Cultivate eco-efficiency!

Did you know there are online tools that can help you save water, reduce energy bills, make greener purchases and reduce your overall ecological footprint?

Industry Canada's Eco-efficiency Tools for Business page can help you find interactive software that can help you shift your business toward sustainability.

Adopting environmentally-friendly practices can help you:

• Establish an environmentally responsible brand image
• Increase your competitive advantage
• Reduce your ecological footprint
• Comply with regulations
• Reduce costs

You can become more eco-efficient by:

• Maximizing energy efficiency
• Reducing material use
• Adopting green logistics practices
• Purchasing from environmentally responsible suppliers
• Using reusable or recyclable packaging

Here are a few examples of online tools that can help you green your business:

ENERGY STAR's Simple Savings Calculator lets you compare the costs of purchasing conventional versus energy-efficient products. You can even calculate potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions!

Industry Canada's Three Steps to Eco-efficiency (Link no longer valid) tool can help you develop a customized program that assesses your current eco-efficiency, helps you plan for the future, and provides a cost-benefit analysis that helps you make the most of your money.

Metro Vancouver's SmartSteps program offers guidance on conducting a water audit, creating a sustainable supply chain plan, and calculating the return on investment of your green activities. It also offers smart strategies that identify simple steps that will make a big difference.

These are just a few of the easy-to-use tools available on Eco-efficiency Tools for Business, so check it out and learn how you can save money while making a difference.

To learn more about the benefits of going green, visit our Environment and Business section.