are having on the world we live in. With the results of our negative impact on nature coming around to haunt us, there have been a rising global awareness and movement to better ourselves. Green technology is a major part of it. Green technology is the application of the environmental science to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement. The main idea behind green technology is to provide sustainable growth. That is, using resources from the Earth in a renewable fashion. The following report outlines some aspects of green technology and discusses three main ideas: Solar energy, Green Buildings, Biofuels. In the report, it has been discussed how each of these technologies...
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