Green your Business & $ave

FACT: Greening your business is not only good for the environment, but can save you money and give your business a competitive edge

FACT: Environmentally friendly businesses are those that make a conscious decision to choose sustainable practices. In other words, they behave in a way that, while meeting the needs of the business, doesn’t compromise the environment.

Examples of sustainable practices range from making a commitment to reduce waste and energy usage, through to using recycled materials, avoiding the use of chemicals, or actively promoting environmentally sustainable behaviour through your business.

The approach you take to turning your business green is up to you. A lot of information and a range of support programs is available to businesses wishing to improve the sustainability of their business and your Council is here to assist.

What is Whitehorse doing for Business and the Environment?

In 2008, Council adopted its Sustainability Strategy – Our EcoVision 2008-2013 as the comprehensive and integrated approach to becoming more sustainable across all of Council operations.
Download the Sustainability Strategy – Our EcoVision 2008-2013.
The EcoVision Strategy focuses on a triple bottom line approach, where the sustainability of our economy, our community and our environment through targets and actions.  Further to the Strategy, Council has developed further Action Plans to support these goals.  These include:
• Energy Action Plan 2009-2014 (currently in revision)
• Water Action Plan 2008-2013
• Waste Management Plan (available late 2010)
• Climate Change Adaptation Plan (available mid 2010)

Council is continually committed to understanding the impacts of climate change, prolonged drought and water security issues and potential effects on the community.  With this, to meet the set reduction targets Council now needs the support the participation of the local community and businesses to address these global issues at a local level.

Council will continue to build on the achievements of the EcoVision Strategy by implementing further improvements to services and infrastructure and offering more community and business programs, incentives and partnerships with a sustainable basis as outlined in Council’s Sustainability Strategy 2008-2013: Our EcoVision.

The Strategy outlines ten key priorities areas over the next five years these include:
• To empower Whitehorse businesses to improve the environmental sustainability of their operations and services; and
• To engage the community and local business to increase participation in sustainable activities through strategic partnerships, incentives and projects that helps to reduce energy and water consumption by 20% by 2012.

Examples of business-oriented actions Whitehorse has taken to date:
• EcoBusiness – Sustainable Business Program (27 Whitehorse Businesses have participated to date)
• Sustainable Business Award Category as part of the annual Whitehorse Sustainability Awards
• Information provided for businesses during Business Week, Sustainable Living Week and Community Workshops
• Solar incentives for ratepayers including home businesses
• Water Tank rebates (residential scale water tanks) for small businesses, including home businesses
• Community GreenPower Program(discontinued March 2010)
• Purchasing specifications and preferences that favour the purchase of sustainable products, materials and services
• Home composting program (Home based businesses only)

Whitehorse businesses are welcome to participate in any of the Council programs and initiatives.