GREEN TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

There are hundreds of ways businesses can establish green practices. I listed but a very small few below that I feel are relatively easy to implement, for the most part not cost prohibitive, and can make a big difference in a relatively short period of time.

Recycle

• Office paper, cardboard (broken down), printer and toner cartridges, aluminum cans, glass and plastic containers, packaging material, advertising and junk mail, newspaper, telephone books, and more. Check with your local recycling company for what can and cannot be recycled
• Take bubble wrap and styrofoam peanuts to UPS or other packaging stores - they love it!
• Check with your local Household Hazardous Waste facility for how to recycle appliances, batteries, medicines and e-waste
  • JACO - for a small fee will pick up and recycle many household appliances and operates in 8 states including California
  • GreenDisk, Inc. - will recycle disks, cd's, etc. 800-305-DISK. Mail in items. There may be a small fee.
• Set up separate bins for recycled items and garbage throughout your business
• Educate and encourage management and janitorial service to recycle
• Use a reputable document shredding and recycling company
• Donate unwanted furniture, electronic equipment and so forth

Compost

• Set up an in-office compost bin
• Offer composted material to employees for their home gardens. Or better yet, build your own office garden!

Eliminate Junk Mail

• There are many on-line resources for eliminating junk mail. Click here for more info.

Encourage Suppliers to Reduce Packaging and to Use Recycled Packaging Materials

Buy Recycled and Green Office Products

• Recycled Ink and toner cartridges
• Recycled office paper products; pens and pencils - yes - they exist!
• Biodegradable tableware
• Recycled bathroom supplies, such as toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
• Used furniture

Use Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products

• Encourage building maintenance, management and janitorial services to use them!
• Hire green carpet and drape cleaners

Conserve Water (and the energy to deliver it)

• Install low-flow toilets, faucet heads, shower heads
• Plant drought resistant plants or encourage property owner(s) to do so!

Conserve Energy

• Install energy efficient lighting systems, including compact fluorescent lights (CFL's)
• Install Energy Star equipment, such as HVAC, water heaters, etc.
• Set computers and monitors to go into stand-by mode after so many minutes to use less energy
• Turn off power strips for equipment that does not need to have juice all the time, such as printers, etc.

Conserve Fuel and Prevent Pollution

• Take public transit and encourage employees to do the same
• Set up telecommute programs for employees whenever possible
• Bike to work

Green Web Hosting and Domain Registration

• Choose a green and sustainable service provider for your website domain registration AND to host your website
• Green web hosting companies typically offset their electrical use with wind energy and employ other sustainable practices as well
• HMR Associates has partnered with Canvas Dreams and can personally recommend them as a truly reliable, green and sustainable web hosting company that offsets 100% of its electrical usage with renewable, wind energy from wind farms in Oregon. Click Here for more info on Canvas Dreams.  Click Here to order any of their web hosting services.

Invest in Renewable Energy

• Install solar panels - yes this can be very costly upfront, but will definitely pay off in the long-run
• Check with your local utility company for renewable energy credit programs

Choose Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Building Methods and Materials

Become a Certified Green Business

• Check your local county and/or city to see if they have such a program
• Not only will you achieve the satisfaction of being a certified green business, but these programs typically promote their members - at no cost to you!

Patronize Green Companies Locally and Nationally

• Whenever possible, support your local certified green businesses

Encourage Employee Involvement

• Give employees one day a month off to volunteer in a charity of their choice
• Create in-house contests or programs to encourage employee participation in green practices

Socially-Responsible Investing

• There are many successful green and socially-responsible companies, funds and programs available for people to invest their hard-earned money - with positive returns!

Fair Trade Practices

• First - heres an explanation of Fair Trade from Co-Op America:
  "Fair Trade is a system of exchange that honors producers, communities, consumers, and the environment. It is a model for the global economy rooted in people-to-people connections, justice, and sustainability."
• Implement fair trade practices in the workplace
• Support businesses employing fair trade practices both locally, nationally and internationally

Consumerism

• Buy products from green and socially-responsible companies.
• Use the book entitled Better World Shopping Guide to help guide your purchasing power. This book provides a comprehensive list of well-known companies and their ratings in green and socially-responsible categories.

Join Green and Sustainable
Associations and Organizations

• Get involved in your local green community
• Join national organizations for even more resources and exposure

Attend Green and Sustainable
Events Both Locally and Nationally