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Tackling water consumption as a core business issue | |
Picking up on the “scarcity” issue we describe in this month’s CSR expert view and recognising that most of Article 13’s clients are looking for practical ways to use CSR and innovation to improve their business performance, we wanted to highlight this short but sweet “tip sheet” from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA’s new “Watersense” programme uses the successful models deployed in the “Energy Star” programme to frame water as a critical resource, in much the same way that energy is now recognised as a critical resource. “Watersense” is the label that the EPA can use to certify products and services that meet water-efficiency specifications. Manufacturers wishing to gain “Watersense” certification for their products will need to apply the latest EPA guidance as a minimum. The ideas featured include systems issues such as making sure that someone in the organisation is responsible for co-ordinating, measuring and reporting on water use, and taking steps to make sure that your suppliers know that water is a critical issue for you. Suppliers of services like cleaning, laundry and landscaping will have a major impact on your water use. All your equipment needs to be assessed. Is water used in an open loop from supply to drain and are opportunities to close the loop and recycle water being missed? It may sound obvious, but taking the time to find and fix leaks makes a huge difference to water consumption! The full information sheet can be downloaded from “Using Water Efficiently: Ideas for Commercial Businesses”. Related articles: | |
