Will falling costs be passed onto your organisation, as an electricity consumer?

In a ‘perfect’ market this should result in lower electricity prices, however the ‘oligopolistic behaviour displayed in electricity markets’ may inhibit competition and prevent lower prices.

For the full article visit – http://www.thegreenpages.com.au/news/electricity-prices-fall-renewable-energy-deserves-merit/

What can your organisation do?

There is a proactive approach that not for profit and community organisations are exploring to take control of current and future electricity costs, which is installing their own renewable energy generation in the form of solar PV.

It does not matter if you are a big or small organisation you have a limited time to protect yourselves against high utility bills.

Opportunities are now available to insulate against future electricity price fluctuations, effectively reducing the cost of power consumed and therefore your electricity bill, or in some cases freezing electricity bills at current rates giving your organisation the confidence to plan for the future.

There have also been advances in solar PV financing which would allow your organisation to get started with little or no upfront outlay.

Are these options available for your organisation? Contact us to find out.

Have they really engaged with the journey towards sustainability expressed in your policies, or do they just pay it lip service?

Here are some questions to ask yourself -

• What initiatives have been started without prompting from the organisation?
• Are there a few key staff driving sustainability, or is it more widespread?
• How are achievements communicated?
• Does your organisation support these initiatives?

While taking this approach and questioning your organisation’s behaviour may be challenging and even expose some areas for improvement, it’s worth the investment of your time if the organisation wants to keep improving.

Please contact us if you’d like some ideas about how to improve staff engagement with your sustainability policies.

For a full article discussing this topic from a company culture perspective visit – http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/07/02/company-culture-leads-to-sustainability/

Why the not for profit sector?

Coefficiency feels it’s crucial to support the not for profit sector in light of the myriad of social, economic and environmental challenges that face our society today.

Our approach of focusing on the not for profit sector was chosen to benefit Coefficiency as an organisation, and of course, the sector and our clients.

How do our clients benefit?

At Coefficiency we pride ourselves at delivering quality sustainability solutions at affordable prices exclusively for the not for profit sector.

Our motivation is that if we don’t deliver value for our clients, they’ll leave. So you can be assured that we spend 100% of our time developing and delivering services that your organisation can be happy with and we can be proud of.

How does Coefficiency benefit by focusing on the not for profit sector?

We benefit as we can honestly promote ourselves as understanding and caring about the not for profit sector, the people who work in it and their clients.

As a social enterprise and a team with first hand experience of working in the sector, our desired outcomes of community and environmental benefit are easily aligned with the organisations we work with.

By investing all of our resources into customising, delivering and improving the sustainability solutions we offer the sector, we provide a service that is unique in Australia.

One stop shop?

Perhaps the simplest way to encapsulate Coefficiency’s offering to the not for profit sector, is to quote from a recent introductory meeting we had with a sustainability related state government department.

After describing Coefficiency’s services and our focused approach to the sector, one of the attendees said ‘I get it, Coefficiency is a one stop shop for not for profits interested in sustainability!’

To find out how we can assist your organisation to improve it’s environmental sustainability, please contact us.

Susannah is passionate about the not for profit and community sector, with a strong interest in not for profit strategic thinking and planning.

We especially look forward to her contributions in the area of delivering sustainability related customised policies and reports for organisations.

For more details of Susannah’s background and experience please view Our Team page.

Or starting up a environmentally focused enterprise that engages your client group and generates income?

If so, you may be interested in the following opportunity.

The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation aims to fund innovative programs and organisations that aim to increase life opportunities, promote social inclusion and improve quality of life.

The first key category of funding is Major Grants.

• These are available to organisations who are working in one of the Foundation’s three key initiative areas: Youth, Ageing or Homelessness
• Grants of up to $150,000 per year are available for between 1 – 2 years
• Closing dates for Expression Of Interest is 15th March 2013
• More information – http://www.lmcf.org.au/content/grants#Major Grants

Links for the other four key categories:

Direct Aid & Equipment Grants – http://www.lmcf.org.au/content/grants#Direct Aid & Equipment Grants
Survive & Thrive Grants – http://www.lmcf.org.au/content/grants#Survive & Thrive Grants
Capacity Building Grants – http://www.lmcf.org.au/content/grants#Capacity Building Grants
Exploration Grants – http://www.lmcf.org.au/content/grants#Exploration Grants

Coefficiency can support your organisation to establish and verify environmental credentials that -

• funding bodies are increasingly seeking from applicants
• provide a point of difference from other applicants in competitive grant programs

Contact us to discuss how we can tailor a program for your organisation.

