Russell Bell: Pint-sized power policeman has a pertinent point

SWITCHED ON: Conserving power is one area in which businesses can cut waste.

"School isn't what it was in my day" - my late father said that a lot, and now it is a regular catchcry in our household.

This time, the utterance was in response to a lecture delivered by my son on "energy-saving and living sustainably". I kid you not.

It began when I left a light on when, minding my own business, I travelled from the lounge to the hall. I was notified immediately that I was out of step with our "household policy" of conserving energy (I have yet to read this policy) and that there were consequences should I transgress in the future.

The pint-sized power police then picked up his guitar and belted out Smoke On The Water. When I was 6, all I cared about was Matchbox cars and popsicles.

While my son's concern for the environment is well placed, he has hit on a major issue for business. Energy accounts are a major percentage of overheads for businesses, and time spent assessing energy usage, reviewing pricing plans and understanding the technology available could pay major dividends.

Waste is the activities or expenditure of resources which do not create or sustain value. So identifying waste, acknowledging it, determining the root cause of it and addressing it will build value for your customers and boost your bottom line. Energy is a great place to focus, as scarcity can drive up its price.

This week, I came across a company which has been on the "lean journey" for some time. The first thing that strikes you when you see the production floor is the tidiness and order of their production line - which is being shaped by the suggestions and improvement ideas of their staff.

Conservation is a core component of any continuous improvement initiative - conserving energy and materials to avoid waste. Some companies are implementing clever ideas that maximise energy effectiveness.

The benefit of such thinking, however, is the formal process which captures ideas and the culture of improvement that is sustained over the long term.

I get inspired when I see businesses grasp new ways of thinking in achieving their goals, be it managing energy or improving business performance in general to deliver greater returns and/or improve the working environment for themselves and their staff.

Maybe some of this has rubbed off on Bell jnr, who knows? But one thing is sure, the amount of energy being expended in recreating Deep Purple in our lounge right now might be causing strain on the national grid.

-Russell Bell's Zenith Strategic Solutions is a specialist Wanganui business advice and consultancy practice - if you want more information on how they can help your business, call Russell or Stephanie on 06 347 9997.