photo credit: bbjee

Small-business owners often think of ‘going green’ as a double-edged sword. On one hand, many think of going green as the right thing to do to support the environment and the local community. Yet many also see it as an extra expense that cannot be recouped.

As a small-business owner, what should you do? Is the amount of time and money you’ll spend on going green worth the investment?

The answer is: Yes. Go green. More and more companies are going green every day.

Most small-business owners do not know that environmental management can be beneficial to the company in ways that go well beyond helping the environment:

· From an internal operations perspective, going green can actually reduce costs and help avoid liabilities, as well as present unexpected business opportunities if your company can provide an environmental solution to others. You can even go so far as to obtain certification from an independent third party so you can include their logo or “ecolabel” on your product and other green marketing materials. Ecolabeling helps market your product to green-conscious consumers.

· From an external perspective, by going green your company is that much more attractive to investors, lenders, insurers, customers and employees.

Environmental management is quickly becoming a bottom-line benefit – and a proverbial win-win – for small businesses.

Not All or Nothing

Environmental management is not an all-or-nothing proposition. There is so much that can be done to go green – from buying green products to recycling to using green technologies to moving to solar power. The multitude of options can seem overwhelming.

Yet, there is a tangible approach to environmental management that can be easily mapped out and implemented according to how you prefer to do business. It involves, simply, developing an Environmental Action Plan.

How do you develop this Environmental Action Plan? The place to start is the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA has put together a workbook designed specifically to help small businesses go green. This workbook is called the Small Business Environmental Management Plan Workbook and can be found and downloaded at the Business.gov web site.

Step One: Develop an Environmental Policy

The first step is to take some time to develop an environmental policy. This is both an internal and external statement that formalizes your company’s level of commitment toward going green.

First decide what is most appropriate for your management and employees. Whether implementing a recycling program or moving to solar power, decide on what will work best for you. Then, put this decision into a formal document. The document will serve two purposes:

· to help communicate to the entire company your environmental level of commitment, as well as a first step toward communicating employees’ environmental responsibilities

· to help communicate your environmental management plans to suppliers, customers, shareholders, and the community so everyone will be aware of where your company stands in its efforts to go green.
There is also an environmental policy worksheet – including guidelines and samples – in the EPA Environmental Management Plan Workbook.

Step Two: Assemble an Environmental Manual

An Environmental Manual will be your “how to” document. This will map out the details of your environmental management strategy and how, exactly, you plan to go green.

This document should include things such as those environmental regulations and permits that pertain to your business, as well as best practices for environmental management. It is important to note that these details will be quite different depending on your industry and your business. Regulations, permits, and best practices will be vastly different for food service, healthcare service, or landscape service businesses.

And, of course, there is also an environmental manual planning worksheet – including guidelines and samples – in the EPA Environmental Management Plan Workbook.

Step Three: Go Green

Once you’ve got the details in place, it’s time to go green – according to your Environmental Policy and Environmental Manual. You must, of course, implement any necessary training and additional communication to company employees. You should also:

· Keep records of your environmental management activities

· Monitor your environmental compliance

· Measure your environmental performance

· Report your environmental results

Once your environmental management plan has been in place for a significant amount of time, you’ll also want to conduct an environmental review to see what’s working, what’s not, and what other policies you may want to put in place over time.

Conclusion

There is so much you can do as a small business to go green. While moving to solar power may be out of your reach, implementing a simple recycling program may be just the right fit. In fact, you may be surprised that the more you do, the more it will benefit both your company and the environment.

For more detailed information on going green, including Environmental Management and how to put together an Environmental Action Plan, go to the Green Business Guide section of Business.gov.

Nancy Sternberg, Business Gateway Program Manager, U.S. Small Business Administration

Nancy B. Sternberg was selected as the Business.gov Business Gateway Program Manager in May 2006. In this role, Ms. Sternberg is responsible for working with representatives from the 22 partner agencies to improve the delivery of services to businesses by providing a single access point for businesses to easily find government information, including forms and compliance assistance resources and tools. Ms. Sternberg moderated a press briefing for an audience of more than a hundred business leaders and business owners at the National Press Club to unveil the Business.gov site, which is designed to help businesses stay in compliance with federal regulations.

