photo credit: Victorrjr

Going “green” is big business today. Not only is going “green” an environmentally responsible approach for businesses of all sizes to take and one that is the current rage, but going “green” can leverage profit dollars to your bottom-line too.

First, what exactly do we mean by having your business go “green”? When we talk about “green”, we mean making a concerted effort to save our natural resources concerted action. Actions such as:

1. Saving on paper supplies – consider going digital for all of your internal office correspondence thereby saving on office supply costs and saving trees at the same time.
2. Lowing office energy consumption – lower your thermostat in the winter and raise it in the summer. Consider using an electronic programmable thermostat to lower your energy consumption when people are not in your office in the evenings and weekends.
3. Recycling drink bottles – get your employees to sort their lunch trash and recycle bottles and cans. Encourage the use of environmentally friendly alternatives to Styrofoam cups.
4. Using recycled paper – whenever possible use recycled paper in your print marketing materials saving trees and forests.
5. Using biodegradable alternatives – replace plastic packaging and plastic shipping materials with new biodegradable “plastic-like” alternatives. Many of these new alternatives do not cost more and warrant your consideration.
6. Driving less – drive less by consolidating the trips that you do need to make in your car saving fuel, mileage expenses, and decreasing air pollution in your city.
7. Using mass transit or considering car pooling – save money, conserve our natural resources, and lower air pollution all at the same time.
8. Buying Energy Star products – when you need new appliances or heating and cooling systems purchase those with the Energy Star label for increased efficiency and lower energy consumption. You’ll recover your initial investment and then start saving money in just a few years.
9. Stopping the Use Aerosols – use office and beauty products that are aerosol free. Consider letting your cleaning staff know to limit the use of aerosol based cleaning products in your office as well.
10. Limiting your travel by teleconferencing – not only will you minimize the pollution you would normally create in traveling but will make a significant savings on travel expenses improving your bottom-line significantly.

Although you may not be able to embrace each item in our list above, one of the biggest items that will leverage profit directly to your bottom-line is to increase your use of teleconferencing and decrease the amount of your travel both for long distance and in-town trips.

Teleconferencing provides many of the benefits of “being there” in person and now with the advent of Web conferencing (which is video with telephone conferencing combined and includes computer application sharing), putting in “face time” with a client just got significantly easier and less expensive.

When you as a business owner, do not have to pay for employee air travel, rental car expenses, hotel rooms, meals, long distance calls, mileage, and airport parking fees for even one less trip per month, the savings can be huge! Over the course of a year the potential savings and benefit to your profit can be so significant that you may change your employees to a very limited travel schedules.

What might be some of your actual cost savings? Here is just one example of actual travel expenses for an employee based in Washington DC to traveling to Groton, Connecticut for a three day business trip:

Air fare ;$400

Hotel for three nights ($120 per night) $360

Per Diem ($50 per day) $150

Airport Parking ;$50

Mileage to airport and back $20

Total Expense $980

This is just one example of a potential travel saving and is calculated at the government per diem rates. Your own company’s per diem reimbursement rate may even be higher. It is clear that not every trip can be replaced by teleconferencing, but what about the quick one day trips and meet and greet type contract reviews or routine sales calls. These can effectively be replaced by regular teleconferencing saving a business a huge amount of travel expenses over the year and leveraging a significant amount of profit to the bottom-line.

Before you comment “my clients need to have me in the same room”, consider trying out Web conferencing first. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that the positive statement you make as a “green” company resonates with your clients. Your clients may appreciate your efforts and willingly embrace your change to only occasional travel and more frequent Web and teleconferencing contact in their effort to help with your company’s “green” thrust.

Going “green” can help leverage money to the bottom-line. Just how much flow-through you get simply depends on you and the efforts that you are willing to take. Web and teleconferencing are easy to try, are fairly inexpensive to use, and can leverage the most profit to the bottom-line in the long run. Consider putting a “green” face on your business and improving your bottom-line in the process.

Amy Linley gives practical and usable advice regarding communication and meetings at AccuConference.

Find out more about our conference calling, web conferencing and video conferencing services from AccuConference.

photo credit: Intel CES 2008

The term Green Computing involves study and practice of using computing resources efficiently. The broad goals in any Green Computing initiative are

· maximization of energy efficiency
· emphasize on recyclables and biodegradability
· reduce hazardous materials

There can be many approaches which can be employed for achieving these goals. And we might have come face to face with many of them in our day to day experiences. Any approach or initiative which leads to better energy efficiency and fulfills any of the objectives which are associated with Green Computing, is worth emulating.
Approaches:

· Better coding and algorithms: Better coding and use of algorithms which puts least load on server in terms of processing etc, can results in lots savings in energy. For better understanding, if coding has been done in a way which involves optimum usages of caching, validations, cookies etc putting lesser strain on server and in addition algorithms are smartly written using fewer lines of code to perform the same logic, then server is being used efficiently.

