By Christopher Martell, Project Manager

Published: Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Journal, Dec. 19, 2008

Environmental stewardship, global sustainability, carbon footprints, alternative energy, LEED Certification…these are the current “buzz words” being thrown around by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to business owners and operators in an effort to influence change in the way businesses and building owners view their impact on the environment.  So much so that the NJDEP has recently launched an Environmental Stewardship Program to encourage compliance with NJDEP regulatory statues in excess of the minimum requirements.  What does this all mean?

The terms above all refer to the level of environmental impact for all products and business operations.  In layman terms, “carbon footprint” is a measure of the amount of natural resources required to manufacture, distribute and dispose of a product.  This includes raw materials and fuels required to manufacture the product, the amount of carbon-type product contained in the finished product, the fuel required to transport the product, and any maintenance costs associated with the final product. The carbon footprint can also be applied to business operations to reflect the total amount of resources (utilities, office paper, raw materials, etc.) required to conduct facility operations.  Therefore, by using environmentally, or “EcoFriendly”, products and alternative/renewable energy sources in its processes, a facility can substantially reduce its carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment.

While the NJDEP’s program looks good in theory, it lacks the main component to make it attractive to New Jersey’s commercial industry, that is, short and long-term cost savings at the facility and corporate levels.  At this time, voluntary participation in the program is low due to the lack of a financial driver for business and building owners.  This is not to say that the NJDEP program is without worth; however, without the necessary financial driver to make their program attractive to business owners, few businesses will be willing to make the capital investment required to institute change(s) at their facilities and to their corporate philosophies. 

Several financial incentives exist; albeit, not from the NJDEP, which provide substantial grants and/or energy savings to facilities which implement a “Green Building” approach.  These incentives range from State and Federal grants for alternative fuel conversion, public utility credits for EcoFriendly appliance/equipment conversion, and energy credit accumulation based upon total energy savings compared to similar industrial/commercial establishments. 

Some strategies may not be viable options to the small business owner; however, the performance of an Environmental Green Building Audit is a simple and inexpensive first step in identifying cost-effective and environmentally friendly measures which can result in significant financial savings through a reduction in utility costs as well as the facilities overall negative impact on the environment.  An environmental consultant begins with a comprehensive building and operations audit including the evaluation of all processes and products utilized at the audit site.  NJDEP compliance is incorporated into the evaluation of the facility and includes such action items as underground storage tank compliance, environmental permit review, and other applicable regulations.  The end result is an Environmental Report which identifies areas for improvement for the building and facility operations which can lead to cost savings and reduced environmental impact.  An added benefit of Environmental Stewardship is that it carries a positive public relations position within your community. 

The implementation of the EnergyStarTM and Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification Programs involves a holistic and comprehensive evaluation of business operations, facility operations (HVAC, waste disposal, recycling, etc.), and building construction specifications focus towards the overall and long-term environmental improvement of the facility and its operations.  While these programs require substantially more effort on the part of the parties involved, the long term benefits can result in significantly lower operational costs.

Mr. Martell is with EWMA’s Headquarters Office in Parsippany, NJ.  He specializes in environmental assessments and remediation.  For additional information or to discuss your concerns please contact Mr. Martell at 800-969-3159 ext. 157 or Christopher.Martell@ewma.com.