newsletter - noco22009.noco2.com.au/templates/cri/media/cri-newsletter... · 2014-09-29 · guide...

CARBON REDUCTION INSTITUTENEWSLETTER

NUMBER 4 - 2008

NEWSLETTER | CARBON REDUCTION INSTITUTE | NUMBER 4 - 2008

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

ENERGY WALK AROUND

UPCOMING EVENT: RETAIL EXPO

COMPANY PROFILE : ICETREK EXPEDITIONS

GARNAUT’S DRAFT REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

NEW CUSTOMERS

TIPS FOR SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE

FEEDBACK

CONTENT

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Welcome to the July edition of the Carbon Reduction Institute Newsletter! This month we bring you our latest do-it-yourself office carbon reduction tool – the CRI Energy Walk-Around Guide! This guide is not just about turning off your lights; it will give you a comprehensive overview of all the different aspects involved in cutting back on your energy usage. Learn how to reduce the carbon footprint in your office while saving money on your electricity bill! More below…

We would also like to remind you about our new BUSINESS PROFILE section which features one of our NoCO2 and LowCO2 certified businesses in detail each month. This month’s business appeals to your adventurous spirit – get to know ICETREK EXPEDITIONS!

If you are a Carbon Reduction Institute certified business and would like to be featured in one of our upcoming newsletters, please register your interest by sending an email to Nike at [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you!

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

• Energy Walk-Around

• Company profile: Icetrek

• Garnaut report on climate change

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction Tips

ENERGYWALK-AROUND

For those who want to lower their energy usage and reduce their impact on global warming but don’t know where to start, there’s an easy solution now. We have developed a do-it-yourself Energy Walk-Around Guide for you! Become an energy auditor in your own office and discover where you cut back on greenhouse gas emissions - this guide will tell you how.

Covering all possible energy leakages from appliances on stand-by, ventilation systems; insulation and simply wasteful habits, the Walk-Around can help you lower your personal carbon footprint as well as that of your office significantly. Assess your building’s energy usage like a professional!

To download the free guide, please visit our resources section online at www.noco2.com.au/web/page/resources.

COMPANY PROFILEICETREK EXPEDITIONS is Carbon Neutral

Icetrek Expeditions offers travellers an unparalleled opportunity to take their adventurous spirit to the edge. Specializing in the high Polar Regions, Icetrek offers expeditions, consultation and products and services relating to high latitude adventure and logistics.

Icetrek founder, Eric Philips, has completed over 10 expeditions to the North and South Poles and has traversed the world’s largest icecaps. His team has real expeditionary experience in wilderness extremes as diverse as Antarctica, Greenland, Patagonia, Iceland; Spitsbergen, Siberia and the Canadian High Arctic; offering world-class North and South Pole guiding and experiential travel. Icetrek’s expeditions can be followed online or visitors can flash back to past journeys.

Icetrek also offers a range of specialist equipment and services that reduce the guesswork for polar enthusiasts. This includes a dedicated consultation service for private expeditions, polar logistics and a comprehensive educational resource for learning programs. You should check out Icetrek’s great gallery, movies and articles, too!

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Eric is a compelling motivational speaker. His real-life stories of polar adventure and survival are steeped in honest and gritty realism and carry casual messages that underpin the structure and success of any team or individual striving for quality results.

Based in Hobart, Icetrek is the only company in the southern hemisphere offering commercial expeditions to the North and South Poles, and one of only two companies worldwide to offer carbon neutral polar travel.

We spoke to Eric about his experiences with becoming a carbon neutral business:

What are your views on climate change?

“There is no question in my mind that climate change is happening because I see evidence of it every time I return to the Arctic. I have been visiting latitudes above the Arctic Circle since 1992 and the High Arctic including the North Pole region since 2002.