· Virtual: System administration could combine several logical computer systems on one physical hardware system which results in lesser strain on computer systems. INTEL and AMD both have built up virtuals to their x86 chips.

· Terminal services: In terminal services, all computing is done at server level and connecting devices are thin clients, utilizing only 1/8Th of the total power which otherwise would have been required in normal desktops.

· Power management: This approach involves, setting preset time in computers and their components(hard drives, system RAMs) after which they are turned off. Windows Vista has this feature where Power management features can be activated from central administration levels. Central Power management was an issue with earlier versions of Windows, but Vista has none of such problems.

Green computing is the need of the hour. We will have to resort to every possible means to optimize our operations.

Virtual Web Symphony A blog by a management and software consultant, SEO and SEM expert, E-learning evangelist and all weather Guru.

photo credit: Larsz

Whether or not you believe global warming could be the end of civilization, there are other compelling reasons to take action to be environmentally friendly in your business. Respect for the planet and life all around you is the most basic of those reasons, but here are three others: it will reduce your costs, increase your efficiency, and add to your USP (unique selling position).

By following the familiar reduce, reuse, and recycle mantra you can save financially, which will allow you to invest more into growing your business or free up family finances.

You can increase your efficiency and get more organized by making small “green” changes such as printing less. For example, fewer piles of overflowing paper will make it easier to keep that working space clean and uncluttered so you can stay focused.

Sharing that you care, whether it’s about the planet, the people, or some other angle, or some other cause entirely, helps you connect with your market and become more “real” than just a hidden person behind a faceless website. It’s okay to allow your personality and passions to shine through your website and marketing. In fact, it’s smart marketing!

So with those benefits in mind, here are some small steps you can take to make your business greener:

1) Reduce the amount of paper you use. Before you print, think. Do you *really* need to print out that email or document? If you just need a backup copy, pick up an inexpensive USB thumb drive and use it to save copies of important files.

2) Reuse and recycle. Keep a small box or tray for paper that you’ve printed on but no longer need and announce to your children that they are welcome to color, paint, cut, etc with the paper. Kids don’t mind recycled paper and some really creative projects can result from paper that’s already been used.

3) Buy EnergyStar appliances. Watch the energy usage on any appliances you purchase–computers, sergers, sewing machines–whatever tools are required for your trade. Always turn them off when not in use.

4) Go paperless for billing. Many business models easily lend themselves to e-billing. If yours does, do it. It will save you not only paper/envelopes, but also time and postage. Bills get where they need to go quicker, too.

5) Use organic, recycled and/or natural elements. If you’ve got choices in the materials you use, take a few minutes to research your options. You may be pleasantly surprised by the range of choices available.

6) Choose reusable. Instead of notebooks and paper for your to do lists, consider a dry erase board or go to a digital online version. Try Google Calendar instead of a paper planner. If your products require certain materials during the production process, can you use something reusable instead of disposable?

7) Buy in bulk. You’ll save time as well as trips back and forth to the store if you purchase in bulk.

Change your lighting. Open the windows in your home office or working area and enjoy the beautiful, natural light! Replace your old style light bulbs with energy-saving fluorescent bulbs to save energy and reduce your electric bill.

9) Choose a VA (virtual assistant) instead of an in-person assistant. Work with employees or contractors who work from their homes and you’ll help save the gas and emissions from cars driving back and forth as well gain as many, many other benefits.

10) Combine errands and schedule meetings selectively. Can you do them all on one day? Fewer trips in your car are better. If you can eliminate some errands by having the USPS carrier (who’s already driving by) pick up packages or meeting with clients via Skype instead of in-person, consider it.

11) Buy Green Tags. With green tags you can compensate for your CO2 usage. I purchase mine through Green Tags USA.

12) Go 100% Replanted. Through Replant Trees you can have trees planted to make up for your paper usage.

13) Choose your packaging materials carefully. You can find green packing materials starting at sustainablepackaging.org Recycle or reuse when feasible.

14) Deliver your products digitally. Can you offer a digital version of your products? How about offering your patterns as a PDF download? Or a PDF ebook option of your printable book? Encourage the digital options. Check out e-junkie.com for an easy way to sell digital items online.

15) Sell locally. No need for shipping if you sell to local customers. Try craft shows or farmers markets if they fit your products. You can find listings online at Indie Craft Guide or Indie Craft Shows. Depending on your products you could also work out discounts or commission based deals with tourist shops, museums, locally owned bookstores and other businesses or organizations in your local area.

