Business Basics: Going Green

Going green. It is a term that has become increasingly popular since 2006, when Al Gore released his award winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth”. Since then, a craze has taken off that is dedicated to creating a cleaner, more energy efficient world, and battling the phenomenon of global warming. There are still skeptics out there, and those that have believed from the beginning. Whichever category you fall into hardly matters; the benefits of going green as a small business speak for themselves.

The truth is, there a number of pros to becoming more environmentally conscious, both in terms of saving and making money. Companies that cater to a growing client base that is dedicated to frequenting eco-friendly businesses are becoming more popular than ever, and for the first time a large number of people will choose a business based partially on this ideal.

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While you may be comfortable in your ways, and you may think that staying the course is the best course of action, making a few subtle changes (or big ones) to reflect this change in consumer needs will go a long way towards modernizing for the sake of your demographic. Even if your main client base isn’t concerned now, chances are they will be within the next few years, as ecologically aware consumers come to the forefront.

Not only that, but you will find yourself opening to a wider selection of customers. There are endless lists on the Internet that promote businesses that have gone green for free. That is a great method of advertising, and getting your name out to net a new market of consumers. Just imagine what a boost of a few dozen, or even hundred, customers could do for your small business.

Here are a few tips to going green, and doing so easily:

Go digital – Making all of your paperwork into digital work will save a great deal of paper. It will also save a great deal of money for your company. You would be shocked by the thousands a small business can save per year by getting rid of unnecessary paperwork, and instead modernizing to use flash drives and Internet-accessible files.
Offer recycling – While it isn’t a huge form of revenue, you can offer recycling bins in your office, and cash in on the exchange for the company itself. It will also save of trash hauling costs.
Turn it off – Take a few minutes at the end of the day to make sure all electronics are switched off. This includes unplugging all power strips, which continue consuming power even when not in use. You will be amazed at the money you save at the end of the year, often in the hundreds.
Watch the temp – So often an office is either too hot or too cold. Set your thermostat to 70 degrees F., and you will be maintaining a comfortable temperature for most. Encourage lighter clothes in the summer, and sweaters in the winter for those that like it to be hotter or cooler.
Turn down the lights – If you have windows, use them. Opening the curtains and turning off the lights in certain areas, or even just dimming them, is great for conserving energy. It is also great on the budget, and will boost moral by offering more natural sunlight.
Give incentive – Offering employees incentives to conserve at the office is a great idea on many fronts. Offer small rewards, or start programs to get people to carpool, bike to work, recycle, or anything else you might think of.

Going green is not nearly as hard as it sounds, or involved. You can make small changes to your small business to become a more eco-friendly company, and start reaping the benefits. Make those changes today, and see the effect it has on your bottom line.

Business Basics: Going Green

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