courtesy of whitehouse.gov

In last night’s State of the Union, President Barack Obama emphasized several sustainability topics, including renewable energy and energy efficiency, job creation, and pending climate legislation. Nothing we haven’t heard of before, but we’re glad to hear these issues are on the President’s mind along with healthcare and the economy. Here are some key quotes we pulled from Fast Company:

• “From the first railroads to the Interstate Highway System, our nation has always been built to compete. There’s no reason Europe or China should have the fastest trains or the new factories that manufacture clean-energy products. Tomorrow, I’ll visit Tampa, Florida, where workers will soon break ground on a new high-speed railroad funded by the Recovery Act.”
• “These nations, they’re not standing still. These nations aren’t playing for second place. They’re putting more emphasis on math and science. They’re rebuilding their infrastructure. They’re making serious investments in clean energy, because they want those jobs. Well, I do not accept second place for the United States of America.”
• “Next, we need to encourage American innovation. Last year, we made the largest investment in basic research funding in history, an investment that could lead to the world’s cheapest solar cells or treatment that kills cancer cells but leaves healthy ones untouched. And no area is more ripe for such innovation than energy.”
• “But to create more of these clean-energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives, and that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country. It means making tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development.“
• “I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy. I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But–but here’s the thing. Even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future, because the nation that leads the clean-energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy, and America must be that nation.”

With a brand new decade just around the corner, why not make a new years resolution that will benefit the entire planet? This year, we’re encouraging our clients (and everyone else) to set the goal of carbon neutrality.

Going carbon neutral involves calculating, reducing, and then offsetting all emissions associated with a company’s activities, from business travel to office electrical consumption. There are may advantages to adding carbon neutrality goals to your company’s green initiatives, including:

• Cost savings from reduced energy consumption – Since electricity use constitutes the majority of emissions for many business, working toward carbon neutrality will inevitably lead to energy efficiency and reduction efforts.
• Positive publicity – Let’s face it, going green is hot right now. Your customers and employees will appreciate this effort to reduce your company’s climate impact.
• Preparation for future regulation - With the EPA’s recent crackdown on corporate emissions, not to mention looming cap-and-trade laws, it’s entirely possible that your business will need to calculate and reduce its carbon footprint in the near future. By creating a carbon inventory and taking steps to reduce emissions now, you won’t be caught off guard when new regulations come down the pipe.

Can a business realistically achieve zero emissions? It’s easier than you think, and there are a lot of businesses already doing it. Business for Social Responsibility lists a handful of carbon neutral businesses, including big names such as Nike, HSBC and NewsCorp.

If company-wide neutrality is out of reach, try thinking a little smaller. Many companies host carbon neutral events, offset emissions for specific items such as company travel, or offer carbon neutral products. However, simply offsetting one or two business functions and then crowning your entire company ‘carbon neutral’ is greenwashing, so be specific and transparent about any green claims your company makes.

We’ll be posting more hands-on advice for going carbon neutral in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we invite you to learn more about our greenhouse gas accounting and management services, contact us if you’d like to know more. Happy New Year!

Global Land Reserve is happy to announce the launch of our new website showcasing our sustainability consulting services. There are still a few kinks to work out, but we think our clients, friends and parters will appreciate our new and improved improved virtual storefront.

We invite you to have a look around and check back regularly, since we plan on adding more and more useful content in the coming months. One of the best ways to keep up with us is to subscribe to this blog, which we will update regularly with company news, useful green business resources, and lessons from the trenches of our growing sustainability consulting and management practice.