Watch managing director Rick Somers of Ultimate Tiles speak to CTV about the savings his business has experienced through the Green Magpies program.
Since the Green Magpies program was established in 2009 by the Collingwood Football Club, over 300 small businesses have joined to find out how they can reduce their environmental impact and save money in the process.
Early last week CTV paid a visit to Ultimate Tiles, a small business which signed up to the Green Magpies program in 2009.
Managing director Rick Somers spoke to CTV about the success he has found since signing up with the money saving program.
“From filling out the audit forms and sending them back to the Green Magpies they have shown me how much energy and cost I can save with our electricity usage,” Somers told CTV from one of the Ultimate Tiles factories.
“We were invited to workshops and events which gave us a connection to other people in similar situations to us so we could discuss different recycling methods.”
Once involved with the Green Magpies, companies have the option of consulting The Australian Business Energy Saving Program to find out how much money they can save on cutting down their electrical usage.
“They (Australian Business Energy Savings Program) provided an entirely free audit on all of our power usage. Then they gave me statistics and flow charts and made it really easy to understand how much I could save on my power bills over the next three to five years.
“On the recommendation of the installers we are changing all of the lighting in our four factories. Just with the electricity fittings we will save over 50% on our electricity bill just in the first year.
“We have better light now with half the power usage.”
Companies will also be associated with the Grow Me the Money program, an online business sustainability program which provides information on efficient recycling methods suitable for a small business.
“We were introduced to Grow Me the Money. They gave us leads on how to recycle our waste product.
“We will now get to save 27-28 tons of greenhouse gases each year.”
As part of signing up as a Green Magpie member, businesses are offered a three-game package to Collingwood matches in the 2010 season.
“That’s a bonus. As a Collingwood member it has been great to take advantage of attending several matches for free.”
If you are interested in signing up to become a member of the Green Magpies program, please visit www.collingwoodfc.com.au/greenmagpies or www.growmethemoney.com.au