Recently, Ms. Sternberg rolled out a new version of the site that focuses on environmental management and how “going green” can improve the bottom line. Green business topics such as recycling and the use of green marketing are discussed as ways to increase a company’s revenue and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

photo credit: h.koppdelaney

Environmental & Economic Benefits

The “green gold rush” is on. Global investment in renewable energy surged some 60 percent, to $148 billion last year. Investment in clean energy from wind, solar and biofuels rose three times faster in 2007 than predicted by the UN Environmental Program, with wind power attracting $50.2 billion, a third of all clean energy investments. Investment in solar energy soared by 254 percent to $28.6 billion last year. This “green gold rush” is propelled by the soaring fossil-fuel prices, and concerns over carbon dioxide emissions that fuel global warming.

The world is at an undeniable crossroad. Projections show three to four times more electrical power could be required over the next 50 years to support continued growth in population and economic output. Clean, renewable sources are the answer. “Unlike other major energy transitions, such as wood-to-coal and coal-to-oil, moving from oil to alternatives will be forced and rapid,” writes Charles Cresson Wood, President of Post-Petroleum Transportation, a consulting firm.

The Cost of Conventional Energy

In the last six years, uranium prices have moved from $7 a pound to $80 a pound. Coal has moved from $22 a ton delivered at the plant to $55 a ton, and natural gas has gone from $2 per million BTUs to $12 per million BTUs. Oil went from $20 a barrel to $145 a barrel.

As these dirty energy resources become more costly, so follows the delivered price of electricity jumping by 70 percent in the last six years in New Jersey and many other states. All analysts expect continued increases in electricity costs.

Americans Want Solar

94% of Americans say it’s important for the U.S. to develop and use solar energy. 72% favor extension of Federal tax credits for renewable technologies, and 77% of Americans want the government to make solar power development a national priority, according to the independent polling firm, Kelton Research, June 10, 2008. “These results are an undeniable signal to our elected leaders that Americans want job-creating solar power, now,” said Rhone Resch, President of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

“Solar development means job growth for Americans, by Americans, in an industry that will benefit America,” said Dr. Gerald Fine, President & CEO of SCHOTT North America. “Rather than rely on foreign sources for fuel, the U.S. can aspire to become the world’s leader in clean energy.”

General Electric, with a goal of investing $6 billion in renewable energy by 2010, already surpassed the $4 billion mark this July. GE says that within two years, renewable energy will make up almost a quarter of its total investments in energy, up from 10% in 2006. Investment banks Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs all plan to take advantage of global interest in renewable investments. Meanwhile, NYMEX, the New York-based stock exchange, recently formed a consortium of financial institutions to launch a Green Exchange to trade Renewable Energy Credits.

The Market Speaks: Renewable Energy Finance Forum Wall Street
Over 600 senior executives attended the 5th annual Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF) held this June in New York City. “Each year, we have increasingly seen financial leaders on Wall Street recognize renewable energy companies as an important growth sector for the US economy,” said Michael Eckhart, President of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) who hosted the forum along with Euromoney Energy Events. “This new reality has helped launch renewable energy investing into mainstream financial arenas and continues to drive the momentum of the industry,” said Eckhart.

Top analysts forecasted the industry’s potential in the US, for solar power, wind power and bio-fuels. Speakers also drew attention to wavering political issues threatening the viability of renewable developments as Congress currently debates the extension of critical investment catalysts like the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit.

“Wall Street has shown us that the full forces of American innovation are ready to be deployed to meet our energy challenges. If government leaders can provide a stable long-term climate for investment, the renewable energy sector will see unprecedented growth, providing extensive economic opportunities and environmental benefits,” said John Geesman, Co-Chair of the ACORE Board of Directors and former Calif. Secretary of Energy.

GE Financial Services and ACORE released a report at the REFF weighing the long-term economic impact of wind development with the up-front cost of the production tax credit. The report found that the net present value of 2007 US wind development is worth $250 million more than the price tag for the tax credits, which was about $9 billion last year. According to the report, the tax credit pays for itself because of tax revenue received from wind projects, worker wages and other taxes. Once the PTC and ITC issues are behind the industry, the next big battle on Capitol Hill will be over a carbon-weighted policy like cap and trade, according to presenters.

“We simply need more energy. We’re not waiting around for governments to craft the perfect policies,” said Vivienne Cox, Executive Vice President of BP’s alternative energy business. “This is an important market, and we’re going to build a business around it.”
The US is currently the world’s fourth-largest solar power market after Germany, Japan and Spain. Japan is aiming for 30 percent of all its homes to have solar panels installed by 2030, bringing the number of installations to 14 million, according to Kyodo News. Japanese solar panel manufacturers, which include Sharp, account for half of the world output of solar power equipment.

