Old equipment doesn't go to waste: look for certified WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) managers.
Carolina Sosa*
In the time that I have been promoting sustainability in our industry, I have had the opportunity to talk to many people from different segments: Integrators, Consultants, Distributors and even manufacturers, companies from different countries and continents and I have realized that we have something in common. Many people want to start having more sustainable companies, to build better practices, but sustainability is such a big issue and sometimes it feels so complex, that it scares us.
But it doesn't have to be that way, when we start learning we realize that so many terms SDGs, ESG, Scope 1, 2, 3, Carbon Footprint, among others become easy over time and that having sustainable practices in our company is not as complex as we imagine.
Currently there are initiatives that help make the difficult easy and there is also a lot of information available: Webinars, Groups, Articles. SAVe even has a workshop that, by appropriating the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, gives us practical tools to companies that allow us to develop actions to apply in the day-to-day of our operation, taking the macro to the micro and making easy what previously seemed so difficult.
Thinking that what we need are practical tools and in order for us as an industry to start reducing our carbon footprint, I asked AI to help me generate a quick guide to reduce our carbon footprint, I liked the answer so much that at AV Integration we are already adopting some of these practices so that, When the time comes to measure, we have already come a long way and when we have to compensate, what we have to compensate is little.
Then I thought it would be worth sharing them, after all it is worth dreaming that in the near future we can be a carbon neutral company. So, with you, here it goes. On behalf of chat GPT and myself, we present our...
Quick Guide to Reducing Your Carbon Footprint – Without Dying Trying
1. Measure to know where to start and how much progress you are making
Use a free calculator (search for "HuellaCol" or "Carbon Trust Calculator").
It includes energy consumption, gasoline, flights, equipment and even packaging. If you feel that there are many items, choose the 5 that you think will have the most impact on your operation and work on them.
Don't know how? Ask a consultant or an environmental engineering student for help. There are many willing to collaborate, engineering students could even take this opportunity to do their degree work. You can also find available information on the internet.
2. Make the office and projects use less energy
Change all the lights to LED (seriously!).
Turn off monitors, projectors, and other equipment. Unplug cell phone and computer chargers when they are not in use.
Automate lighting and air if you can.
3. Optimize transportation
It groups technical or commercial visits by areas. Don't go out all the time if you can do more with fewer trips, this will not only decrease your carbon footprint, it will also help you save time and money and even allow you to focus better on tasks and be more productive to get home sooner.
Reward the people on your work team who use a bike, electric motorcycle or carpool.
Consider having electric vehicles It looks good and pollutes less! If your company has national coverage and it happens to you like us in Colombia, who still do not have the infrastructure to charge vehicles outside the cities, opt for a hybrid version, the important thing is to start changing.
4. Change the way you sell technology
Offer leasing or DAAS: less equipment, more efficiency.
In your projects, select equipment that allows you to think about energy savings
Make sure your AV solutions aren't oversized
5. Make friends with recycling
Old equipment doesn't go to waste: look for certified WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) managers. If you can go visit them to make sure they are doing their processes responsibly and ask for certifications, much better! This way you make sure that the equipment is being recycled and does not end up in the trash
Separate packaging and cardboard: In Colombia, Resolution 1407 of 2018 requires it. Do you already know what the environmental legislation is in your country? If you don't know her, look her up! You could be at risk of being fined for not complying with it.
Make alliances with professional recyclers! It is also social inclusion and you will be giving work to families who have recycling as their main source of income.
6. Train your team (without boring them)
Talk about sustainability in weekly meetings.
Create a challenge: who reduces their energy consumption the most this month?
Enroll your company in programs such as the SAVe workshop, implement ISO 14001 or attend sustainability fairs.
7. Tell what you do and don't worry, it's okay to tell
Upload your progress to networks or your website. Maybe you'll motivate someone else to do it.
Customers and partners appreciate that you care about the planet.
Remember: It's not about being perfect, it's about moving forward and improving.
BONUS: Your goal isn't to "be green," it's to "be consistent."
Every cable, console, speaker, microphone, or display you install can be more responsible if you choose better. Not everything depends on others, you also decide and your efforts also add up!
*Carolina Sosa is part of the firm Integración AV and is an ambassador for SAVe for Colombia.
