Think Green and Make More Editor’s note: This month we jump on the eco- friendly bandwagon and introduce an occasional column intended to help small business owners save money as well as resources. Let us know how your business methods are good for the environment and we’ll pass them on to our readers in future issues. # Countless innovative businesses have successfully introduced “green” products in recent years. While many of these products have saved money, they have also reduced impacts on human health and the environment by using recycled or recyclable material, reduc- ing energy usage, or eliminating use of toxic chemicals. Two opportunities to help your busi- ness reduce the impact on the environ- ment, while saving you money, are prod- uct improvement and process improve- ment. The product improvement approach refers to development of products that have preferable environmental attributes when compared to similar products, as well as the marketing of these products as “green.” The process approach refers to improv- ing your manufacturing and business oper- ations to reduce your use of energy and materials as well as reduce wastes and emissions associated with the production process. The goal of these approaches is to benefit your bottom line while improving profitability in the following ways: e Increasing market share — attracting green consumers by getting your products included in environmentally preferable purchasing programs. ¢ Reducing operating costs — increas- ing efficiency and reducing waste leads to better profit margins. eLess tangible benefits — includes benefits such as increasing employee participation and morale, strengthen- ing the company’s image in the com- munity. It is helpful to emphasize the product development process when considering how to incorporate greening concepts. While all development phases are impor- tant, studies show that about 70 percent of a product’s environmental impacts are determined by decisions made during the design stage. Make greening the centerpiece of all design steps from concept, design and prototype, to marketing, manufacturing, packaging and delivery. Don’t forget, greening is a continuous process so monitor new information and ideas as they become available to further improve your products and manufactur- ing processes. — Source: “Greening Your Products” U.S. EPA guide, www.epa.gov. # Here are some tips from CNN to help your business go green: Get smart about recycling. Look at what your company consumes and find ways to recycle, reduce and reuse. Recycle paper and introduce less toxic supplies and materials. Companies such as Green Earth Office Supply sell recycled-paper products to businesses. Refill computer ink car- tridges rather than add them to the landfill. The same goes for obsolete computers. There are companies, such as Petaluma, Calif.-based Ecohaul, that will, for a fee, remove, refurbish or properly dispose of old office equipment and supplies. Review your energy use. If you’re ambitious and building a new commercial space or remodeling an old one, it may pay to install solar panels. Many states offer substantial tax rebates to businesses for such upgrades. Think outside the gas tank. Transpor- tation can have a huge impact on the bot- tom line for businesses large and small. If you need a company car, consider going hybrid. As consumers continue to embrace automotive alternatives, more models are entering the market and incentives contin- ue. There’s plenty of information on the latest in alternative transportation at car- centric Web sites such as Edmunds.com and carmax.com. Do your research. Co-op America, a green advocacy organization and eco-driven online catalog, has earned a Business Seal of Approval award for its product assort- ment as well as offering an inspiring list of hints and tips on how to go green. And, for the ultimate inspiration, check out the Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov), an online collection of global shots dating from the Mercury missions in the late 60s. — Source: Fortune Small Business at CNNmoney.com. @ Access to capital for energy- efficiency upgrades need not be an issue. Some upgrades require little funding. For those that do require investment, don’t worry; there are many traditional and non-traditional financial resources avail- able. A well-designed upgrade can pro- vide your business a positive cash flow from energy savings while paying off the capital investment for new equipment. For small, inexpensive projects, you may want to use your own internal funds to pay for the upgrade in order to keep your payback period low and return on investment high. For larger jobs, financing might be the only way to pay for the upgrade. Fortunately, a variety of sources and mechanisms exist for small businesses to finance energy- efficiency improvement projects. It’s your business decision to weigh your competing needs for capital versus continuing increases in operating cos