Furman program to help businesses lower costs and put “BEST” foot forward

GREENVILLE, SC – February 29, 2012 – Furman University’s Center for Corporate andProfessional Development is introducing a new corporate sustainabilityprogram that can help businesses lower operational costs in the areas ofenergy, water and waste management while also positively impacting thecommunity.

The BEST^sm (Businesses Engaged in Sustainability forTomorrow) program uses an online process to allow organizations toeasily identify, benchmark and reduce their operating costs through asimple, intuitive process that collects data and provides specificrecommendations tied to business types and associated activities.

“After participants take an in-class or online seminar and providedata about resource usage, BEST will generate a plan specific to abusiness’s facility and type of business,” said Dr. Brad Bechtold,director of Continuing Education at Furman.  “That, in turn, willgenerate a series of recommendations, estimated costs and savings, andassociated incentives to better manage resources and reduce operatingcosts.”

BEST also provides a custom dashboard specific to each organizationwith detailed reports, snapshots and access to additional information onan on-going basis.

Bechtold said many of the recommendations generated through BEST haveno cost associated with them, while other recommendations are tied tolow-cost or capital investment solutions.  The program will also providecalculations that allow businesses to estimate savings upfront, as wellas monthly customized reports for each organization.

Cost for the program is $99 annually, which covers the seminar orwebinar, BEST assessment tool and plan creation, ongoing monthlyreports, and a detailed company BEST webpage.

Companies that have already partnered with Furman and BEST includeLowe’s, Greenville Hospital System, The City of Greenville, GreerChamber of Commerce, Greenville Water System, Laurens Electric, GoodwillIndustries, Bon Secours Saint Francis Hospital, Elliott Davis, CBRE-TheFurman Company, Piedmont Natural Gas, BI-LO, Greenville Chamber ofCommerce, Ten at the Top and Waste Industries.

BEST is the culmination of a year-long research and developmentinitiative undertaken by Furman with support from a grant through theBank of America Charitable Foundation and the participation of manypartner organizations.

“BEST is part of Furman’s Vision 2020 to reach out through innovativeeducational processes and positively impact the Greenville community,”Bechtold said.  “Business is critical to the economy of our state andregion, and the impact this program will have on businesses will be feltthroughout the community and beyond.”

For more information, go to www.furmanbest.biz or contact Brad Bechtold, director of Continuing Education, at 864-294-3136 or [email protected].