[ Back to Articles ] October 31, 2007 How to create a “Green Business” What is a “green business”? Green businesses challenge themselves towards environmental sustainability, community development and improved quality of life for all people in their own activities ranging from production and service, management, employment and investment and community and vendor relations. A green business not only does their part to help, they increase their standing in the community as well as cut their costs over time. If you do not own a business or have the authority where you work to make changes, use your consumer power!!! Encourage the businesses you patronize to “go green” to keep you as a customer. Promise you will spread the word on their effort so they can gain even more customers! What does being a green business do for me? How about these for benefits – cost savings, increased revenues, employee development, risk management, increased brand value. How can you begin to develop towards green business or turn your favorite business into one? Once you begin, it seems incredibly simple. Start with these easy tips below and you will find a plan that will be easy to build on as you go. After you read these tips, visit the websites provided for further information and motivation. Use high quality, energy efficiency compact fluorescent lighting and Energy Star appliances. These energy efficient bulbs cost less than $4 and are produced by major companies like GE. It has been estimated that if every household in the U.S. switched five regular light bulbs for five fluorescent bulbs, it would be the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the highways for a full year. Imagine if businesses participated too!!! Programmable Thermostats: Though these thermostats cost from $50 to $100, they may actually cut your heating and cooling costs. Set the settings so it’s a little bit cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer when you’re not in the house. A difference of 2 degrees can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 9 percent over the course of a year. Air Filters: Changing the air filters in your heating and cooling systems regularly can knock 2 percent off of your CO2 output each year. Use/Spec non-toxic materials and products. Here’s a simple rule of thumb: If it’s poisonous, carcinogenic, triggers asthma or wreaks havoc on your nervous system, you probably don’t want it in your building. And yet most of the products we use to build and maintain our buildings-including paint, cleaners, insulation, cabinetry and carpets are portable Superfund sites, making their way into our common spaces and livings spaces. Search the internet for green supplies for store, office and home. Use/Spec materials and products with post-consumer recycled content. Search for products that state the percentage of post-consumer recycled content. Paper is a biggie. So are plastic and paper packaging (essentially, anything you can recycle should be made from recycled materials to keep the cycle going). And if you’re buying wood, tiles, countertops, carpet or insulation there are options recycled and resource minimizing options for these as well. Enact low-cost, fast payback, energy efficiency measures. Schedule a building energy audit from a qualified firm. Auditors can usually quickly pinpoint places where energy is being wasted, and drastically reducing energy consumption and expenditures with a few simple adjustments, often costing very little money. Get smart about recycling. Look at what you use consume and find ways to recycle, reduce and reuse. Recycle paper and introduce less toxic supplies and materials. Refill computer ink cartridges rather than add them to the landfill. The same goes for obsolete computers. No more plastic - use canvas or eco friendly shopping bags. It may cost a little more in the beginning – but by offering your customers canvas bags or bags made from recyclable materials – you will enhance your reputation and win over more customers as well as do your part to save the planet! Encourage your customers to use the bag for all their shopping needs and you will have walking advertisements all over town! Use eco friendly hangers. Eco friendly hangers are made from 100% recycled paper and are 100% recyclable. And you can put your logo, ad, even a coupon on them! Customers should urge their retail clothing stores and dry cleaners to research and use eco friendly hangers instead of clogging up landfills with those old wire hangers! These are just a few tips we found at sites such as http://www.intownlivingston.com/www.greenhomenyc.com, http://www.intownlivingston.com/www.cnnmoney.com and http://www.intownlivingston.com/www.algore.com There is much, much more information available, all it takes is a little time. Important Local Resources Staples: The first national retailer to offer computer recycling in stores every day. Staples makes it easy for customers to recycle e-waste by simply bringing their used computers, monitors, laptops, printers, faxes and all-in- ones to any to any U.S. Staples store, where the equipment will be recycled in accordance with environmental laws. All brands are accepted, regardless of whether it was purchased at Staples for a fee of $10 per large item. Call the Livingston Staples at 973-740-9733 for more information. Cartridge World at Livingston: Yes, right here in town! A place to bring and refill cartridges from your printers, faxes and copiers!184 S. Livingston Avenue (near CVS). 973-535-9700 Internet Resources www.Earth911.org, www.coopamerica.com, thegreenoffice.com, www.energystar.gov, www.hangernetwork.com,