Friday, November 18, 2005
Balancing Nature with Business
An article in the Princeton Business Journal highlights efforts by various companies to balance environmental goals with economic goals. One of the methods outlined in the article is the use of LEED standards. There is a good description of the program as well as a restatement of the fact that a LEED certified building does not need to cost more than a standard building. This is also an article that finally recognizes the fact that the contractor should be on-board during the design process, and not after it is all done. The buildings typically have better lighting, much lower energy costs, better worker health and faster construction periods.It then describes efforts by companies to reduce energy costs in their industrial sector, to install renewable energy as applicable, and to buy renewable power to round out their energy requirements.
Many companies local to Princeton are getting involved, such as PNC Bank, Johnson & Johnson, Whole Foods Markets, along with many smaller companies. Additionally, Sustainable Princeton, Princeton Environmental Commission's offshoot, is currently developing educational and informational materials about green business practices and resources and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Office of Clean Energy offers a number of incentive and rebate programs to help businesses go green.