Grid Parity

Grid Parity is the point at which Photovoltaic (PV) electricity costs the same or less than power derived from the electrical grid. PV Grid Parity is expected beginning 2012 in places where sunshine is plentiful, and 2018 in areas of the world with medium sun exposure, according to a study in June from iSupply Corp., an electronics industry analysis company.

Worldwide investments in the production of PV cells will rise to the same level as those for semiconductor manufacturing by 2010, due to booming demand for solar energy. Each PV factory will require an investment of $500 million or more, employ as many as 1,000 workers per site and generate annual revenue of $1 billion per year or more.

By 2010, as many as 400 production lines in the world that can produce at least 1 Megawatt (MW) of PV cells per year, will be in place, representing a four-fold increase in production lines from 2007. Factories capable of 1 Gigawatt (GW) of annual PV production will also be established in the future, to ensure continued strong delivery of PV cells to the market. PV cell production will become cheaper over time, with cell makers Q-Cells, AG, and REC Group expecting a reduction in PV system costs of 40 percent by 2010.

Tom Werner, chief executive of SunPower Corp., the largest North American solar panel manufacturer, sees Grid Parity for solar power in the US and elsewhere happening in about five years, or possibly as soon as 2010. “That’s actually more aggressive than what we would say previously, and that’s because the cost of electricity is going up faster than we had ever modeled,” Werner said at the Reuters Global Energy Summit this past June.

Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., one of the largest of a growing number of Chinese solar companies, sees the same five-year timeline, thanks to increasing supplies of silicon that will help drive down costs.

The end of polysilicon shortages could cause PV costs to drop in half. “It takes about two or three years to add capacity,” says Travis Bradford, an industry analyst for the Prometheus Institute. The shortage has been severe enough to drive up silicon prices to more than 10 times normal levels, to $450 a kilogram, adds Ted Sullivan, an analyst at Lux Research.

The Business Case For Solar Now

Right now, in New Jersey, the average kilowatt of electricity is being sold to residents at the rate of 18 cents kwhr. If you purchase a 5 kw solar PV system for $40,000 that could generate about 8,000 kilowatts a year, and could easily last for 30 years (panels often carry a 25 year manufacturer’s warranty), your system would generate about 192,000 kilowatt hours over the 30 years, after subtracting 20% for rated age. Now, if you take the 192,000 kilowatt hours and divide it by $40,000, then each kilowatt costs you about 15 cents. Would you rather pay for your own clean, renewable energy system, that carries a 25 year warranty, or purchase dirty electricity coming from coal, nuclear or oil sources, at the rate of 18 cents?

I asked energy analyst, Charles Cresson Wood, if he thinks the price of solar electricity is at Grid Parity now with conventional electricity, when analyzed over 25 years, the typical warranty period of today’s solar panels. He replied, “When one realistically considers the trajectory of the costs for fossil fuels, then solar, wind and other renewables are less expensive over a time frame such as that which you mention.” The analysis is based on research done for his book Kicking The Gasoline & Petro-Diesel Habit.

Solar Is A Better Choice

Energy consultant Jim Harding estimates the operating cost per kilowatt-hour for a new nuclear plant will be in the region of 30 cents for its first dozen years, only dropping to 18 cents after construction costs are paid down. With distributed solar at the low end of this bracket and dropping, and with concentrated solar and wind power estimated at 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, energy companies are backing away from their proposals for new nuclear facilities. Of the seventeen currently in the planning stage, Moody’s Investor Service only expects one or two to be on line by 2015.

Cap-And-Trade System

A cap-and-trade provision would make it costlier to emit carbon into the atmosphere and discourage the burning of fossil fuels. The economics of solar and other cleaner energy sources would be even more competitive.

According to Amory Lovins, physicist and author, reducing carbon emissions would be cheaper and safer if nuclear was rejected in favor of alternatives that are sustainable. Investing in the nuclear option would suck up capital that would be spent more cost-effectively on renewable energy, efficiency and conservation. In contrast to the vast money pit required by nukes, every dollar invested in energy efficiency programs returns three dollars in electricity savings to utility customers.

While debates on disposal of radioactive waste, vulnerability to terrorist attacks, and large-scale use of fresh water required to run nuclear plants continue, it’s tough to argue with the numbers. If the debate is between a clean, renewable source such as solar, which can reach utility scale in some parts of the country, and a more expensive form of power that Wall Street investors won’t even touch, then the nuclear defenders may be running out of arguments. The bottom line is that nuclear costs two to 10 times more than its clean competitors.

