In New York, the State Green Building Tax Credit program provides a tax
incentive to commercial developments incorporating specific green
strategies informed by LEED.
Overall, an increasing number of states are pushing LEED certification, partic-
ularly for public buildings, as shown in Figure 11-4.
Assessing Your Environmental Risks.........................................................
At the top of your priorities list should be the means by which you address
the level of environmental risk to which your business is exposed. In general,
risk assessment is the scientific process of evaluating the adverse effects
caused by a substance, activity, lifestyle, or natural phenomenon. When your
business assesses its risk, you specifically estimate the type and magnitude
of harm to which you may expose those who come into contact with haz-
ardous substances and dangerous goods that you produce or use in your
processes and products.
Failing to assess your risks, or worse, failing to comply with current laws and
regulations carries penalties, frequently quite severe. Noncompliance could
in fact cost your business millions of dollars. It could even cost you your
business.
After you have endowed your business with the enterprise-wide vision that
results from a comprehensive risk assessment, management at all levels can
avail themselves of the data they need to successfully put effective gover-
nance in place, including setting policies and procedures to ensure compli-
ance. This assessment will also lead toward improved decisions and superior
Figure 11-4:
LEED
Certification
Growing
(World Inc).
Chapter 11: Making Your Business Processes Environmentally Friendly 201