In the scale of things this is only a short time frame yet my observations, and more importantly anecdotes from friends and associates who have been visiting the region for

decades, support what the scientists are saying. The fiord outside the gateway town for our North Pole programs, Longyearbyen in Spitsbergen, has not frozen in three years. Prior to 2006 this had never occurred in living memory.

Many glaciers on Greenland and other Arctic landmasses are receding at alarming rates, many have disappeared entirely. Russian and Canadian polar veterans say the ice of the Arctic Ocean is significantly thinner now than 20 years ago and I am now seeing the consequences of this thinning. With the reduced ice thickness comes greater susceptibility to summer breakup and thawing, making multi-year ice more difficult to form.

With less multi-year or stable ice in the ocean more open water results. This affects the planet because the Arctic Ocean now absorbs more heat from the sun whereas previously the more expansive ice layer reflected the sun/heat. This affects my business because I guide ski expeditions across an ever-dwindling Arctic Ocean.

With so much thin ice and open water our expeditions are subject to drifting rarely seen before in the Arctic. This year my team began a ski trek 26km from the North Pole and after 5 days of skiing north, we were 35km from our target. The Arctic ice has always drifted but the rate of drift is increasing rapidly.”

When have you first heard about the idea of becoming a carbon neutral business and what has ultimately driven you to take this step?

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“I first heard about businesses becoming carbon neutral in 2006. There is only one other provider of guided polar expeditions, an American company, that is carbon neutral and I was inspired by their commitment and followed suit.”

What measures are you taking to reduce your carbon footprint?

“Like all of the CRI accredited companies, Icetrek buys carbon credits to offset our emissions. All flights taken by me, my guides or my clients to Antarctica and the Arctic are offset as well as standard business travel such as international and domestic flights, car hire and accommodation. In our office we not only use recycled paper but also make sure paper is used both sides before shredding and placed in a collected recycling bin. We use rechargeable batteries for devices and recycle any other disposable items such as ink cartridges. All our lighting is halogen or fluorescent and we have just purchased a small diesel car with an average of less than 7 litres per 100km.

We are looking into green power options in Tasmania. My expeditions have always been very green, particularly now that we offset our

polar flights. We use solar panels for our power needs and often speed our travel by using kites to harness the wind. Icetrek also manufactures polar expeditioning products such as Flexi ski bindings. Every component of the Flexi - polyethylene base plate, aluminium side-walls, nylon webbing, acetal buckles and fasteners - is offset.” How are you promoting your carbon neutrality?

“We display the NoCO2 and Carbon Neutral Product logos throughout the Icetrek website and they are an integral part of our email signatures. The logos are also displayed on the brochures we develop to promote our products. “

What were some reactions from your customers, friends and business partners to your becoming a carbon neutral business?

“There is still some scepticism about the validity of becoming carbon neutral but I think this is waning. Mostly, people are impressed by the commitment we’ve made to becoming green. Icetrek operates in environments that are suffering catastrophically at the hands of climate change. Others in this

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industry agree something must be done to stop it but I see few making the commitment to actually do something. I’m proud that Icetrek is a pioneering company in this area.”

How do you see Icetrek’s future as a carbon neutral business?

“I believe that we will have a commercial advantage over our competitors in the northern hemisphere because of our green status. Carbon neutral products will be sought more and more by carbon conscious consumers and it’s advantageous to be at the forefront of that. But at the end of the day we are not doing it because it will help our business, we are doing it because it helps the planet. It would be totally ironic if we were to introduce people to the environments most affected by climate change without working positively towards offsetting the carbon used to get there.”

For more information about Icetrek Expeditions, please visit www.icetrek.com.au

GARNAUT’S DRAFT REPORT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Last week, Professor Ross Garnaut released his draft report on climate change and its impacts on the Australian economy. The report provides details of the proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which is due to be implemented in 2010.

The report concluded that Australia has much to lose – because it is so dry, it will be hit worse by climate change than other developing countries; and it will most likely see the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef. The situation requires a global agreement, including China - but it will happen only if rich countries lead the way. Australia has to be part of that.

