Provincial’s presentation on reducing your carbon footprint and the steps we take to be sustainable was well received at the 2010 Nursery and Garden Industry conference in Darwin on 22^nd April.  Presented with Dr Anthony Kachenko, Environment and Technical Policy Manager for the NGIA, the new Nursery Footprint tool was unveiled for the first time.  Some tips follow on ways you can make a difference too!

top tips for smart eco - business

• know where you’re at and where you’re going

assess your current carbon footprint and plan to make improvements that will save you $$ and lessen your impact on future climate change.  By measuring where you’re up to now makes it much easier to improve   -  set achievable goals with time lines

• record  information in a comprehensive way 

create a record keeping system that will allow you to track detailed items over time (eg. KW hrs for electricity / Litres of fuel / tonnes of waste)

• recognise the long term costs of inaction (economic, social, environmental) and reduce your impact on future generations 

take action now!

• reduce your carbon footprint and increase your efficiency and bottom line

choose environmentally sensitive options wherever possible in the methods you employ and products you use  -  use renewable energy, make your buildings energy efficient, reduce waste and chemical use, recycle and compost, harvest rainwater, embrace efficient watering practices, be transport conscious, grow and plant appropriate plant types, practice water wise landscaping

• empower and train your team and educate the consumer

you can’t talk the talk if you don’t walk the walk.  Embrace your ability to create change in your own backyard and educate others to share your knowledge

• promote your ‘green’ achievements and be proud of making a difference

making a contribution and being environmentally savvy is worth talking about and is a unique selling point

steps we take  I  you can too!

• Carbon neutral (Carbon positive audit underway!) 
• ISO 14001 certification – on target 2010!
• HIA GreenSmart accreditation and NGIA CNP (Lisa Roberts)
• Renewable energy powers most of our operations
• Solar and heat pump used for hot water
• Choose energy efficient options and products in our offices
• Make our buildings as energy efficient as possible
• Improve vehicle fleet management and transport efficiently
• Rain water harvesting
• Practice efficient watering practices, irrigation and water use minimisation
• Ongoing investment in organic vegie gardens and orchards for staff and family
• Recycling systems, composting and reuse of nursery by-products, waste minimisation, use of eco friendly products 
• Pesticide and herbicide free
• Appropriate plant types -  drought tolerant, easy care, sun and frost hardened
• Eco friendly ‘green’ landscape design, permaculture  and biodynamic principles and water  sensitive urban design
• Revegetation and rehabilitation projects and wetlands creation
• Xeriscape principles and concepts
• Annual donations of plants and services that ‘give back’ to the community
• Empower and train staff  in environmental practices