Green Business

Is It Time to Consider an Electric Vehicle for Your Business?

By Kelly Spors - Feb 3, 2011 - 4 Comments

For many businesses, vehicle travel produces the largest environmental impact. Think about all those meetings, errands and deliveries. Automobile usage should be part of any business's sustainability plan. Transportation accounts for about 30 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. One … Read More

The Many Payoffs of Green Business

By Kelly Spors - Jan 18, 2011 - 10 Comments

In my job as a communications expert for an energy efficiency nonprofit, I get a lot of questions about payback: How long will it take for this or that energy upgrade to pay for itself through energy cost savings? This is an important question for any business trying to be fiscally responsible in … Read More

Five Green Business Trends for 2011

By Kelly Spors - Jan 7, 2011 - 4 Comments

It's wasn’t so easy being “green” when the economy was blue. But as the U.S. economy looks brighter in 2011 – as most hope and expect it will -- businesses will be more focused on long-term sustainability. A key part of that is environmental sustainability. Environmentally responsible … Read More

5 Green Gifts for Your Employees

By Kelly Spors - Dec 12, 2010 - 3 Comments

You want to show your employees appreciation with a gift this holiday season. But you don't necessarily want to hand out trinkets that will inevitably create more waste by getting tossed in the closet or the trash can. Rather, think seriously about giving employees an eco-friendlier holiday gift … Read More

How to Be a Greener Business for the Holidays

By Kelly Spors - Nov 23, 2010 - 5 Comments

It's not just our waistlines that get bigger around the holidays – so do our trash cans and energy bills. Think of all the wrapping paper, plastic bags, packaging and decorations that businesses use around the holiday season. It's the perfect time to try and cut down on some of that … Read More

7 Ways to Make Your Office More Energy Efficient

By Kelly Spors - Nov 12, 2010 - 5 Comments

All the gadgets and equipment business owners use today – from computers to scanners to smart phone chargers – are driving up electric bills. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, office equipment now accounts for 7 percent of total commercial electricity use, or … Read More

LEDs: Energy-Efficient Business Lighting Gets More Affordable

By Kelly Spors - Oct 21, 2010 - 5 Comments

When it comes to energy-saving opportunities for businesses, lighting frequently tops the list. Every business needs lights, and energy-efficient varieties – such as compact fluorescents (CFLs) and T8 fluorescent tube lights – use 40 percent to 75 percent less energy than their conventional … Read More

7 Ways to Communicate Your Commitment to Sustainability

By Anita Campbell - Oct 1, 2010 - 7 Comments

This series is commissioned by UPS. You don't need to have a big company to embrace sustainability. Smart and committed small businesses are adopting sustainability practices, too. They are incorporating recycled goods in their manufacturing supply chains. They are requiring … Read More

The Lowdown on Buying Carbon Offsets

By Kelly Spors - Sep 29, 2010 - 3 Comments

As much as we talk about energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints, there are limits. Many businesses rely on driving, air travel, shipping and production for their core operations. They may be able to shave their pollution by, say, driving hybrid vehicles. But they can't exactly call … Read More

4 Ways to Spruce Up Your Green Marketing

By Kelly Spors - Sep 17, 2010 - 6 Comments

“Greenwashing” – when companies claim they're good environmental stewards when they're really not so much – has become so rampant in recent years that consumers don't know what or whom to believe. That makes it extra difficult for businesses that are truly taking meaningful steps to reduce … Read More

5 Steps to Building an Effective Green Team

By Kelly Spors - Aug 31, 2010 - 5 Comments

Small businesses with more than 12 or 20 employees have a big opportunity when it comes to sustainability: They can tap their employees’ expertise to find new and better strategies for going green. A so-called “green team” is a committee of employees that meets regularly, typically during … Read More

Solar Energy and Your Business: Time for a Second Look?

By Kelly Spors - Aug 8, 2010 - 7 Comments

Like many, you may think of solar panels as an investment for idealists -- those business owners who want to do something environmentally positive even though it can take over a decade to see financial payback. After all, purchasing and installing a system of solar photovoltaic panels … Read More