Nelson Tasman Sustainable Business Advisor

The Nelson Regional EDA is pleased to welcome David Francis to the role of Nelson Tasman Sustainable Business Advisor.   David is a Chemical and Materials Engineer with a Diploma in Geothermal Energy Technology.   David has strong interests in renewable energy technologies and has lived and worked in the Nelson Tasman region for 14 years.    In addition to engineering interests, David operates a successful tourism business and has also tutored at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology's School of Tourism.

Why the need for Sustainable Business?

With the current global economic and ecological challenges, the time of cheap and abundant energy is nearing an end.   As global demand continues to rise and supplies are becoming progressively limited, businesses are increasingly faced with escalating costs for oil, gas, electricity and other energy sources.    The need for energy continues to be the driver for our modern economy.   These changes will affect every facet of modern business.

Climate change and environmental degradation are now familar phrases, and the science is now quite clear that human activities, especially non-renewable energy consumption are adversely affecting global climate change.   We are therefore faced with strong multiple drivers to change the way we live and how we operate our businesses.

The Nelson Tasman Sustainable Business Advisor

This newly established role is administered by the Nelson Regional EDA and funded by the Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, Nelson Tasman Tourism and the Ministry of the Environment in support of Nelson Tasman businesses.   

The aim of this role is to provide practical support to businesses with emphasis placed on energy savings (electricity and fuel), water and waste.   Businesses will be able to make informed choices about how to become more environmentally and economically sustainable, therefore enabling businesses to promote the sustainability of their businesses to the region and the world.

Which Businesses Qualify for Assistance

Any business (small or large) in the Nelson Tasman region interested in improving their operational efficiency, reducing resource use and waste production, and are interested in saving money can register their interest for assistance.    Priority assessment will be given to those businesses actively willing to participate in improvement programmes.

Free Service

The Sustainable Business Advisor is a free service to all businesses in the Nelson Tasman region.   The Sustainable Business Advisor will offer impartial and non-binding advice to assist with the reduction in energy use, minimisation of waste streams and water usage.  

Key Objectives of the Sustainable Business Advisor

• Respond to enquiries about what services are available in the community to help businesses become more sustainable.
• Undertake short site visits and provide advice (up to 2 hours consultation) on what actions will be the most useful to undertake to achieve savings relating to costs, energy and waste.
• Provide free ongoing advice (up to 20 hours over a year) to medium through to large sized businesses with significant opportunities to achieve resource efficiencies.   The main emphasis will be on energy use, however water and waste will also be addressed.  
• All savings are measured with dollar values.