One challenge to creating effective community-wide climate change plans is the fear that businesses will resist making the changes needed to help the community as a whole reduce greenhouse gases because of the misguided belief that doing so will add unnecessary and burdensome costs. The fact is that reducing carbon emissions, by reducing energy use and shifting to renewables, is very positive for a business’ bottom line. It’s an investment with a return, rather than a “cost.”

That is why major businesses across the country and across the world are taking leadership on the path to zero. One key take-away from these innovative businesses is that their primary motivation for improving energy efficiency is that it helps their bottom lines. Many business are installing solar panels for renewable energy. Others are retrofitting existing buildings on the path to zero and still others are building new zero energy or close to zero energy facilities.