A kick start to your sustainability projects
No doubt about it: Investing in energy-efficiency improvements helps a business reduce operating costs. In fact, sustainability initiatives can deliver more than bottom-line savings—they often form an essential, competitive component of an organization’s growth strategy.
Sustainability growth
Record numbers of facilities—from universities and hospitals to factories and office buildings—continue to undergo a transition to more energy-efficient buildings. What are the top three motivating forces? Superior technologies, substantial incentives, and return on investment.
Government incentives: where, what, and why?
There’s no shortage of government incentives and policies to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint. However, knowing which ones align with your facility's footprint and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals can be a tedious task. Interactive and easy to use, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website (dsireusa.org) is a comprehensive and reliable source.
Far-reaching return on investment
The general rule is obvious: Increased efficiency = reduced utility bills = better bottom line. But there’s another part of the equation you may be overlooking—the increasing value linked to the social and environmental drivers of corporate sustainability efforts.
Below is a snapshot of industry trends, including savings you may realize with effective sustainability plans and practices.
Seven steps to get started
- Start with strong alliances
Find and vet a provider of funding options—an equipment financing professional with Clean Energy expertise, a proven track record in lease structuring, and a clear understanding of your business. Take a similar approach to qualifying your choice of engineering firms and equipment vendors. Working together, they can help identify and implement the most optimal and profitable sustainability strategies.
- Consider business goals and strategy
The project and its financing should align with your business objectives.
- Start with a pilot program
For instance, if you plan to replace all your fluorescent lighting with LEDs, implement the idea initially on a small scale, perhaps on just one floor of a building. Measure and track outcomes to ensure future large-scale success.
- Keep on metering
Throughout every phase of a sustainability project, diligent metering and tracking can precisely evaluate a project’s energy-use reduction and cost savings—and serve as a valuable CSR reporting tool, too.
- Communicate your results
Share your metering results with your financing professional. He or she can incorporate your energy savings into a lending strategy. Its goal: Keep your annual project payments lower than your annual utility savings.
- Accelerate return on investment
Grants, rebates, and tax incentives can expedite return on investment for sustainability initiatives and help cut capital expenses, too.
- Secure your funding
Once the project gets approval, look to your financing professional to secure the funding and incentives best suited to your business. Congratulations! You’re on your way to lower utility costs and a sustainable future.
According to a recent study, CSR is more than a capitalist having a heart; it creates significant value, increases innovation, and benefits the bottom line. It’s good for business.5
– Forbes Business Council
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Key Equipment Finance® brings seasoned experience plus established industry relationships you can trust. Visit keyequipmentfinance.com or contact your Key Equipment Finance Officer.