Terra Infirma: Bringing Sustainability to Life

Do you want to be Lean, Mean & Green?

2008-07-23T08:32:00.003Z

We've had so much interest in our new Lean, Mean & Green programme, we've produced a one page A4 flyer to give you an opportunity to judge whether it is for you.

The Lean, Mean & Green Flyer can be seen here.

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Weekly Tip #23: Look around (and steal other people's ideas!)

2008-07-21T09:44:00.002Z

This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book*:

When looking for innovative environmental solutions, look at how businesses in completely different sectors use technology. You may find an approach that no-one has ever applied to your line of business. Most 'innovation' is from this kind of cross-fertilisation - James Dyson got the idea of putting a cyclone in a vacuum cleaner from the air purification system in a saw mill.

Bits & Pieces

2008-07-18T06:10:00.004Z

There's all sorts of news at Terra Infirma...

1. We've set up the 'Green Business Club' on the business networking site Ecademy for those who see environmental performance as a competitive advantage.

2. The long trailed e-book "The Green Business Bible" is in the very last stages of completeness (cover design, final proofing) and will be launched by the end of the month. Low Carbon Agenda subscribers will be eligible for a substantial discount, so make sure you are signed up - it's free and officially "awesome".

3. We're in negotiation with a number of very prestigious organisations for new 'Lean, Mean & Green' programmes - the effective way of improving your environmental performance.

4. We're getting a make-over in the design and branding front - although it'll be a couple of months before you see the results.

And, it's the start of the holiday period, so if you're off somewhere nice, have a good'un!

Surely Harvard Can Do Better Than This?

2008-07-16T07:00:00.003Z

There's no such thing as an environmental expert, no matter what the media (or my CV...) says. The topic is too broad, deep and fast evolving for one person to know everything there is to know. But I keep ahead of the game by gaining experience on the ground, learning from others at events and reading periodicals and books.

A month or so ago I picked up the "Harvard Business Review On Green Business Strategy" and I've finally got around to reading it. Extracted from the HBR journal and published in 2007, I thought this would give me an insight into the latest business school thinking... how wrong I was. Only two articles of the eight were published after 2000 and one of these is a rather bland piece on green building.

OK, so there was a revolution in Green Business thinking in 1996-1999, but surely one of the most prestigious journals on business could come up with eight recent provocative or insightful pieces on this massive business challenge?

I'm still reading it as a bit of revision never hurt anyone, but I am distinctly underwhelmed.

Weekly Tip #22: How many of your staff know how a thermostat works?

2008-07-14T07:00:00.000Z

This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book*:

If you're reading this, you probably know that a room thermostat sets the target temperature for a room and that turning it up doesn't heat the room any quicker. But do your staff know this? I bet they don't - teach 'em!

Take a fresh look at what you do

2008-07-11T07:00:00.000Z

I live in a delightful river valley, 20 minutes walk from the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. A couple of times a week, I pull on my trainers and run 2.5 miles up the river through the famous Jesmond Dene and 2.5 miles back again in a big long loop. The paths undulate up and down the sides of the river gorge and over the years I've learnt the pattern of the climbs and downhills and adjust my running to suit well before each change.

Once in a blue moon, I run my route the other way - same path, different direction. It never fails to surprise me, even shock me, how different the valley looks. Small features become huge rocky outcrops and vice versa, and whole new routes and vista open up. These were invisible when plodding the same routine week after week. The other shock is how much more uncomfortable the run is - the climbs come in a different rhythm and the downhills often steeper, putting pressure on the old quad muscles.

Its the same in most businesses - waste occurs but it is the norm, people either don't see it or don't want to to rock the boat, but would rather get on with their routine (the 'day job'). Change is uncomfortable, but essential to survive, and you have to get out of your comfort zone to see it. So once in a while, get out of the routine, be disruptive, ask people what they think and, most importantly, try to look at your business with fresh eyes.

