9 RESOLUTIONS COMPANIES SHOULD MAKE IN 2009

health and the environment during the building's lifecycle. Green buildings reduce waste, pollution and environmental degradation. Green buildings use natural materials that are available locally and are known to reduce operating costs by using less energy and water, improved public and occupant health due to improved indoor air quality and reduced environmental impacts. While it would be best to adopt green architecture in the construction stage itself, existing buildings too can go green to a large extent. 5 Switch to LED (light emitting diode) lights
Since LED lighting has superior visual impact, high-efficiency performance and longlasting attributes, it has successfully replaced conventional lighting technology in several commercial lighting applications with significant savings in energy costs. The LAX Gateway at Los Angeles International Airport has replaced metal halide with an LED system, where they anticipate 75% less energy consumption and demonstrate a dramatic visual change. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas replaced metal halide with an LED system, cutting annual energy costs from $18,000 to $1,900.
6 Think of alternative pathways
It's time to think out of the box. "Companies have to think alternative in terms of raw materials, processes, manufacturing processes, supply chain management, technology and fuel, and accordingly invest in innovation," says Sharma. Corporates should develop sustainable communities or achieve efficiencies in energy, waste and water. Focus on localized energy generation, water solutions that reduce or eliminate dependence on state infrastructure and waste management systems that ensure responsible disposal or reuse.
7 Turn waste into wealth
Implement the principle of waste
to wealth. Use waste as a resource where wastes of one industry become raw material/fuel to others. Businesses should establish partnerships where synergies can be explored — like waste from sugar industry can be used for generating power and power plant waste is used as additive in cement. While cement industry becomes incinerator to hazardous/calorific waste.
8 Manage your e-waste
Companies should take responsibility of the whole lifecycle of their products—not only the designing, production, marketing, user phase, but also the end-of-the life phase. "Companies should come out with solutions where end user can also benefit while handling e-waste," says Saumya Tripathy of Greenpeace. In India, more than 3 lakh tonnes of e-waste is generated per year. By 2012, it's estimated to grow to 16 lakh tonnes.
9 Colour your data centres green
Data centres are the heart of any organization, housing servers, storage devices and the telecom and networking equipment. IBM estimates that server demand grew by 6 times and storage demand grew by 69 times this decade. Virtualization enables companies to increase server utilization by 80%, reducing space and power requirements. Studies show that green technologies can help reduce hardware costs by 33-70%, maintenance costs by 50% and floor space and facility costs by 33-50%. British Telecom is reported to have seen 60% reduction of emissions following the adoption of these green technologies and hope to reach 80% reduction. (With inputs from Shivani Mody)