Some main findings of the report are:

• By 2050, unmitigated climate change would mean major declines in agricultural production across much of Australia, including a 50 per cent reduction in irrigated

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Upcoming EventRETAIL EXPO12-14 AUGUST 2008

Internationally and locally retail sales are on the rise. But consumers are increasingly demanding a superior shopping experience - at Retail Expo you’ll find all the products and services you need to create an efficient, profitable, customer-centric store. The event will cover products and services in technology, shopfitting, security, signage, business services and green design.

The Carbon Reduction Institute will be exhibiting at the expo and our MD Rob Cawthorne will be speaking on the topic “Turning the Climate Challenge into Business Opportunity: Explore Becoming Carbon Neutral, the use of Carbon Credits and Green Product Labelling”. You’ll find us at Stand F42 between Business Services and Green Design. Don’t miss out on this unique chance to meet us and discuss the options for your business!

NoCO2 and LowCO2 businesses in the retail sector have the option of displaying their product on our stand at the expo. Any interested

agriculture in the Murray-Darling Basin. Garnaut’s solution for this is to reduce greenhouse gas levels by 90% by mid-century.

• By 2100, irrigated agriculture in the Murray Darling Basin would decline by 92 per cent.

• Early economic modelling results of readily measurable unmitigated climate change for middle of the road outcomes on temperatures and decline in rainfall indicate that climate change would wipe off around 4.8 per cent of Australia’s projected GDP, around 5.4 per cent of projected household consumption, and 7.8 per cent from real wages by 2100 (see .

• Business must help tackle climate change by reducing emissions (see http://business.theage.com.au/business-must-tackle-climate-change-20080706-32k1.html)

• The cheapest way to tackle climate change is to set up an emissions trading system quickly, and on the widest possible front - including petrol. Excluding petrol, by definition, will cost us even more in some other area.

The final Garnaut report will be released in September.

For more information, or to read the full report, please visit http://www.garnautreview.org.au/domino/Web_Notes/Garnaut/garnautweb.nsf

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businesses should contact Nike at [email protected]

For more information please visit www.retailexpo.com.auor contact us on 02 9439 9990.

We look forward to seeing you there!

NEW CUSTOMERS

D&M RESEARCH IS CARBON NEUTRAL

D&M Research D&M Research is a boutique, service focussed, market research agency, with a big agency capability. Established in 1994, we don’t have fluffy mission and vision statements, just our laser focused purpose – “We Create Knowledge”. We promise knowledge exchange, knowledge traction, and knowledge action - that means you gain our insights, and we make sure our findings are applied to your situation to result in real action.

D&M Research is a truly carbon neutral business. The Carbon Reduction Institute congratulates D&M Research for taking this important step towards a more sustainable future!

HIGHVIEW ACCOUNTINGIS CARBON NEUTRAL

Highview Accounting Services specialise in providing highly personalised, expert audit, accounting, tax and advisory services. At Highview, our clients have the unique opportunity to experience first-class friendly services. With more than 18 years experience, our team of professionals is committed to helping you achieve your business and personal financial goals – we are here to help you grow.

At Highview Accounting, we have undertaken numerous measures to lower our business carbon footprint:

•Highview staff have all become more educated in the area

•We have switched to green electricity

•Highview have changed the to Carbon Neutral Printing and Shredding Service providers

•All staff have come up with ways to reduce paper and electricity usage

In the future we are organizing quotes for new, more efficient lighting. Our partners are investigating improving the cars they

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drive and have already become active in the community with the intention of becoming a case study for the local area.

Highview Accounting is a carbon neutral business!

GREENSKIN MEDIA IS CARBON NEUTRAL

Greenskin Media is the first of its kind in Tasmania – by intention and by design. We offer an environmentally responsible alternative to website and graphic design production as well as website hosting. And our creative, contemporary approach to design is fresh and new. Greenskin Media specialises in cost effective, stylish and easy to use websites for small to medium businesses.

