Susan Plunkett

I thought this an intriguing kernel of a program. I was a tad unsure of some of the bullet points vis the 4 flat screens. Are they in the commute bus?

It struck me as a novel idea for a commute bus to be developed to pick up staff - a bus that would enable a meeting to be held on the way to work in the bus (connecting with staff at other geographical points etc). In other words to take fulsome advantage of the travel time that would normally be wasted (and that would normally have created x amounts of pollutants, created congestions problems et al). This was the site that caught my eye but I think the concept could be evolved. Have I just invented the corporate bus? :)

http://www.bauerslimo.com/content/green.html

I believe there are social reasons car pooling often fails but that is another topic.

Posted by Susan Plunkett | November 13, 2007 12:03 PM

Susan Plunkett

Frank and others, I thought this a very useful article on many levels. With respect to the 'best of both worlds policy' referred to within the text, I would have moral and ethical conscience. In other words, there are practices we know that damage the earth. Even if a policy allows room for us to do some 'thing', I believe appropriate stewardship requires us not to take that path if we know it to be ethically and morally wrong to do so. I think that's a fine principle to have in any corporate statement to do with the environment. Note the program on disused mine rehabilitation referred to towards the bottom.

Before you perhaps look at the article, perhaps a proposition. Let us imagine that some mines could be used as hotels such as the ones used in opal fields and so on. I think if the opportunity was then given to staff to become involved in that venture with the aim of potentially giving them increased income BUT to also further other environmental programs, this would be very appealing to staff. Another idea in the mix.

I've been ruminating on the issue of staff programs and to be honest, the issue initially felt fairly 'flat' and I suspect that's because some programs e.g. tree planting and recycling have been done to death. This is not to suggest these do not remain significant 'to do' tasks, but I think they should become part of a greater creative 'whole'. If the corporate fabric wants to be really serious about reducing across the board resource usage then ramp it up..the corporation becomes a scale model where people look at big picture and then small issue possibilities. Consider:

Our building potentially makes the world unwell. Let's do a forensic analysis of the building and see what we can do.

Roof: Can we trap the rain that falls on our roof?
Q: What roof materials do we have that might add contaminants to the water?
What could water be used for? Local park? Our own staff vegetable garden?..

... and so on.

http://www.copper.org/innovations/1998/04/both_worlds.html

(My words de jour..stewardship and forensics) :)

Posted by Susan Plunkett | November 15, 2007 6:28 AM

Susan Plunkett

I beg your pardon. I had forgotten to mention I realised the article was old. The considerations are still worth it tho I think.

Posted by Susan Plunkett | November 15, 2007 6:37 AM