All parts of the RTPI are involved in delivering its Planning to live with climate change initiative. The RTPI has set out Seven Commitments on Climate Change (pdf, 2.2 mb).

What is the Network doing? 

As an independent consultant running your own business, you have control over how it operates. You can then decide to run your business in a green, environmentally friendly way and thus contribute towards the wider issues around climate change and sustainability. Perhaps you could:

• choose a green energy supplier
• work from home - no need to travel to the office every day
• use recycled furniture to set up your office
• use recycled paper and recycle/refill printer cartridges

LASA has come up with these Green ICT - 5 quick and easy steps

1. Energy saving: save on your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint by turning computers off at nights and weekends at the socket.
2. Eco purchasing: check out EU Energy Star ratings for IT equipment and Greenpeace rankings
3. Upgrade: consider upgrading older computers with more RAM or a new hard drive before buying new
4. Waste and disposal: if you must dispose of old equipment check the ICT Knowledgebase for advice on how to do this within the WEEE guidelines
5. Recycle: find a local company to recycle your waste paper (and other recyclables)

LASA's Knowledgebase also has this article on Green computing - Are your computers costing the earth? which covers purchasing a computer, maintaining an old one, recycling (and using recycled computers) and disposing of equipment. 

Out-law.com (from Pinsent Masons) has an article on the Benefits of virtualisation and other green computing initiatives which suggests that Green IT within organisations has to be an initiative that results in positive bottom line impact or it is doomed to failure as a strategy, and that consolidation and virtualisation can lessen the impact on the environment and improve profitability.

How to calculate your own and your organisation's carbon footprint is a basic how-to approach to calculate your personal and organisational carbon footprint.

The Carbon Trust has a special information and guidance section for small businesses on its website and an online video tool offering advice on how small firms can cut up to a fifth off their energy bills.

Envirowise offers free, independent support to businesses helping them to become more resource efficient and save money.

We’re not important to climate change, say small firms ICN members can read this article (part of the weekly Small Business Newsfeed) which examines why some small businesses feel this way - and what they can do to tackle climate change. 

Green ICT Handbook - a guide to green ICT (pdf, 500 kb) This Global Action Plan handbook will explain how to curb your ICT department’s carbon emissions and harness the positive power of ICT in making your organisation more sustainable.

Weathering the storm - saving and making money in a changing climate: a practical guide for small businesses in the West Midlands (pdf, 357 kb) This guide has been produced for small and medium businesses (SMEs) in the West Midlands. It aims to help businesses understand how they could be affected by weather, including extreme events, and how they can improve your chances of a quick recovery.

A low-cost alternative to the traditional Carbon Trust Standard has been launched to allow more small firms to certify and promote their carbon savings.

I'd like to develop this page to include your ideas, links and tips. Please email suggestions to me. 

What else is the RTPI doing?

As well as the Seven commitments, and the "champions" initiative, you may be interested in the climate change information we have put together on these pages: RTPI Practice Signposts and RTPI Research Pages. 

Events

• Forthcoming RTPI events relating to climate change

Go back to the Network's homepage

Author:

Catherine Middleton

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

05-Dec-11

Categories:

 

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