This Tuesday, the Fresh Outlook Foundation makes the business case for going green.

In from Vancouver, energy efficiency specialist Adrian Partridge will be speaking about the reasons businesses opt to develop energy efficiency plans, including how they can save money by doing so. Entitled “Get me those carbon dollars, I’ve got a plan,” the talk will run through how much an energy efficiency plan can save a business, how to set up a plan, set a target and access some of the many grant programs businesses can use to reduce the cost of going green.

“Turning off the lights is only one little bit of it,” said Partridge.

From establishing a baseline for a business’s energy costs by doing an energy audit to adding controls and monitors to reduce energy usage, in many cases it may only take a small expenditure to realize a large savings, he said.

Partridge gives the example of a laundry business, noting energy recaptured from the hot water used in the washing process can drastically reduce operating costs.

However, he recognizes the solutions are going to be very different from business to business.

Also speaking at the event will be Eve-Lyn Wolters from the regional waste reduction office, who pitches the idea of reducing waste before it happens.

Where her office was once focused on residential recycling, they’re currently trying to get businesses to examine some of the decisions made before waste ever becomes waste.

Whether that means placing a business on a “no junk mail ” list or moving to on-line newsletters, there are ways to easily reduce business waste before it comes through the door.

Other speakers and topics include Lindsay Eason, of GreenStep, speaking about employee engagement the David Suzuki Foundation Way; Kelowna city councillor and GreenStep partner Angela Reid on the benefits to business of going green; Neal Klassen, from the WaterSmart on building a water conservation plan; City of Kelowna active transportation coordinator Mike Kittmer on building an active transportation plan; and Rae Stewart who will join Wolters to discuss waste reduction planning.

Registration for the event is $49 or $35 for students, through www.freshoutlookfoundation.org.

The event runs Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Delta Grand Hotel.

jsmith@kelownacapnews.com