These grants are specifically for an innovative project targeting disadvantaged youth, education or youth health and mental health.

Key points -

• Application deadline is 5pm 1 March 2013
• Grants are awarded in April
• Three grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded each year

For more information about the grants program visit - http://www.ingfoundation.com.au/main.php?page=grant_application

Coefficiency can support your organisation to establish and verify environmental credentials that -

• funding bodies are increasingly seeking from applicants
• provide a point of difference from other applicants in competitive grant programs

Contact us to brainstorm innovative projects for your organisation that engage youth in environmental education.

1. outlines the case for improving the sustainability of your supply chain
2. provides some case studies to illustrate what’s possible

The article states:

The article is from the Sustainable Industries website – the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Heritage Protection – and although the case studies deal with businesses (Faber-Castell and Starbucks) we believe their stories are relevant for not for profit and community organisations.

Read the complete Greening Your Supply Chain Article

We’ve compiled an Environmental Checklist for the Home that you may want to distribute to your teams so they can replicate good practice at home.

Greening your practice is good for your bottom line, your staff, your community and our planet.

View the ‘Home Environmental Checklist’ (PDF)

The new year is a great time to call your teams together and ask –

Are we doing enough to reduce our environmental impact?

You may find that your teams need a refresher on the 5 key areas of impact:

You could start the conversation with some simple questions –

What else can we be doing to reduce energy/water/waste/paper/toxic chemicals?

To continuously engage staff throughout 2013, you may want to consider introducing a virtual suggestion box (e.g. greenideas@yourorg.com) and encourage staff to contribute ideas on how the organisation can reduce its environmental impacts.

To incentivise staff, you could include a gift for the staff member who makes the best/most impactful suggestion.

In addition to being a time to celebrate, reflect and bid farewell to the year, the December festive season has also been a time of excessive waste. Let’s change this.

The team at Coefficiency would like to support your organisation to have a ‘GREEN (environmentally loving) CHRISTMAS PARTY‘ in 2012.

In addition to the thanks you’ll get from the planet, we would like to offer your organisation a chance to win a remote environmental site assessment, recommendations report and 2 hr consultation valued at $650. These services will cover the following areas: operational, energy, water, waste, travel & purchasing.

As long as you have a phone line and a desire to reduce your organisation’s environmental impact, why not enter and start the journey towards sustainable operations.

Environmental Measures

Here are some ideas to get your team thinking in the right direction during this season:

• wrap presents in newspaper or scrap paper
• send electronic christmas cards rather than physical ones
• only give upcycled gifts
• purchase local food and drinks for your party
• do not use disposable plates and cups at your party

Contact us to organise a free brainstorm session on other ideas specific to your workplace. Remember, the more measures you put in place, the more chance your organisation will win this competition.

Process:

1) Forward this email to your peer organisations to encourage participation (optional of course)

2) To enter this competition, email the following information to contact@coefficiency.com.au by 15th January 2013.

• list of environmental measures integrated into your december festive season celebrations signed off by the CEO/manager
• quotes from some staff (including names and positions) about what it means to have a more environmentally aware celebration
• photo/video evidence of measures during the festivities

3) Your entries will be judged by a panel and Coefficiency will inform the winning submission by the 29th January 2013.

Existing Clients:

Existing clients who have already had an environmental site assessment and recommendations report for their head office may choose to redo this at another site or gift this prize to a peer organisation.

Fine Print:

1) Your organisation may choose to pay travel costs for an onsite visit. However, this is not necessary as we are experienced in asking the right questions and delivering equivalent remote services without the environmental and financial cost of travel, 2) This prize is not transferable for cash, 3) By entering, your organisation gives Coefficiency the right to inform other organisations of the measures and the evidence your’ve provided. This will be done via our February e-Update.