Comments on: First Steps to Greening Your Existing Business http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/ Green & Sustainable Business Ventures: For Entrepreneurs & Investors Tue, 22 May 2012 15:40:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: » Blog Archive » Wearable, Durable, Fashionable Recyclables http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/comment-page-1/#comment-4980 » Blog Archive » Wearable, Durable, Fashionable Recyclables Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:56:59 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/#comment-4980 [...] Read more about the First Steps to Greening Your Existing Business from Ecopreneurist.com. [...] [...] Read more about the First Steps to Greening Your Existing Business from Ecopreneurist.com. [...]

]]> By: Itty Bitty Business Cards – An Eco Alternative to the Traditional B Card : Ecopreneurist http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1781 Itty Bitty Business Cards – An Eco Alternative to the Traditional B Card : Ecopreneurist Thu, 29 May 2008 23:08:46 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/#comment-1781 [...] First Steps to Greening Your Existing Business [...] [...] First Steps to Greening Your Existing Business [...]

]]> By: Jennifer Kaplan http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1650 Jennifer Kaplan Fri, 23 May 2008 18:15:27 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/#comment-1650 Daniel - You are so right! All businesses, no matter what size or industry, use power. And many small business owners wonder how they can possibly play a role in managing climate change. They often think that since they are not in a business that actually produces greenhouse emissions that their individual impact is minuscule, possibly immeasurably small. But the reality is that, in aggregate, the total climate-related impact of the 26.4 million small businesses adds up. Many small businesses need to be informed that - without question - their businesses have an indirect impact on the climate and that the electricity, heating, cooling and transportation and other services they use all translate into CO2 output with global warming impact. Daniel – You are so right!

All businesses, no matter what size or industry, use power. And many small business owners wonder how they can possibly play a role in managing climate change. They often think that since they are not in a business that actually produces greenhouse emissions that their individual impact is minuscule, possibly immeasurably small. But the reality is that, in aggregate, the total climate-related impact of the 26.4 million small businesses adds up. Many small businesses need to be informed that – without question – their businesses have an indirect impact on the climate and that the electricity, heating, cooling and transportation and other services they use all translate into CO2 output with global warming impact.

]]> By: Daniel Aguilar http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1647 Daniel Aguilar Fri, 23 May 2008 17:13:25 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/#comment-1647 Fantastic, I find it important for everyone to get involved and not just the government or the big companies the are being pushed to the green path. I think we should encourage small and medium sized companies to see this responsible path as the best way of growing, and not just to obey policies. The market is responsible for the environment since it profits from natural resources. The market can be changed from inside, we can do it, we must. Let´s grow green Fantastic, I find it important for everyone to get involved and not just the government or the big companies the are being pushed to the green path.

I think we should encourage small and medium sized companies to see this responsible path as the best way of growing, and not just to obey policies.

The market is responsible for the environment since it profits from natural resources. The market can be changed from inside, we can do it, we must.

Let´s grow green

]]> By: Jennifer Kaplan http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1626 Jennifer Kaplan Thu, 22 May 2008 14:57:45 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/#comment-1626 Todd- Excellent point. End-of-life asset disposal is an essential part of a green IT program as well as being a sound waste minimization practice. It is something we discuss with all our clients, but is clearly an area that could and should receive more attention. By the way, although it was not obvious from the post, we did in fact ask customers about a whole range of green activities that could be employed and and how each would effect their likelihood to patronize a business assuming they knew of it? The list was long and included the following practices: • Offer Green Employee Benefits • Donate to Green Causes or Green Offset Ventures • Use Green Marketing Tactics (media choices, advertising, etc...) • Use Green Information Technology (energy efficient PCs, power management tactics, etc...) • Use Green Communications (signs communicating Green efforts, newsletters about Green topics, etc...) • Use Green Business Travel/Transportation (delivery trucks, etc...) • Purchase Environmentally Preferable Materials/Supplies (office supplies, etc...) • Offer Environmentally Preferable Products for Sale • Use Green Materials (gift wrap, shopping bags, etc...) • Control or Minimize Waste Generation and Pollution (recycle, reuse, etc...) • Conserve Energy (use energy efficient equipment, use CFL bulbs, etc...) We should have added a question about asset disposal! Unfortunately, green asset disposal does not seem to be high on the consumer or small business radar screen. Dialogues like this are crucial. Thanks for bringing it up! Jennifer Todd-
Excellent point. End-of-life asset disposal is an essential part of a green IT program as well as being a sound waste minimization practice. It is something we discuss with all our clients, but is clearly an area that could and should receive more attention. By the way, although it was not obvious from the post, we did in fact ask customers about a whole range of green activities that could be employed and and how each would effect their likelihood to patronize a business assuming they knew of it? The list was long and included the following practices:
• Offer Green Employee Benefits
• Donate to Green Causes or Green Offset Ventures
• Use Green Marketing Tactics (media choices, advertising, etc…)
• Use Green Information Technology (energy efficient PCs, power management tactics, etc…)
• Use Green Communications (signs communicating Green efforts, newsletters about Green topics, etc…)
• Use Green Business Travel/Transportation (delivery trucks, etc…)
• Purchase Environmentally Preferable Materials/Supplies (office supplies, etc…)
• Offer Environmentally Preferable Products for Sale
• Use Green Materials (gift wrap, shopping bags, etc…)
• Control or Minimize Waste Generation and Pollution (recycle, reuse, etc…)
• Conserve Energy (use energy efficient equipment, use CFL bulbs, etc…)

