by Amelia Tieri, Worcester Green Corps Coordinator

As we enter 2025, the world is just five years away from the Paris Agreement’s critical target of reducing emissions by 50%-52%. To meet this goal, it is important to prioritize sustainability not only at home–but in the workplace as well. Businesses have a unique opportunity to lead this charge in reducing emissions by embracing sustainable practices that benefit the environment while also driving long-term growth and profitability.

In 2022, the United States accounted for 13% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with the transportation, electric power, industry, and building sectors being the largest contributors. The transportation sector led the way at 29% of greenhouse gas emissions, followed by electric power generation (including fossil fuel combustion) which accounted for 25% of emissions. The industrial sector accounted for 23% of emissions, while buildings–both commercial and residential–accounted for 13% of emissions.

It is important for both large corporations and local businesses to take responsibility for reducing these emissions within their own operations. By making sustainable investments, businesses can contribute to efforts to combat climate change while also reducing their long-term risk and improving efficiency. As the world becomes more climate-conscious, businesses that act now will be better equipped to adapt to the changing landscape and thrive in a sustainable economy.
While making the initial switch may be more expensive, switching to energy-efficient practices can save businesses a lot of money in the long-run. For example, switching to LED lighting can reduce energy bills by 75% and investing in energy-efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems can cut costs by 20%-40%. Additionally, energy-efficient systems tend to need less maintenance which makes them more reliable, leading to fewer break-downs and disruptions.

Switching to energy-efficient systems and sustainable practices can also improve a company’s brand image. As climate change becomes a more and more pressing concern, consumers are prioritizing sustainability when making purchasing decisions. According to a survey by PwC, 85% of consumers said they experienced negative effects caused by climate change, affecting their purchasing decisions, and expressed that they would be willing to pay 9.7% more for products that were sustainably produced. This increasing preference presents an opportunity for businesses to take their products into the future while still maintaining their customer base.

Implementing sustainable practices is in the best interest of both companies and the environments that they are in. Investing in energy efficient systems, establishing proper waste and recycling programs, and setting company-wide sustainability goals are all great methods for shrinking a business’s carbon footprint. Programs like the Mass Save HEAT loan, Main Streets Energy Effi-ciency, and the Green Worcester ElectriCITY Municipal Aggregation Program can provide valuable incentives to help make these switches more attainable. To learn more about how your business can start making sustainable changes, visit green.worcesterma.gov/call-to-action. It is integral for businesses to start investing in sustainable practices today so that they can position themselves as leaders in the transition to a greener economy tomorrow.

Sources:

• Preliminary US Greenhouse Gas Estimates for 2024 – Rhodium Group
• Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions | US EPA
• Consumers willing to pay 9.7% sustainability premium, even as cost-of-living and inflationary concerns weigh: PwC 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey | PwC
• 8 Clever Ways Businesses Can Save Million Of Dollars