Why?
Because it's responsible. It reduces emissions and waste, lessens our dependence on foreign energy sources, promotes our independence, safeguards against power outages and lowers our utility costs.
According to the National Restaurant Association, spending on utilities consumes approximately 2.5 to 3.4 percent of total restaurant sales. This cost can be reduced significantly by simply adopting several practices that promote conservation, reduce emissions and save money – all contributing to your bottom line.
Enjoying the benefits of a sustainable enterprise begins by asking the right questions.
Are you asking the right questions?
These include:
- How far did your ingredients travel to reach you?
- What energy sources were used to grow or produce the ingredients you are using?
- Transporting across longer miles may be more environmentally sound if production was from clean or renewable energy sources versus relatively local items that are produced from unsustainable energy sources.
- Is your restaurant’s equipment energy efficient or are you unnecessarily pouring money out the door?
- Is your building energy efficient or are you draining precious resources from your bottom line?
- Are you serving products that were harvested or produced by laborers paid a fair wage?
These are questions your customers and those in your supply chain are increasingly asking. In fact, the demand from your key stakeholders – customers, employees, suppliers and buyers, community and others – that you meet your environmental and social responsibilities (as well as meet the bottom line) are mounting by the day.
But sustainability – a greener organization – is a process, one that challenges business to generate greater efficiencies, reduce waste and expand the capacity to use renewable resources as new technologies and practices become available.
So what is sustainability and why is it important to you?
Sustainability is essentially a business strategy that helps businesses maximize opportunities, reduce costs, minimize risks and promote their brand.
A key piece of this strategy is environmental responsibility. Used as a tool, employing environmentally responsible practices help businesses achieve existing strategic goals more efficiently, quickly and cost effectively.
To learn more about energy audit and assessment services, and how to identify and implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation measures visit the U.S. Department of Energy website at:
For more information about the GFA’s Energy Task Force, initiatives and programs, please contact:
Chris Coan:
Gas South O: (770) 763-4657
F: (770) 763-4778
chris.coan@gas-south.com
www.gas-south.com