Incentives For Renewables

There is not yet a national program in place, except for a 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) limited to a maximum of $2,000 for homeowners, with no limit for business. This applies to both solar PV and domestic solar hot water systems. The ITC will expire at the end of 2008, unless Congress passes an extension, which it is slated to do, by many political analysts.

Currently 25 states offer various incentives for homes and businesses. In New York, a rebate of approximately 50% is available for a solar PV system. New Jersey’s incentive program is going through a transition after offering an average of 60% rebates for the past seven years.

The plan is to move into a performance-based incentive, called the Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), which pays the solar PV system owner annually based on the number of kilowatts produced by the system. A residential rebate of $3.00 per watt for solar PV systems, starting in 2009 till 2012 with incremental decreases is planned. That rebate would be close to 40% of the system cost.

For detailed information on specific state rebates, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.

Power Purchase Agreements & Leases

The use of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and similar leasing instruments to finance residential and commercial solar power installations is taking off. The commercial solar PPA market has already been active in California and New Jersey.

The Atlantic City Convention Center has awarded Pepco Energy Services, a 20-year PPA to install one of the largest single roof-mounted solar arrays in the US. Under the 20-year contract, Pepco will build, own, operate and maintain the 2.36-Megawatt solar array for the Convention Center. Construction is planned for completion by December 31, 2008. Jeanne Fox, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities states, “This is an example of the kind of initiatives we hope to see as we transition to the sale or trade of SRECs to pay for solar projects.”

Last year, half of all the commercial solar installs in the US were PPAs, and this year that number is running between 60 and 80 percent, according to Jon Guice, researcher at AltaTerra, in Palo Alto, CA, a green energy consultancy group.

Sun Run, one of the first PPA-based residential distributed power companies in California, offers a standard agreement providing electricity at 13.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 18 years, according to Nat Kreamer, Sun Run’s CEO. “If you do a 30-year look-back, residential electricity rates in California have risen an average of 6.7 percent per year,” he says. They offer various up-front payment options, so that an increased payment would result in delivered electricity decreases.

“We found the sweet spot for customers is up to $10,000 for prepayment, and that they want flexible options for reassigning the contract when they move, and not a big buy-out at the end,” Kreamer says. “At the end of the term, customers can renew their contracts for a year at a time, or buy out the system at a fraction of the installed cost.”

Another form of financing for residential solar systems that requires less or no up-front payments, is leasing. David Arfin, vice president of customer financing at Solar City of Foster City, CA states that, “The big difference is with a lease: there is no money down, and in most cases homeowners are saving money from day one.” Solar City leases typically run for 15 years, after which time homeowners can purchase the system for 20 to 30 percent of the cost of the installed system. Leases can be extended for five-year increments.

“With a PPA, the residential host agrees to pay for certain kWh produced on his or her roof, and they have a variable payment depending on what is produced and used. With our lease, there is a fixed payment every month, but they still get the benefits of whatever excess power is generated,” said Arfin. “It’s sort of like the difference between leasing a car by the mile or by the week,” he adds.

A Home Equity Line of Credit is the most profitable choice for credit-worthy NJ homeowners to finance a solar system. Their monthly loan payment will be comparable to the savings on their current electric bill. After factoring in rising electric rates and the SRECs, the homeowner can get extra income from their solar purchase.

The fact is, unless you own your own electric generating system, or have a set price agreement with a PPA or PPL, you are leasing your power from a utility company with no control over its future cost.

Clean Power Finance has tools and loan products to make the purchase of home solar power systems more affordable. Clean Power Finance tools assist with completing the rebates, and match multiple funding options. Everything is done online.

The Borrower’s Guide to Financing Solar Energy Systems: A Federal Overview provides information to assist both lenders and consumers in financing solar electric and thermal systems, with descriptions of special mortgage programs for energy-efficient homes. The free brochure is online at www.nrel.gov/docs/fy99osti/26242.pdf

For Super Big Renewable & Efficient Ideas The Dept of Energy will make up to $10 billion dollars in loan guarantee authority, available for projects employing energy efficiency, renewable energy and advanced transmission and distribution technologies that constitute New or Significantly Improved Technologies. It’s limited to 80% of total Project Costs, and requires a non-refundable minimum application fee of $18,750 to be considered.

