Energy Saving News
Greenwashing in the Workplace
Recent research, conducted by the Lumison (a UK business ISP), has shown that less than
30 % of UK companies use energy efficient products, or carry out a carbon audit, which
evaluates ways in which the company could reduce carbon emissions.
The study shows that while 70% of UK employees are said to think that their company is
green for having a recycling bin right next to the photocopy machine, a very small
percentage of them actually know of the various disposals available to actively reduce a
company's impact on the environment (implementing energy efficient solutions for power
usage or air conditioning, for instance).
This could be the result of a phenomenon called 'greenwashing', which consists in making
public environmental gestures to cover up negative behavior.
Reputation seems to be more responsible for a company's green image than real life
actions!
Someone having worked in an office before is bound to acknowledge that energy wastage is
extravagant. Lights left on for no purpose, heating and air conditioning on full blast
even in empty meeting rooms, many fridges powering on with hardly anybody actually using
them...
All these energy 'leaks' cost business owners a great deal of money and contributes to an
excess consumption of the world's resources. As awareness campaigns are issued profusely,
the problem becomes motivational. Businesses put off renewing their equipment to
implement energy efficient solutions because it seems to be time consuming and costly.
Both of which are incorrect conclusions, which would merit in being dismissed.
Despite that most businesses world wide claim to make green issues a priority, it seems
to be the opposite in reality, according to the Lumison's study.
Thursday 26th November 2009