The unrecognised recycling sector

2008-07-09T09:32:00.005Z

On Monday I gave a seminar on carbon footprinting and carbon management (using the Terra Infirma brainstorming tool) at the Association of Charity Shops Annual Conference in Keele. I learnt a lot, as I always do in this trade (I've worked with everyone from multi-national pharmaceutical companies through to a crazy golf course - you pick up all sorts of weird factoids). The sector is a huge, professionally run, and very competitive retail operation, a huge chunk of the reuse industry and a huge source of materials for recyclers. This was not lost on the three recycling companies who sponsored the event.

The seminar went to plan and was well received - despite some shock when we spent half the time actually doing some work. Solutions we generated included checking tyre pressure of vehicles, better use of steamers, buying translucent kettles and even screwing down the thermostat dials. The big contentious issue is open/closed door. As with all shops, open door = more sales but massive energy loss. We didn't resolve this one, but if anyone can think of a solution, post it in the comments.

Weekly Tip #21: Use the Terra Infirma Brainstorming Tool

2008-07-07T06:00:00.000Z

This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book*:

If you want to do effective brainstorming, then use the Terra Infirma Brainstorming Tool. You can see it in the latest edition of the Low Carbon Agenda along with instructions. It is set up for Carbon Emissions, but substitute 'Waste' or a more specific problem eg 'Product Loss in Goods Out' and it's hot to trot for any environmental issue. You can also use it for other applications, even frying an egg.

* It really is very nearly ready. Honest!

Heath Robinson would love to be an energy auditor

2008-07-04T07:07:00.007Z

Outside my office window, a team of builders is working on an eco-house. They are running a petrol generator to produce power for an electric cement mixer. That little system is converting chemical energy into rotary energy into electrical energy into rotary energy. That's at least two conversions (and losses) that don't need to be there.

Years ago I walked into a meeting room where the radiator and air-conditioning unit (installed one above the other) were blazing away - one producing hot air from hot water from gas (and electricity to pump it) and the other trying to cancel that out with cool air from electricity from gas/coal/nuclear. I switched both off and the temperature was just fine.

I've been in food companies where the cool rooms were next to the ovens. I've seen many examples of air compressors sucking their own heat into their 'cool' air intake. Stories abound of air conditioning intakes being downwind of hot air vents. The list goes on...

A good time to go green

2008-07-02T12:26:00.004Z

Things have settled down here a little at Terra Infirma Towers after the most busy (and it has to be said lucrative) month in our history. I've said before that with companies feeling the pinch from falling orders and soaring oil prices, this is not a bad time to be offering cost-cutting services. The great thing about cutting material resource use, as opposed to human resources (hate that term), is that it doesn't cut your capacity to deliver products and/or services so as the economy recovers you're not floundering behind.

Of course companies can go beyond simply reducing environmental costs and start exploiting environmental business opportunities. Now you might think that this is a risky time to do so, but both the Guardian and the Times are reporting a surge in green investment and I hear the same from contacts in the banking industry.

Just don't think you can stick a green label on a duff product and expect it to succeed. Plenty have tried and failed. And I keep meeting more of them.

Weekly Tip #20: with waste, start at the end

2008-06-30T14:30:00.001Z

This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book:

When carrying out a waste minimisation exercise, focus your attention on the end of the process. This is where your product has most added value - I've seen finished high-value products ranging from furniture through lubricants to pharmaceuticals destroyed after a lot of time and money has been invested in making them, and before they can be sold to customers to realise that value. Packing machines and fork lift drivers are the main culprits...

Big Business & Carbon Offsets

2008-06-27T09:06:00.003Z

Interesting views on Carbon Offsetting from some big corporate players at yesterday's Low Carbon Innovation Exchange. At a panel discussion with the UK CSR/environmental managers of HBOS, Harper Collins, McDonalds and IBM, the first two found carbon offsetting a useful tool as it added a stronger economic driver to cut carbon (opponents of offsetting accuse the concept of allowing organisations to 'buy forgiveness' for their 'carbon sins').