Breaking news: Vice President Al Gore has begun a campaign that is so ambitious, it could be game-changing. He is challenging our nation to produce 100% of our electricity from renewable energy within 10 years. Al Gore noted, “To those who say 10 years is not enough time, I respectfully ask them to consider what the world’s scientists are telling us about the risks we face if we don’t act in 10 years.”

To learn how you can get involved in the Solar solution, and energy efficiency, a course is being offered at Brookdale Community College, in Lincroft, NJ on Tuesday nights from 7-9pm Sept. 23 through Oct. 7, 2008 and again in January 2009.For scheduling, call: 732-842-1900.
For more information go to http://www.bized.com

Cathy Sims, editor and publisher of the biz.ed Guide since 1986

photo credit: wearitdotcom

The world is becoming extremely environmental conscience. With great pushes to save the environment and reminding everyone that they can do their part, the market in green has become huge. By the “green” market we are speaking of items that are environmentally friendly. There are several areas where the opportunities for small businesses are huge.

One area is the search for green apparel. Individuals are looking for eco-friendly clothing and the market in this area is growing. This means using organic materials such as cotton and using environmentally friendly dyes. Small businesses can find a market in this area because they can offer unique environmentally friendly clothing. More and more designers are becoming eco-friendly and the need for the service is growing. Getting your foot in now on this type of green business could be very beneficial for you.

Another green market which is growing is the use of solar energy. Many experts see this use of this growing, meaning that those who can install it will be in high demand. Starting your own small business in this area can tap into the green movement and hopefully provide a large and successful market for you.

Also, if you can teach a business what areas they can become more eco-friendly in you can start a small business in this area. Individuals who can advise businesses on making environmentally friendly choices and decisions are growing in demand. You can get your foot into the green market by providing the information to those who want to go green but aren’t necessarily sure how.

Going green is rising in popularity. If you are looking to start a small business looking into this growing market would be a very valuable starting point.

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photo credit: Edgar Zuniga Jr.

As is occurring in many states, New York is trying to promote Green Building practices. The state is doing it by offering tax credits as financial incentives.

New York Green Building Initiative

The concept of green building isn’t particularly old and has arisen as a result of a better understanding of the impact of buildings on people and the environment. Ideally, green buildings are designed to use non-polluting energy, recyclable resources and systems that avoid health impacting elements. These buildings are extremely environmentally friendly, provide healthier environments for workers and decrease the heat and pollutant situations found in tightly packed structure and population areas such as New York City.

While green building is a nice idea, our country is based on capitalist methods. If green building isn’t cost efficient, no developer is going to pursue it because doing so will give their competition a price advantage. This is where the New York Green Building Initiative comes in.

The Initiative addresses the cost impact of green building by creating financial incentives to promote the process. By going green, developers are given breaks through tax credits. The state is one of the first in the nation to provide such an incentive system, which is a major incentive. The advantage of tax credits over other incentives is they are incredibly useful in reducing tax liability. Unlike a tax deduction which comes off of gross revenues, tax credits are used to reduce the actual amount of tax owed. For instance, if is a developer owes $5 million in taxes and gets a $2 million dollar tax credit, it has to pay $3 million in taxes.

The New York Green Building Initiative offers developers tax credits of up to $2 million dollars for using green building techniques when building structures. The program is in place until 2014. The Initiative is run by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which can provide you with more information on the program and the application process.

The New York Green Building Initiative represents another step in the recognition of the impact our society has on the environment. By promoting better building practices with tax credits, New York is the model for promoting green building.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.

photo credit: technicolorcavalry

Solar Is Our Future: Crafting Your Own Green Collar, Solar Business

Starting a home based solar energy business has many rewards and challenges. Starting a business is a big responsibility that includes commitment, professionalism, training, and self-discipline. It involves careful consideration, such as what type of competition you’ll encounter and the demand for the solar rental service you can expect. Start searching for your next dream job.

Due to this commitment, the Department of Energy will be more than willing to give out grants for something like a home-based, solar energy business. Steven Chu, the new Secretary of Energy has pledged to make the Department of Energy’s services more available to the common person. This means that anymore who want to run a business from home promoting the use of solar energy should be able to work their way through the bureaucracy well.

The change in attitude related to renewable, solar energy just offers way more options to a person, who may have lost their job during this economic downturn, to get a let up and start their own, work from home business.

