How strange that everything recently goes Green!

USA TODAY
By Rhonda Abrams
March 8, 2007

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and that always gets me thinking green. Of course, all things green — actions to protect the environment — are hot right now.

The Academy Awards ceremony went green, large retailers are pushing energy-saving products, and now the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is holding a hearing to examine the role of small businesses in combating global warming.

Whether you call it global warming or climate change, whether you want to help make America more energy independent or just want to reduce your energy bills, going green makes good sense.

It's easy for small businesses to step up to the plate to do their part to protect the environment.

•Reduce waste. Waste is something you paid for and didn't consume — whether it's packaging, excess raw materials or supplies, or keeping the heat or lights on in an empty room. Examine your production and operations to see how you can reduce waste and save money.

•Replace high-energy-use light bulbs, fixtures, and equipment. Switch to low-energy use fluorescent light bulbs. Next, if you have old equipment, it may be time to upgrade. Look for energy-efficient office and production equipment. And unplug printers and monitors overnight
and on weekends.

•Buy recycled products. Look for "post-consumer waste" products, including stationery, packaging materials, paper towels and other kitchen and bathroom supplies. This keeps waste from ending up in landfills.

•Buy environmentally-friendly products. The market for non-toxic supplies has exploded, giving you more affordable choices in items such as cleaning supplies, inks, and other materials.

•Use recycled and non-toxic materials for production. If you're a manufacturer, ask suppliers for environmentally-friendly materials. Who knows, they may even be less expensive than the raw materials you're currently using.

•Offer environmentally-friendly alternatives. If you're a retailer, look for non-toxic, recycled or organic products to sell. More and more consumers want such products, which are generally viewed as healthier. Being green can help bring in the green cash, too.

•Reduce commutes. For most businesses the biggest energy impact comes from commuting. Encourage carpooling. Perhaps some employees could telecommute — work from home — a few days a month or work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days. When relocating, look for sites near your home or public transportation and where employees can be recruited nearby.

•Conduct more of your business online. Do you really need to take the trip to the bank to transfer funds? Can you send a document via email rather than by delivery service? That's a lot less expensive as well as reducing overall fuel consumption.

•Open the windows or doors. When the weather turns warm, before turning on the air conditioning, do something as simple as opening the windows and doors. In my office, we're often able to avoid using the air conditioning altogether.

•Buy hybrid cars. When buying a new vehicle for your business, look for cars or trucks that are energy-efficient, especially hybrids. Regardless of the vehicle, make sure your cars and vans are well maintained and tires are properly inflated. That reduces energy use.

•Find innovative uses for excess inventory or waste or recycle. If your business generates a lot of waste, sit down with your employees to come up with ways to turn that waste into something useful. As a publisher, my company ends up with hundreds of books returned from bookstores when new editions are released. We donate these to non-profit groups rather than just sending them to a recycling center.

•Check online information sources. Start with the Federal Government's Energy Star website for small business, www.energystar.gov/smallbiz. Another resource for businesses wanting to do something to help the environment is Greenbiz, www.greenbiz.com, which has links to and directories of websites with environmental information, including a searchable database of government programs and assistance.

Remember, little things add up. Turn off extra lights. Put recycling wastebaskets throughout the office. Turn off office equipment overnight and on weekends. Wear a sweater when you're cold and open a window when you're warm.

You'll find you've got more greenbacks in your pocket when you choose to go green.

© 2007 USA TODAY

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