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One of the best ways I've found to really dive and learn various aspects about sustainability, especially with regards to business, is to start your own Green company. Or, if you've already done so, work to Green it.
Some of initial first steps you can take to Green an existing company:
1. Switch to as much recycled office supplies as possible. Check out thegreenoffice.com for some great info and products.
2. Distribute recycling cans around your facility and be sure to inform your team of your efforts to start recycling (if you aren't already of course).
3. Start recycling your printer cartridges: some office supply stores will take your used cartridges, some manufacturers will have them shipped back to them, and finally there's often a local-based recycler that will come and pick them up (or if too few, have you drop them off).
4. Switch to sustainable, eco-friendly cleaners. Whole Foods, Trader Joes and others provide many of the basics.
5. Swap out all your exisiting lightbulbs with CFL's or LED's. Properly dispose of broken/spent bulbs, donate others where possible.
6. Use sustainable, eco-friendly printers, like greenerprinter.com
7. Find a carbon calculator online to calculate your company's total travel CO2 emissions and offset.
8. Iniatiate a carpooling schedule and system for as much of your company as possible. Otherwise, help your team plan out a public transit route or contribute to their purchase of renewable energy powered vehicle.
9. Hire a professional consultant to evaluate your company's ecological footprint and propose even better initiatives.
10. Go off the grid with renewable energy sources, install a PV system if you can. Otherwise, look into Green power and additional carbon offsets and/or credits.
The same steps can and should be applied to any new startup. There a number of other steps and iniatitives one can take and, with the right planning (and capital), can start carbon free (or much more closely neutral than existing businesses).
If building, hire a sustainable architect that's LEED accredited to design your new facility. Then of course, hire a sustainable contractor or if none can be found, a Green/sustainable consulting firm (like MossCadora or GreenGurus) to assist in coordinating all the bits and pieces of your next steps, like investing in renewable building materials and processes.
Fast Company Gives 50 Ways to Green Your Business Here: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/120/50-ways-to-green-your-business.html
Energy Star Shows How to Green Your Business: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=sb_guidebook.sb_guidebook_other_topics
NRDC Green Business Guides: http://www.nrdc.org/cities/living/gbusiness.asp
reference link:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/120/50-ways-to-green-your-busin...
The Creative Citizen Network:
adam1 says:
I enjoyed this article.
Arbour Realty is a green real estate company located in Arlington VA. We have found ways to take the environment into consideration on every real estate transaction. As a result we have saved money, resources and received a warm reception from local residents.
posted 02/13/10 at 06:33 PM
jediwright says:
This solution is based on:
Historical data from my own experience (both in my personal and professional life) and in research I've done over the last several years online and in discussion with other industry professionals.
The averages I've entered here are:
1. Running a pc with monitor 24/7, then with the solution, reducing to 8-hrs/per day.
2. Switching from a medium sized car with an average round trip of 30 miles/day to public bus transpo, at an average cost of gas set to $3.25.
Some related articles:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/appliances/index.cfm/mytopic=10070
http://www.energy.gov/applianceselectronics.htm
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/computers.html
My estimates are also meant to be conservative here, so in some cases the average may be lower, but in many cases, quite the opposite.
Some additional info on computer energy use, from the University of Colorado - Boulder's "Green Computing Guide":
"Assuming you operate a 200 watt PC system day and night everyday, direct annual electrical costs would be over $125 (at $0.075/kWh). In contrast, if you operate your system just during normal business hours, say 40 hours per week, the direct annual energy cost would be about $30 – plus, of
course, the cost of providing additional cooling."
And, as stated at the close of this solution, additional info coming soon. ;)
posted 03/12/08 at 11:56 AM
thecitizen says:
Are these numbers based on what the average company that goes green saves? Any articles or references on this?
posted 03/12/08 at 04:07 AM