Most of the grants and funding work is done through the Office of Science Grants and Contracts Division. The Office of Science Contracts would make an assessment on whether or not the work from home solar energy business would be viable enough to be worthy of a government subsidy. The DOE has launched what they call the Solar America Initiative. Many new renewable energy initiatives will establish many new forms of energy all from off grid places by twenty-fifteen.

There are other options and ways to start your own solar energy business besides getting the whole business operation up and running by yourself. You can look for other established or emerging companies that have inexpensive ways to become affiliated with them. To be a sales associate in most organizations doesn’t take a lot of work. You may need to pass a test to show you are qualified and know a little about solar energy but that is usually it.

You do not need to be a college graduate or a seasoned sales executive. More often than not, a person with passion and drive can really make a difference. There are opportunities in the renewable energy industry for those who believe in solar power and wish to promote alternate ways to help the U.S. produce electricity.

If you are required to pay a fee to become involved in a business opportunity, it may mean something is fishy. Good business opportunities, especially targeting the home-based entrepreneur, show not fees or additional costs to join. You should be on the lookout if they do. A reputable company will not ask new associates to pay for a “welcome kit” or sample products. The primary objective is about creating a team, a collective of passionate people all doing good by referring U.S. homeowners to exciting aspects of renting a solar energy system for their home.

Obviously the idea of a home based solar energy business that promotes the renting of a solar system versus having to buy one is a super way to offer renewable energy and one great idea that will get us all closer to moving off the grid for good.

A green collar, solar job was talked about so much during the 2008 presidential election. A green collar job would revive the solar manufacturing base in this country and provide opportunity to people who otherwise might not be able to make a good living or who may have recently lost a job. A small business is the lifeblood of the economy for many communities so when a green collar job is a part of a small business, it is a winning combination.

The exciting aspect of solar energy is the potential for growth. The renewable energy industry is still in its infancy. With less than 2.three percent of the U.S. home solar energy market is tapped currently. Renewable energy has a long way to go and much growth to tap into. What’s more, solar power makes up three fifths of a percent of the total renewable share, and yet, solar power has the greatest potential of all renewable types for rapid, exponential growth.

There are also several websites that promote the idea of home based renewable energy. Many of these websites have connections to private equity and venture capital firms who would consider investing in a solar energy company, but the truth is that there is such a calling for something innovative like a home based solar company that large upfront investments are not necessary in many ways.

Home based solar energy companies would fit nicely in the scheme of the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative. Dr. Chu, who was referenced earlier, stresses the need for a strong partnership with the private sector related to the growth of solar.

As a professor at Stanford, Chu has written on the benefits of renewable energy for home usage and how it will help ease our way off fossil fuels. Chu has called for a revolution in alternative fuels and he says there is no better time than now to confront challenges like global warming. This is why 2009-2010 would be a great time to start up a home based solar energy business.

At Solargies, our mission is to spread the use of renewable energies as simply as possible. We provide U.S. homeowners the option to rent a solar electric system. We also offer entrepreneurs a no cost method to build their own solar energy business. Lost your job recently? Why not create a whole, renewable one. Learn more about Daniel at http://www.EcoCrews.com

photo credit: Torley

Take Your Company’s Green Initiatives, Make Them Work for You and Add Green to Your Bottom Line.

So, your company has a Green Initiative. Maybe you’ve started recycling paper and other products, utilizing biodegradable and renewable resources, choosing sustainable sources for the materials you consume, utilizing energy saving devices or solar powered energy or begun working to reduce your carbon footprint another way. Even if you’re only taking part in one of these initiatives today, it’s likely that your company has invested time, effort and funds into the program – which, by the way, is a lot of additional work you were not doing five years ago. Working to preserve the environment is a noble cause that many companies are making part of their business plan or social responsibility plan, but it also provides those companies a big opportunity to reach out to green consumers and promote their products and services.

Now that your company is putting forth all this extra effort, it’s time to examine your environmental practices and take the positive steps that can help you add profits to your bottom line. Kermit the frog said it best when he coined the saying “It ain’t easy being green”, but even Kermit knew that those who take on the challenge of preserving the environment through their business practices will have a new audience of Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability [LOHAS] consumers. LOHAS consumers value environmentally friendly companies and their products and services, and represent a new marketing avenue for your business. In short, yes, being “green” can certainly bring in more “Green.”

This new audience of LOHAS consumers along with your current audience of customers and prospects want to work with and buy from companies who have a strong background in environmental responsibility. Your new green initiatives are a great way to build a bridge with prospective and current customers, but they won’t know you’ve gone green unless you make it a point to let them know. Getting out your green message can be done through traditional marketing channels, but is much more effective if communicated through “green marketing.”

