The biggest contribution to greenhouse gas pollution in the commercial sector comes from air-conditioning and lighting.

Renew magazine suggests the top 10 ways to help your business get the EcoEdge!

1. Lighting
2. Fridges
3. Hot water
4. Dish and glass washers
5. Heating and cooling
6. Gas appliances
7. Water
8 Waste
9. Transport
10. Greenpower

Download PDF: TOP TEN

Download: Cafes Go Green

Actions for Businesses

The Dept. of Environment and Heritage – Australian Greenhouse Office suggests a number of strategies for Implementing Energy Management in Business in their Greenhouse Challenge Plus initiative.

"Climate change will affect all of us and therefore it is to everyone's benefit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most measures to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions will save you money in the long term, increasing profitability. Some measures will even help to improve productivity and the marketability of your business. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be seen as an opportunity to provide your business with a strong business advantage."

• Gain support of senior management and staff

• Conduct an energy audit of your business.

• Gain a thorough understanding of your energy use.

• Identify opportunities to make energy and cost savings.

• Develop and implement an action plan to reduce energy consumption and the associated costs.

• Ensure that staff members are accountable for monitoring energy management actions.

• Record energy saving outcomes.

• Report achievements to all staff regularly.

The Office Ecological Footprint Calculator

Knowing the Ecological Footprint of your business activities can help you make decisions that save resources - both the planet's ecological resources and often your own financial resources through increases in operating efficiency.

The Office Ecological Footprint Calculator is a questionnaire which allows you to estimate how much land it takes to run and maintain your office.

The Ecological Footprint Calculator for Retail Tenants is an interactive tool to allow property managers and retail tenants to measure the Ecological Footprint of a store or shop. The tool builds on work done for office environments and provides a simple way for property owners and managers to simply engage tenants as to what the impact of their activities are.

View EPA Victoria's case studies to see how the Retail Calculator has been used in Victoria, and how its use and application have brought about environmental benefits and economic savings.