Business Treading Lightly

AUTUMN 10

Business Treading Lightly is a $2 million sustainability grant program operating from Wollongong to Bega and in the Wingecarribee Shire. If you want to gain a competitive edge and increase profits, BTL assists its business partners implement smart solutions for sustainable business.

IN THIS ISSUE:

BTL WELCOMES NEW PARTNERS
THE FUTURE OF BTL
GREEN STAR BUILDING FIRST FOR SOUTH COAST
COMPUTER EFFICIENCY
SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL SAVES ON COMPUTERS
RMB HAVE A GREEN DAY
BTL HEROES CAMPAIGN UPDATE
FOOD WASTE CHALLENGE - THE RESULTS ARE IN!
FIRST INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY FORUM
GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW

BTL WELCOMES THESE NEW PARTNERS:

Martin Morris and Jones * Gerroa Discovery Holiday Park * Afflicks Abattoir * Sunseeker Inn * The Reef Motel * Black Bream Point Holiday Cabins * Lake Conjola Bowling and Recreation Club * Co-ordinated Logistics NSW * Tuross Lakeside Holiday Park * Batemans Bay Bowling Club *

BTL congratulates the following partners on their recent awards:
Barlings Beach Tourist Park and Riverbreeze Tourist Park for their Bronze Gumnut Award, Kendalls on the Beach Holiday Park for their Bronze Gumnut Award and Batemans Bay Tourist Park on gaining a Silver Gumnut Award

"EARTH HOUR IS MARCH 27TH, 8.30 PM. ARE YOU PARTICIPATING?"

THE FUTURE OF BTL:

As you may know, BTL is currently funded via a NSW Environmental Trust grant. This funding – which has been used to grow a team delivering business sustainability coaching and advice, expires in December 2010. The purpose of this letter is to deal with the question that many of our businesses are already asking us: "you're not going to leave us are you?!"

GREEN STAR BUILDING FIRST FOR SOUTH COAST:

In a first for the South Coast, Bateman's Bay Soldiers Club is about to start construction on the region's first 5 Green Star Rated Building.

COMPUTER EFFICIENCY:

Computers are part of every business but do you know how to get the best energy saving from yours?

SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL SAVES ON COMPUTERS:

Here's a computer saving example from BTL business partner Shoalhaven City Council.

Shoalhaven undertook an audit in November 2007 to determine the number of computers being left on during non-work hours.

RMB HAVE A GREEN DAY:

Wollongong's oldest continuing law practice, RMB Lawyers held a Green Day for staff on Friday 26th Febuary.

The Green Day kicked off a month of sustainable activities to launch RMB's ongoing commitment to the environment. Staff will be encouraged to turn off electrical equipment, use electronic files whenever possible and recycle paper.

Plaque BTL HEROES CAMPAIGN Update:

BTL's mission is to help business see and experience the benefits of sustainable practice.

One way of achieving that mission is to publically reward and recognized businesses who are taking action.

FOOD WASTE CHALLENGE - THE RESULTS ARE IN!:

Moss Vale Services Club took line honours from Dormie House and Moss Vale Golf Club in the recent BTL/Wingecarribee Food Waste Challenge but the results all round were impressive.

FIRST INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY FORUM:

An Industrial Ecology Forum aims to bring businesses together to work out commercially viable ways to reuse industrial waste. In an Industrial Ecology partnership or network, business benefits either by reducing waste costs or by having access to cheap or free raw material. And of course the big winner in this is the environment! Less waste dumped in landfill, less pollution and less raw material usage: recycling in the big picture.

GRANTS AVAILABLE NOW:

These environmental grants for business now have funding rounds open for applications.