Zigy Kaluzny-Charles Thatcher/Getty Images
READ MORE ABOUT:
A Green Audit, according to an online dictionary, is defined as such: “Inspection of a company to assess the total environmental impact of its activities or of a particular product or process. For example, a green audit of a manufactured product looks at the impact of production (including energy use and the extraction of raw materials used in manufacture), use (which may cause pollution and other hazards), and disposal (potential for recycling, and whether waste causes pollution). Such ‘cradle-to-grave’ surveys allow a widening of the traditional scope of economics by ascribing costs to variables that are usually ignored, such as despoliation of the countryside or air pollution.”
At GreenBiz.com, they explain: “Environmental audits are tools that companies and other organizations use to identify or define their full range of environmental impacts and assess their operations’ compliance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as with the expectations of their various stakeholders. They also serve as a means to identify opportunities to save money, enhance work quality, improve employee health and safety, reduce liabilities, and achieve other forms of business value.”
For a more manageable, DIY perspective, we turn to Stephanie Watson of HowStuffWorks.com, who offers suggestions like: Find the air leaks. Walk around your house and feel for air leaks in these places:
- Gaps in the baseboard and where the walls and ceiling meet
- Window and door frames, as well as their weather stripping and caulking
- Mail slots and doggie doors
- Fireplace dampers
- Window-mounted air conditioners
- Electrical outlets and switch plates
- Pipes
- Areas where building materials come together (such as in corners, around chimneys and along the foundation of your home)
Related Posts:
Get Recession-Ready: Conduct a Home Energy Audit
Green Your Electricity: Conduct a Home Energy Audit
From ways to green your 40+ hour work week to eco-friendly web sites, ideas and movements, you'll be learning and doing green in no time with Planet Green Work & Connect.
-
- {}