16) Support green businesses. Does your webhost power their servers with green energy? Does your printer offer recycled paper for brochures or business cards? Look for ways to support other businesses who are making an effort to be green.

17) Share your commitment! Several websites (EcoFirms, EcoBusinessLinks, Green People, Coop America, and others) maintain link directories of eco-aware businesses. Add yours if you’re taking action steps to be earth friendly.

Work at home mom extraordinaire Michelle Shaeffer publishes The Muses Brainstorm, a weekly ezine with tips to help you balance, manage, and market your home based business. If you’re ready for inspirational guidance and bright ideas sign up free at http://www.thesmallbusinessmuse.com

photo credit: x-eyedblonde

In some parts of the Northeast, the skyrocketing cost of oil could cause residential winter heating bills to climb as high as $7,000. Oil reached $145 a barrel in late May, and many analysts are predicting $150-200 per barrel oil within two years. With heating oil averaging $4.71 a gallon, natural gas rates headed for a 20 to 30 percent rise. Add that to electricity bills up, some municipalities are shifting to four-day work weeks, and moving aggressively into renewable energy & energy efficiency.

Utah made headlines in July by becoming the first to put most state employees on a four-day week of 10-hour days. About one-third of the state’s 3,000 government buildings will be closed on Fridays, with expected savings on heat and air conditioning to hit $3 million a year. Commuters will also save on gasoline. Utah’s Governor Jon Huntsman said, “The reaction from the public has been very much a willingness to give this a go.”

Energy efficiency is happening in all sectors. Behavior is changing rapidly in light of higher prices; SUV and light truck sales have dipped 30-60% (depending on the brand) over the last year. Small car sales are up. Total “vehicle miles traveled” dipped for the first time since 1979. Yet, in the 1970s after the oil embargo prompted conservation habits for about a decade, U.S. Americans returned to wasteful ways, as oil prices dropped, ignoring past lessons.

The difference this time is that higher prices are prompted mostly by fundamental supply and demand issues. Peak oil production is either already here, or will be sometime between 2010-2015 at the latest. When global peak oil production is reached, prices will be far higher than today’s.

In order to lessen our dependence on oil, and keep our economy moving, energy efficiency is essential. This past July, U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman met with the energy ministers from the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized countries, plus China, India and South Korea, to discuss ways to enhance global energy security while simultaneously combating global climate change. The G8, which includes Canada, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and the US, established the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC). It states that energy efficiency is one of the quickest, greenest and most cost-effective ways to address energy security and climate change while ensuring economic growth.

Meanwhile, financial support for the federal assistance “weatherization” program here in the US, which helps low-income families be more energy efficient, has dramatically declined. President Bush proposed eliminating the program entirely. An Energy Dept spending bill before the Senate, would provide $201 million for the fiscal year beginning in October ($40 million less than was supplied in 2007), while winter heating costs have soared. Bush, and GOP presidential candidate John McCain, and Republicans in Congress have touted drilling as the primary short-term solution to rising energy prices, despite the fact that opening offshore areas to production wouldn’t lower gasoline prices until about 2030 — if it does at all.

Currently, the average price for natural gas on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) shows an increase of 33% this year. New Jersey customers will pay another 18% based on an increase requested by NJ Natural Gas to take effect this coming October, and another 15% or more expected next year. Between 2002 and 2007, the price of natural gas nearly doubled, according to the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU), with corresponding increases in the price of electricity and heating fuels in New Jersey.

To address the steadily rising prices of energy, New Jersey created an Energy Master Plan. Its primary goal is to maximize energy conservation and energy efficiency. Reducing energy consumption through conservation and efficiency is the most cost-effective way to help lower utility bills, increase reliability, and lower the state’s contributions to global warming and other air pollutants. Reductions of energy use by at least 20% by 2020, as Governor Corzine has directed, would yield annual electricity savings of 20,000 GWh per year and annual heating savings of 119 trillion BTUs, and result in substantial cost savings, thereby promoting economic growth in the state.

Actions to this goal include the following:

- Redesign and enhance the State’s current energy efficiency programs in all sectors of the economy to achieve desired results, while remaining cost-effective. This redesign emphasizes a whole-building approach to energy efficiency.
- Increase energy efficiency in new buildings with a statewide building code, which will make new construction at least 30% more energy efficient than buildings under current code by July 2009.

The market is willing to pay premiums for Energy Star buildings, says Stuart Brodsky, from the EPA’s Energy Star program, as identified in the CoStar study. “The business case for energy efficiency is indisputable,” he said. Green-built buildings have higher prices per square foot but have lower operating costs. Energy Star buildings are selling for an average of $61 more per square foot than conventional buildings. LEED buildings are selling for an average of $171 more per square foot, the study found. Operating costs are 10-20 percent lower in Energy Star-rated buildings, improving operating income significantly. The study also revealed that green buildings achieve higher rents and have higher occupancies.