On the other hand, McDonalds thought that people would deride them for offsetting as a gimmick and IBM decided the money would be better invested in internal low carbon projects.

Quote of the day was from Ashley Lodge of Harper Collins. One of his colleagues advised him to make the low carbon agenda "more stilettos than sandals." Damn right.

Cultural conservation vs energy conservation

2008-06-25T18:46:00.003Z

I've recently been working on the eco-renovation of two buildings in a conservation area, one of them listed. This has been a real challenge - historical buildings like these two are designed to allow the free flow of air (and with it heat energy) through the building fabric. Alter this and at best you will get condensation problems and at worst the building fabric will rot. The only way to do it effectively is external insulation and vapour protection, but this will change the appearance of the building and you can't do that in a conservation area.

This gets even worse with the listed building. All windows have to be preserved where possible, and if replaced, then replaced like for like. You can now get double glazing with the same bead size as old single glazed windows, but this is still verboten due to the different depth of each unit which you will notice if you look carefully. Secondary glazing can be put in, but you can't draught proof the outer pane or you will probably trap moisture between the two with fatal results.

Having struggled with these constraints for the last couple of months, I am now of the opinion we really need to think again. There must be a better balance between preserving our heritage and making buildings suitable for the 21st century.

If you think this is a minor issue, then just think - 5% of existing buildings are listed or have some form of conservation protection. As these are the least likely to be demolished due to that protection, they're also the most likely to survive into the next century.

FREEBIES!

2008-06-23T14:15:00.002Z

I've got two free tickets for my Low Carbon Business Seminar on Thursday this week in Olympia, London. First come, first served. Please e-mail me rather than registering for the event or you will be charged full whack. If you do take one, I insist that you show up and take part!

Weekly Tip #19: Buy holes, not drills

2008-06-23T11:00:00.000Z

This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book:

Slightly obscure title, but it refers to the fact that when you buy a drill, what you are actually after is the holes it will produce, not the drill itself.

So, for example, instead of buying solvent, you can buy solvent services: provision, monitoring and disposal/recycling. The environmental difference is that the provider and you have the same interest: more service, less material, less waste, compared to the straight 'buy a product' scenario where the more you waste, the more profit they get. You can do this with anything from transport to carpets.

The technical term for this is a 'product service system'.

Brent Crude Prices

2008-06-18T09:35:00.004Z

Last night I was preparing slides for the Low Carbon Innovation seminar next week. On the 'business case' session, I got data from the FT website for the price increase of a barrel of brent crude oil over the last 12 months. The resulting graph was so shocking I thought I'd share it here.

Never mind legislation as a driver - our current economy is built on cheap energy but the new economy will need to survive on expensive energy. How will you make the leap?

Weekly Tip #18: Waste Not, Hand Out Nowt

2008-06-16T08:22:00.004Z

This is the latest of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book:

Use overhead projectors and powerpoint at meetings to present data rather than handouts. Make the presentations available on-line instead using an intranet or similar.

Another tip next Monday.

Still room at the seminar...

2008-06-13T13:29:00.002Z

We still have space left at the "Profiting in the Low Carbon Economy" seminar in London on 26 June. Click here for more details and to register.

Sometimes its the boring stuff that counts...

2008-06-13T13:21:00.003Z

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has been suggesting we lose the fascination with green gadgets in buildings and concentrate on the much less glamorous topic of insulation.

I couldn't agree more. It is relatively easy to talk to a developer about fancy microrenewables, but they start switching off when you explain that they've got to get the fabric of the building right first. Just because it's out of sight, doesn't mean it's important. With Energy Performance Certificates being introduced in the UK, I don't think this situation will last long - insulation will, like Cinderella, finally get a chance to be the belle of the ball.

