The latest Synthesis Report by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that, “More than a century of burning fossil fuels as well as unequal and unsustainable energy and land use has led to global warming of 1.1C above pre-industrial levels.” The world is on track to reach 3.2C of warming unless we halve emissions by the end of this decade.
As with every sector, charities play a part in contributing to climate change. But there are things that we can do to help lower our carbon footprint and help the UK reach Net Zero by 2050. One of the ways we can do this is by investing in green tech.
What is green tech?
Green tech is technology that is considered to be environmentally friendly or sustainable. It refers to the production process and the supply chain and is designed to be kinder to the environment.
The ways your charity can use green tech
Change your lightbulbs
Switching to energy efficient lighting not only saves money, it also helps lower carbon dioxide emissions. Simply replacing your office light bulbs to LED lights or modern strip lights could help reduce carbon emissions.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, a home that replaces their bulbs with LED bulbs, could reduce their carbon emissions by up to 40kg a year – that’s the equivalent of driving 145 miles. If that’s just one home, imagine how much your office could reduce its carbon footprint by simply switching to energy efficient light bulbs.
Install light sensors
Having energy efficient lighting is one thing but if the lights are always left on, even when a room is not in use, that is hardly energy efficient. Install motion sensors so that lights automatically switch off in a minute or two if no one is in the room.
Choose your ‘cloud’ wisely
If your charity uses cloud-based technology, for example the hosting of your website, data storage solutions, video calling technology, and online databases, make sure to use a provider who is running their data centers on 100% renewable energy power.
Buy refurbished devices
Purchasing refurbished laptops, desktops and smartphones helps keep them from going to landfill. The more consumers purchase refurbished devices, the more it will help slow the manufacture of new ones. Opting to buy a refurbished device could save an average of 55.5 KG of CO2 and 100 liters of water per device, according to Green Gadgets.
Check your appliances
Your appliances, such as a kettle, fridge, dishwasher, microwave, or printers may have a sub-standard energy efficiency rating. This means that they are using more energy than is necessary. Purchase new appliances with a high energy efficiency rating (A to A***) to save on energy and on cost. Just don’t forget to recycle your old appliances.
Turn down the air conditioning and the heating
Adjust your thermostat setting to switch off when the office reaches an optimal temperature. In spring and summer an optimal temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius. According to the Carbon Trust, turning down your air conditioner by just one degree could reduce your annual energy bill by up to 8%.
The benefits of investing in green tech
Environmental impact
One of the biggest benefits of investing in, or switching to, green technology is the benefit to the environment. If your charity has a sustainability strategy, then investing in green tech will help to achieve your objectives.
Long-term savings
Switching to energy efficient light bulbs, investing in appliances with good energy ratings, purchasing refurbished IT equipment, turning down the air conditioner or heating, for example, will all contribute to cost savings – particularly in the long-term.
It’s good for your brand
According to a report by First Insight, 85% of consumers say that they have shifted their purchase behavior towards being more sustainable in the past five years. And, on average, more than a third are willing to pay more for sustainable products and services.
If consumers have this attitude towards brands, this must translate to charities too. Donors and supporters will want to see charities being more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Attracting staff
A global climate survey by six universities, including Bath University, found that 75% of the 10,000 respondents find the future frightening (72% of UK respondents) and more than half think that humanity is doomed.
This generation will want to work for organisations who take climate change seriously and who are actively playing their part in the race to Net Zero. Being open and transparent about your sustainability strategy and environmental practices, including investing in green tech, will help your organisation attract future talent.
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