We can create a website that uses far less energy than conventional technology, with easy, consistent access across all platforms and utilising all the latest user-friendly techniques without sacrificing style and speed – while helping to reduce your carbon footprint on the environment. Furthermore, our name says it all – our business is officially green.

Greenskin Media became NoCO2 certified in June 2008.

BOX N’ GO IS CARBON NEUTRAL

Box N’ Go provide revolutionary storage and moving solutions. Box N’ Go’s portable storage rooms, constructed from wood sourced from sustainable forests, provide a stable, breathable and chemical free environment for your goods.

Just order the number of Box N’ Go rooms you think you might need. They are then delivered straight to your house, where you can comfortably load them – without any deadlines. Your goods are then stored in a health, dry environment as long as needed – and delivered straight to your house for you to unpack at your own time.

Box N’ Go is the clever alternative to traditional moving or self storage. Visit www.boxngo.com.au to find out more!

THE LITTLE DOG BOOKSHOP IS CARBON NEUTRAL

The Little Dog Bookshop is a small, independent bookshop in Yass,

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NSW. It was established by its owner, Kate MacMaster in August 2007, and sells a range of new books and audio books available on the market. The LDB prides itself on being able to provide any book to the Yass community and surrounds – if it is not on the shelf, the LDB can have it available in the shop, in a moment of time.

The Little Dog Bookshop aims to satisfy its customers through providing great books for everyone - for customers to be able to find a book in which they become immersed, inspired, sad, amazed, fulfilled or motivated. Or whatever their reason for reading is.

Little Dog Bookshop has certified as a NoCO2 business and now sell carbon neutral books!

We congratulate Little Dog Bookshop for taking this important step for a sustainable future.

CO2NEUTRALCONFERENCING.COMIS CARBON NEUTRAL

CO2NeutralConferencing.com is one of the world’s first carbon neutral providers of telephone, web, video and event conferencing.

Unlike other conferencing c o m p a n i e s , CO2NeutralConferencing.com

takes into account the supply chain of the services they provide and its impact on their own footprint. CO2NeutralConferencing.com ensure that their carbon footprint is kept to an absolute minimum, while also encouraging suppliers to continuously improve their footprint and buy the best carbon credits in the industry.

By following these procedures, and by undergoing third-party auditing by the Carbon Reduction Institute, CO2NeutralConferencing.com have become a 100% carbon neutral, NoCO2 certified business. That makes CO2NeutralConferencing.com one of the world’s premium carbon neutral conference service provider.

The Carbon Reduction Institute, congratulates CO2-NeutralConferencing.com for taking this important step towards a sustainable future!

TIPS FOR SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE

In line with our Energy Walk-Around Guide, this month’s tips are all about saving energy. And since it’s the height of winter, our tips focus on smart ways to keep your house warm! Read more below:

HEATING:

•Make sure walls are well insulated and cracks on doors and windows are sealed.

•Use gas heaters rather than

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electric heaters.

•Make sure that your heaters are efficient and that all controls are set correctly.

•Avoid heat loss by making sure that hot water pipes are well insulated.

•Take a hot water bottle to bed rather than heating your whole bedroom before going to sleep.

•Wear an extra layer of clothing and wrap yourself in a woolen blanket when you’re on the sofa watching TV.

LIGHTING:

•Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

•If someone tends to forget, install motion sensors to do the work for you.•Install energy efficient lights at your house.

APPLIANCES:

•Don’t just put your computer to sleep when you leave, turn it off completely.

•Any appliances not in use should be turned off at the powerpoint.

•When buying new equipment, make sure it has a high Energy Star Rating.

FEEDBACK

Comments, pictures, stories to share? We’d love to hear from you. Please provide feedback to [email protected]

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newsletter - noco22009.noco2.com.au/templates/cri/media/cri-newsletter... · 2014-09-29 · guide...

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