New Jersey currently offers several programs in the way of incentives for energy efficiency:
Cool & Warm Advantage Programs – Cash rebates for energy efficient heating and cooling equipment (e.g., central air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers or water heaters).
New Jersey for Energy Star – Offers rebates on ENERGY STAR clothes washers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers.
New Jersey Energy Star Homes – Rebates for energy-efficient new home construction that target Smart Growth Areas. Energy Star Homes are at least 15% more energy efficient than conventionally built homes.
New Jersey Comfort Partners – Improves energy affordability for income-eligible households. If you qualify, a contractor will assess the energy savings opportunities and install the measures at no cost. Personalized customer energy education and counseling is also provided.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPWES), administered by New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, uses a whole house approach to energy-efficiency, lowering energy costs by up to 30 percent or more. This program covers renovations only, not new construction. Participating contractors are accredited through the Building Performance Institute (BPI), a national resource for building science technology that sets standards for assessing and improving the energy performance of homes.

Where To Start
Call in an expert that can show you the “biggest bang for your buck” when it comes to paying for energy efficiency upgrades. A specially trained and certified technician will conduct a Comprehensive Home Assessment, which has two phases.

Phase one consists of the technician taking inventory of, and reporting on, the current conditions in your home, including the following:
- Health & safety check (carbon monoxide levels, moisture, and indoor air quality problems)
- Overall comfort level (cold/hot spots, indoor air quality stuffiness/stale odors)
- Air infiltration rates
- Insulation levels
- Heating and cooling systems efficiency
- Domestic hot water system efficiency
- Major appliances
- Lighting

Certified technicians use a number of diagnostic tools during the first phase of your Comprehensive Home Assessment. Some of the tools they use are:
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) Analyzer: important health and safety tool
- Blower Door: measures the air tightness of a home and assists in identifying areas where air leakage is occurring

Phase two consists of contacting a BPI certified contractor to receive pricing on the proposed improvement work. They test carbon monoxide levels and potentially dangerous gases in the home before and after performing energy improvements. You will receive a detailed plan with recommended measures, costs and payback analysis. Many owners use home equity loans to finance the upgrades.

Low-interest financing or cash incentives are available through HPWES utilizing participating BPI accredited contractors. These financial incentives are for improvement packages of $2,500 or more. The more energy savings measures you install, the greater the incentive you will receive. A tier system breaks down the incentive level you can receive based on the comprehensiveness of work performed. (Visit www.njcep.com, enter “Tier” in the Search field, then select “Financial Incentives.”)

Cash incentives range from $250 to $5,000. Or you can choose the low-interest financing option available to help pay for home improvements. The rates are either 5.99% or 3.99% depending on the level of upgrades you install. There are no application fees or closing costs, and the loans do not require a down payment.

To participate in this program, first you sign a contract for program-eligible work with a participating BPI accredited contractor. The program requires a copy of the contract before the work starts and provides your contractor with a Work Scope Approval form. Make sure your contractor has received approval from the program prior to starting the work. When the work is finished, your BPI contractor will perform some final testing to make sure the installation went well and that your house is safe and healthy. Then you both sign the Certificate of Completion, indicating the work has been done satisfactorily.

If you selected the cash incentive, a check will be sent to you directly. You make arrangements to pay your contractor in full under the terms of your contract. If you choose the low-interest unsecured loan, you apply for it through Energy Finance Solutions (EFS) before the work starts, to make sure you qualify. EFS offers low-interest loans ranging from $2,500 to $20,000. The process is quick. You can call EFS to find out if you pre-qualify for the loan at 1-888-264-4367 or visit www.energyfinancesolutions.com. Additional assistance may be available when homeowners meet certain income eligibility requirements.

By upgrading your home’s energy efficiency, you’ll increase your physical comfort, save energy, reduce your carbon footprint, and lower your monthly utility bills. Your house will increase its value in the marketplace. For every one dollar you save on energy, you increase the market value by $20 according to EPA studies.

Basic Things To Do On Your Own
- Fluorescent bulbs can save up to $30 per bulb
- Low-flow showerheads use just two gallons of water per minute, instead of five or six
- Change furnace/air conditioner filters regularly and unblock and clean ventilation registers
- Seal air leaks around windows with silicone caulk
- Weather-strip around doors
- Hot water heater set at 1200
- Close chimney dampers when not in use!
- Open shades during day in winter, shut at night
- Install a digital thermostat – raise the temperature for summer, lower it for winter,
- Dress for the season, even when you’re indoors

For more information go to http://www.bized.com

Cathy Sims, BA in Social Sciences, publisher and editor of the Biz.Ed Guide since 1986