project - Trademax Publications

GREEN CONSTRUCTION
PlanetWorks –
environmental –
protection
PlanetWorks, an organisation that offers practical solutions to combat
the effects of climate change and environmental degradation,
was launched early in 2009.
“
With the increasing concerns of global warming,
coupled with rising electricity costs, companies
and individuals need to find a way to change
everyday behaviours, to ensure a sustainable
future,” says Mandy Kerr of PlanetWorks. “PlanetWorks offers
a series of interactive behavioural change programmes that
enhances understanding of these challenges and provides
solutions on how to implement new behaviours to reduce
negative environmental impacts.
“PlanetWorks works primarily with large companies and
institutions, but also designs special programmes for small
organisations. The company is committed to not only creating
better awareness and understanding of environmental issues,
but also facilitates the implementation of a professional system
of action planning, setting eco-improvement goals and
monitoring improvement targets.
“Central to the PlanetWorks methodology
is a sustainability scorecard, which
enables participants to score current and
set targets to improving future ecobehaviours.
The concept of ‘sustainable’
social responsibility also adds a new
dimension to corporate social
responsibility initiatives.”
Programmes also provide access to social responsibility
initiatives, where companies and individuals take what they
learn to poorer communities, which are often unaware of
environmental challenges and cannot afford mitigation
interventions.
The benefits of what PlanetWorks offers encompass heightened
awareness of and greater personal responsibility for
environmental issues, access to practical solutions and
motivational team building. The company also provides
exposure to the latest methodologies for companies to comply
with legislated sustainability reporting. With the rapidly
escalating costs of electricity and water, these initiatives mean
significantly reducing usage in these areas.
PlanetWorks is associated with a range of ‘green’ technology,
product and service suppliers geared to make these eco
improvement plans a reality.
The company’s interactive facilitator-led
workshops are supported by energy use
and waste audits and the implementation
of carbon footprint measurement and
monitoring tools. Exposure to products
and suppliers that are needed for ecoimprovement
plans is also provided.
PlanetWorks assists its client base to
understand climate change and
environmental degradation issues,
focusing on their impact on the African
continent.
Building a thermally insulated home, forms part of a PlanetWorks eco-improvement
social responsibility programme
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SA Affordable Housing November/December 2009