| Here's good news for small businesses that care | | | | systems have a reputation of being cost-prohibitive for |
| about the environment but are afraid that going green | | | | many small businesses. When a company researches |
| will break the bank. | | | | this process they should weigh several factors. Look |
| Take a close look at the steps you can take that can | | | | at cost, ease of use, implementation time and how the |
| help put your business on the path to greener | | | | system could grow with your business. Ultimately, it will |
| practices. | | | | require hiring an expert Intranet firm who can take |
| 1. Know Your Carbon Footprint | | | | every paper file and convert it to a digital file. |
| Step one begins with understanding your company's | | | | 6.Recycle |
| impact on the environment. Carbonfund.org offers a | | | | Recycling comes in many forms and will be different |
| free evaluation of your carbon footprint based upon | | | | for each business. For example, if you specialize in |
| factors like the number of employees, their workday | | | | residential and commercial painting you can partner |
| commutes, the size of your facility, and other physical | | | | with the Solid Waste Authority (SWACO) for recycling |
| attributes that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions | | | | removal services. SWACO provides a free 90-gallon |
| - everything down to the number of computers you | | | | recycling container and free desk-side bins for |
| use. | | | | employees as well. To find a similar organization in |
| Then, Carbonfund.org calculates a donation amount to | | | | your area type "small business recycling + your city |
| cover the cost of counteractive efforts. The money is | | | | region" into the search engine. |
| invested in certified third-party offset programs like | | | | 7. Reduce Waste |
| tree-planting, recycling, and solar and wind energy. | | | | Ultimately, the concept of reducing waste becomes a |
| Carbonfund.org has registered over 1,000 businesses | | | | way of thinking. Going paperless is a good way to |
| and 450,000 individuals. | | | | reduce waste. |
| 2. Use Eco-Friendly Products | | | | 8. Insulate Your Facility |
| Be conscious of the products you use everyday when | | | | Your business can receive a modest tax credit for |
| doing business. For example, a painting contractor can | | | | installing insulation or replacing old windows with new |
| use paint products that have little or no volatile organic | | | | energy efficient windows. This can drastically |
| compounds (VOCs). Costing only a few dollars more | | | | decreased heating and cooling costs. |
| per gallon, low or no VOC paints are safer for the | | | | 9.Use Energy-Efficient Vehicles |
| environment. | | | | If your business requires a fleet of vehicles, make sure |
| 3. Pursue Solar Energy Options | | | | they have V4 or V6 cylinder engines. |
| The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of | | | | 10. Install Bee Boxes |
| 2009 outlines enhanced tax credits for small | | | | Sensitive to recent reports on the negative effects of |
| businesses with great detail on how to make solar | | | | Colony Collapse Disorder within the global honey bee |
| energy pay off for your business. To save electricity | | | | population, a team of employees installed and painted |
| and money in your warehouse add skylights to | | | | bee boxes at their company's home office. The |
| increase natural light. This can be a relatively big | | | | disorder, caused by a combination of disease and |
| investment but you'll see substantial savings on monthly | | | | shrinking habitats, has scientists concerned over |
| electric bills for a lifetime. | | | | maintaining worldwide pollination rates. Simple bee |
| 4. Plant Trees to Offset Greenhouse Emissions | | | | boxes costing a few hundred dollars attract bees, |
| In addition to third-party certified offset organizations | | | | enabling the critical work of pollinating seeds. |
| like Carbonfund.org, planting trees on your business | | | | Overall, the investments made by your company to go |
| property is an affordable - and attractive - way to | | | | green will result in reduced costs, increased efficiency |
| offset carbon emissions. Make it a fun company | | | | and - in some cases - modest federal tax credits, |
| activity and assign each employee their own tree. | | | | proving the ease with which small businesses can |
| 5. Become Paperless | | | | positively impact environmental health. |
| This is where most companies cringe because Intranet | | | | |