Green marketing is the practice of using eco-friendly materials to deliver your marketing message. It is based on the principle “actions speak louder than words,” because it helps you demonstrate your green commitment through the actual marketing vehicle instead of through your marketing message alone. Green marketing can involve all phases of your marketing and promotions, from your marketing materials and promotional products to your direct mailers and executive gifts. Every marketing initiative that your company undertakes, from a branding campaign to a new product or service launch, can be produced using eco-friendly materials to underscore your green message.

Green marketing is in and of itself a green initiative. Using recycled, organic and energy-saving print and products in your marketing campaigns will lessen your carbon footprint. Your audience will be able to recognize immediately that you are a company that is serious about protecting the environment, and if the piece you have sent is creative and useful enough, they may keep it even longer than a non-green marketing piece. With all of the great opportunities to brand your business as an environmentally responsible company and make your target audience aware of your green initiatives, green marketing should be a no-brainer. But is it? Many businesses find green marketing to be a daunting task. Where do they find the materials? How do they know what’s green and what isn’t? Are they green enough to say that they are green? Don’t get overwhelmed yet; green marketing is within your grasp!

Green Marketing Made Easy

So, what is your green ability? Can you market green? The answer is: yes. Green marketing has become very accessible over the past ten years. The materials are much easier to find and the marketing and promotional industry has developed standards and certifications to let you know which materials are authentic and how authentic they are. Today there are many resources for attractive promotional products and printed pieces that are healthy for the environment and your marketing campaign. From recycled leather lap-top bags and Forest Stewardship Council [FSC] certified paper brochures printed with vegetable inks to biodegradable tradeshow bags and bamboo polo shirts with performance fabrics, the options are endless. When you think of green, you might visualize a plain brown product, but many of these items are also extremely stylish and attractive – even more so than their “non-green” counterparts.

Start by creating a green marketing plan. Identify all of your annual marketing programs and opportunities and evaluate how they can become more “green.” If you usually give out a corporate gift during the holidays, look for one crafted of attractive recycled leather – or choose a solar-powered computer bag that can power their lap-top anywhere the sun is shining. If you always do a direct mail piece around a product launch, choose FSC certified materials for the packaging and print it with vegetable inks. If you are concerned with sourcing the products, contact your local promotional products professional and ask for their assistance in choosing the perfect green products. Once you have identified the annual projects for which you will use green marketing materials, consider the marketing message that you will include. Sometimes it is effective to call attention to the green materials and make your green business practices a focus where other times it makes more sense to allow the eco-friendly construction to speak for itself and use the marketing copy to promote your company, product or service. After your messages are crafted and polished, you are ready to begin marketing “green.”

One question that many businesses ask is “am I “green enough” to market green?” As long as your business has undertaken a green initiative that has a significant impact on your footprint, it is acceptable for you to let your audiences know that eco-friendly initiatives are important to you and that you are taking steps to become more environmentally friendly. Even if your initiative is small, it’s still ok to market using green materials and let your audience know that the environment is important to you. Where businesses get in trouble is when they make claims like “Our oil refinery is a green oil refinery” or “We have become an eco-friendly company.” If either of these companies is doing just one thing that harms the environment, they could lose their credibility with their customers and be perceived as engaging in “Greenwashing.” Greenwashing is the practice of telling the public that you are greener than you actually are.

In order to avoid Greenwashing, make your marketing message very specific. For instance, you might say “To show our concern for the environment, Bio-Tech has implemented our first ever paper recycling program,” or “Our company pledges to add one new eco-friendly business practice every quarter this year – why don’t you join our green revolution.” Also be careful that any products and services you are marketing as green have been verified by a reputable third party source. The moral of the story is that, yes, anyone who has implemented an eco-friendly business practice can use green marketing to grow their bottom line, but crafting the message honestly is the key.

Whether you are a green company who wants to communicate your eco-friendly message or a company who is just dipping their toe in the environmentally friendly waters, integrating green marketing materials into your marketing plan can really help you take your green initiative to the next level – and grow your bottom line. Your green-ability is strong and the time for green marketing is now!

Chris Morrissey is the Owner of Proforma Big Dog Branding, a premier provider of printing services and promotional products, with expertise in eco-friendly marketing practices.