The Dichotomy of the Green Consumer

2008-06-12T08:07:00.003Z

I was at a climate change conference last week, where one of the few diamonds in the dross was a presentation by IPSOS MORI on their research into consumer attitudes on climate change and low carbon lifestyles. One pair of questions really summed up the dichotomy that we have to face in the green economy. The research hasn't been published yet and I didn't scribble the statistics down fast enough on the day, but here's the gist of it:

Q. "Would you buy a solar panel for your house, no matter what they cost?"
A. Yeah, sure!

Q. "Would you pay £5000 to get a solar panel put on your house?"
A. HOW MUCH???!!! (much swearing under breath)

I think this demonstrates that while green markets are expanding fast, for most is from a very small base. While the mainstream may think they are green, they're not going to queue outside the bank to get a loan to invest in the lifestyle. Only in markets where there is a clear benefit (or perceived benefit) to the consumer do green products out perform the traditional, eg A/A+ rated white goods (money saving and kudos - who wants a C rated anything?) and organic baby food (we don't like the thought of feeding crap to our kids).

So if you're working on a green product or service don't forget that quality and price will be just as important as green credentials.

Happy Birthday to The Terra Infirma Blog!

2008-06-09T08:55:00.003Z

The first substantive post on this blog (on Apple and its environmental performance) was posted 9 June 07, which means we are one year old today!

Thank you to all our many readers over that time, and in particular to those who have posted comments. I hope you have gained value from the tips, news and articles. If there any topics that you find particularly perplexing, let me know and I'll try my best to post something erudite and thought provoking.

To the next year!

Gareth

Weekly Tip #17: Working from Home

2008-06-09T08:28:00.003Z

This is one of a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book:

Many businesses are too scared to let their staff work out of sight, but working from home is eco-friendly. The Department for Transport estimates that teleworkers working at home reduce their mileage between 48-77% on teleworking days and 11 to 19% overall. Flexible working allows you to cut office space, which cuts heating, cooling and lighting costs and associated emissions.

I wrote a longer article on this for Management Issues.

Another tip next Monday!

New Environmental Award Launched

2008-06-05T11:29:00.004Z

My friends at the Environmental Academy have just launched their new "Enviro Excellence" award to provide businesses with a framework for improving their environmental management.

Participants must provide evidence that they have complied with a set of compulsory and optional criteria to progress through the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards - a bit like the Duke of Edinburgh award if you did that at school. A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) version is in the pipeline.

I write this with a small amount of pride as Terra Infirma Ltd acted as a 'critical friend' in the development of the award to look at it from an outsider's point of view and help fine tune the criteria.

Co-op, Body Shop and M&S Top Ethical Poll

2008-06-03T05:09:00.006Z

In yet another survey of green/ethical brands, this time of 3000 UK adults by GfK NOP, the Co-op, Body Shop and M&S held onto the top three spots, but Sainsbury's lost out to Tesco at the foot of the table.

Rank 2008 Rank 2007

1 Co-op 1 Co-op

2 Body Shop 2 Body Shop

3 M&S 3 M&S

4 Green & Blacks 4 Traidcraft

5 Ecover 5 Cafédirect

6 Traidcraft 6 Ecover

7 Cafédirect 7= Green & Blacks & Tesco

8 Innocent

9 Divine 9 Oxfam

10 Tesco 10 Sainsbury’s

The surprises for me are:

1. The Body Shop's brand has survived the loss of founder Anita Roddick, who, even though she had sold the organisation to l'Oreal, was still associated with it in the press.

2. The position of Tesco on the table given the recent controversies over landbanking, competition and treatment of suppliers by the Big Four supermarkets. I wonder how much their position relates to their huge market share of the retail sector - does anyone want to admit they shop at an unethical store?

Weekly Tip #16: My favourite slogan

2008-06-02T07:00:00.001Z

This is the sixteenth in a series of tips extracted from the forthcoming Green Business Bible e-book:

Treat the word ‘waste’ as a verb, never a noun!

Material, water and energy is wasted, not 'waste'.

But be careful as, to the Environment Agency and the judiciary, waste is waste is waste.

Another tip next Monday!