We should have added a question about asset disposal! Unfortunately, green asset disposal does not seem to be high on the consumer or small business radar screen. Dialogues like this are crucial. Thanks for bringing it up!

Jennifer

]]> By: Todd Zegers http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1615 Todd Zegers Thu, 22 May 2008 04:53:03 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/#comment-1615 Leah and Jennifer, I applaud your efforts - my comment is meant to be complementary as well as complimentary! The focus of the survey is on the purchase of "Green" goods. What we emphasize at Green Asset Disposal (http://www.greenassetdisposal.com) is the proper, environmentally friendly disposal of computer hardware past its prime! When disposed of improperly, it is a major source of toxicity for our ecosystem. So, when your business refreshes its computer systems, please make a "Green" plan for the disposal of the retired assets. We are one of many companies that can perform this function (obviously we think we are the best if not the greenest!). If you are looking for green office standards for non-manufacturing companies, you might check out: http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/TurnLeaf Leah and Jennifer,

I applaud your efforts – my comment is meant to be complementary as well as complimentary!

The focus of the survey is on the purchase of “Green” goods. What we emphasize at Green Asset Disposal (http://www.greenassetdisposal.com) is the proper, environmentally friendly disposal of computer hardware past its prime! When disposed of improperly, it is a major source of toxicity for our ecosystem. So, when your business refreshes its computer systems, please make a “Green” plan for the disposal of the retired assets. We are one of many companies that can perform this function (obviously we think we are the best if not the greenest!).

If you are looking for green office standards for non-manufacturing companies, you might check out: http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/TurnLeaf

]]> By: Georgette http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/comment-page-1/#comment-1611 Georgette Wed, 21 May 2008 23:36:50 +0000 http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/05/21/first-steps-to-greening-your-existing-business/#comment-1611 I think going green is something that everyone can agree is a step in the right direction toward building a better community, and laying down the foundations for which future generations can successfully thrive in a healthier environment. Plus, I think many businesses will benefit from going green, not only building a more acceptable public persona, but in the long run it really helps companies save money and be a positive contributor to the world we live in. Another thing I want to talk about is bioheat, it’s just one small measure that people can take in order to start living a greener lifestyle. Has anyone ever heard of it, or has switched to it? I want to start taking initiative in turning my home into a greener household, one way I have started is by switching out all my lightbulbs in my home to energy efficient lightbulbs. And I am also seriously considering switching over to bioheat as an alternative to regular oilheat. The thing that I love the most about it is that it’s completely clean burning, and is comprised of a b5 blend of oils which are derived from natural plant and vegetable sustainable resources such as corn, hemp, and avocados just to name a few. If you all want more information on how bioheat works, just go on to http://oilheatamerica.com/index.mv?screen=bioheat I work with NORA to bring this info to you all! I think going green is something that everyone can agree is a step in the right direction toward building a better community, and laying down the foundations for which future generations can successfully thrive in a healthier environment. Plus, I think many businesses will benefit from going green, not only building a more acceptable public persona, but in the long run it really helps companies save money and be a positive contributor to the world we live in.

Another thing I want to talk about is bioheat, it’s just one small measure that people can take in order to start living a greener lifestyle.

Has anyone ever heard of it, or has switched to it? I want to start taking initiative in turning my home into a greener household, one way I have started is by switching out all my lightbulbs in my home to energy efficient lightbulbs. And I am also seriously considering switching over to bioheat as an alternative to regular oilheat. The thing that I love the most about it is that it’s completely clean burning, and is comprised of a b5 blend of oils which are derived from natural plant and vegetable sustainable resources such as corn, hemp, and avocados just to name a few. If you all want more information on how bioheat works, just go on to http://oilheatamerica.com/index.mv?screen=bioheat I work with NORA to bring this info to you all!

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