To reach Chris: chris@bigdogbranding.com – http://www.bigdogbranding.com/

photo credit: Torley

Tip #1: Make your green business fit your skills.Green cosmetics and cleaning supplies are very common in the eco-friendly world. But what if your particular niche is computers? You can create a green business in computers if you want to. Research how your skills and talents can be combined together to make a green computer business or any other business that could use a bit of eco-friendliness.

Tip #2: Support your green business with a green lifestyle.Look into ways in which you can promote your green business while being green in both your professional and private life. Buy products and office supplies that are recycled. Use suppliers that only sell green items. Use organic cleaning products and energy saving methods. Recycle both at the office and at home and see if there are other power sources – such as wind or solar power – for your home and office.

Tip #3: Educate your customers.If they are shopping in your store, then they are interested in the benefits of the green products you sell. Educate them why your products are better, how they help the earth or conserve resources. Show them differences between your eco-friendly item and the competitor. Make sure you know products and are professional. This adds value to the items you sell and your customers appreciate the information.

Tip #4: Word of mouth is good.When you make it a point to present your customers with as much information as possible about your green products, they in turn will tell their friends. Make your customer your best friend and best sales marketer. The happier they are with what you sell, the more they will talk about it. You, your staff, and your customers are the best promotional team any business could ever have.

Tip #5: Hire staff that shares your feelings about improving the environment.

People who feel the same as you do about going green and living a greener life will be more apt to invest into your business than those who aren’t. Employees will be more passionate on the sales floor when making a sale. While you want your business to succeed financially, you also want to sit back and witness how it is helping out the world around you environmentally.

Start a Greener Life has been especially created for people looking to be more environmentally friendly during the course of their everyday lives. Our mission is to be a reference bank where everything you need to make greener choices for you and your family is readily available and easily accessible. Take a look at our articles and tips at http://www.StartAGreenerLife.com

photo credit: jonmatthew photography

Environmental conservation has recently become the latest buzzword among major countries in the world. As governments of developed countries realize the importance and inevitability of working towards environmental conservation, major business houses are trying to comply with eco friendly operations. All leading companies around the globe have realized an importance for sustainable trade for their long-term survival.

Most business has realized that suitable conservation of non-renewable energy resources was the ultimate way to attain lasting existence of businesses and mankind. Utilizing oil resources continuously without concern for future has already raised eyebrows and caused havoc in U.S. auto industry. Demand for alternate biodiesel is in constant rise. People are opting for new opportunities of any alternate energy source. Solar energy long promised to develop as a major energy supply but lately there has been no significant achievement as regards to solar power satisfying the human demand for energy.

Also different industries that depend on nature for their raw material requirements are under pressure. They need to shift to eco-friendly production ways that would enable sustained business on a long-term scenario. U.S. paper industry has come forward for the protection of forests and agreed to work towards forests conservation. Increasing global demand for paper has led to an erosion of numerous trees of Cumberland hardwoods – thus threatening the ecological system of the place. Unless immediate preventive steps were exercised the region would not be left with any forest resource to further facilitate human survival and growing industrial needs. Ways to conserve forests include using recycled paper waste and also managing forest resources in a more sustainable way. Major paper industry giants have recently come forward as a positive step for working towards environmental conservation and minimizing uncontrolled use of trees for paper manufacturing.

Many government organizations, business companies and also non-profit-concerns are operating worldwide to enhance commerce and techniques that promote environment conservation. Ways to promote research work for alternate fuels and encouraging business to practice recycling of products are becoming increasingly popular among in U.S. and other concerned countries.

Emphasis to find different sources of energy apart for oil reserves is always being researched. Wind energy, solar energy, bio-fuels, wave energy and many others have been tried and tested for efficient replacement of non-renewable power resource. Many options have also achieved significant amount of success in helping conservation of oil sources that is fast disappearing from earth surface.

Hybrid automobiles have been invented that run on bio-diesel as a measure to find a way for reducing large amounts of oil consumption in U.S. Governments in many countries have introduced certain measures upon corporates to work towards responsible environmental protection. Ways to find new energy efficient methods for production are sought, that not only promotes healthy living conditions but also reduce manufacturing costs for industries. Many industries are actively taking part in a race for achieving eco-friendly manufacturing techniques and using recycled wastes. Realization for proper disposal of industrial wastes only after their proper treatment is essential for nature conservation. Recently a new approach for green building materials has gained a lot of popularity among building constructors to encourage ecological protection.

Mansi aggarwal writes about green business. Learn more at http://www.ecobusinessprimer.com