Environmental Business

Business Loans, Angel Investors, Venture Capital and Start Up Capital for Environmental Businesses

photo credit: gadl

Grants are given in various levels of government. There is the federal, state and then those being offered by non profit organizations.

The application process in any of these is the same. The difference will be in the requirements so the person has to get a brochure or do the necessary research online to pre-qualify.

The amount that a person can get from a US federal grant is not fixed. This means that Mr. X can get more than Mr. Y depending on the merits of the proposal. When this is awarded to the recipient, every penny spent must be recorded because the government would like to see where the money went.

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.

photo credit: Capitan Giona

Environmental & Economic Benefits

A new color class of jobs that could cross all lines, including the unemployment line, is here. It’s called “green-collar jobs,” and could save our environment and economy. This blossoming sector includes technicians in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries, in which there are already 8.75 million U.S. jobs.

The term “Green Collar Jobs” was first coined by Alan Durning in his 1999 book, Green Collar Jobs. His book examines the move from economic dependence on logging timber to “green-collar” jobs such as sustainable forestry, ecosystem restoration and tourism in the post logging rural towns of the Pacific Northwest.

photo credit: MSFP

Sometimes it takes one event or trigger to change your life or the direction you are going. I have been very much in my element the last 12 months trying to develop more and more content and services for consulting and coaching clients. I have had clients on a regular basis, even though I always feel I should have more, based on all the time I spend finding them.

As any good coach and entrepreneur should, I keep up on the developments in the industry and believe in the concept of “paying it forward”. The developments in our economy didn’t really help my relatively new company.

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.

photo credit: hueesI

t’s More Than The Environment!

INCREASED REVENUE

• Client base

Clients and prospective customers prefer to do business with companies with common values. Client retention will increase while the base of new clients will expand. Public and private sector purchasing practices will increasingly consider a company’s environmental policies in the selection process.

• Reputation and public image

Employees, executives, business partners, clients, shareholders, family and friends want to align with an environmentally responsible business

• Industry trends & competition

Being aware of industry trends is smart business. The marketplace rewards best practices, separating leaders from laggards.