Going green is good business these days. Larger corporations can devote huge resources to eco-friendly campaigns and improve their own practices to significantly cut their carbon footprint and energy use. Sun Microsystems’ energy efficient data centers are just one example of corporations trying to do the right thing.

But small businesses owners may be some of the last to adopt environmentally-friendly methods. Many owners struggling just to make a living and keep their clients happy think they just don’t have the time or money to spend going green.

Government initiatives in Canada or in other countries like Singapore to help small-to-medium businesses catch up to the green curve (Channel NewsAsia) are certainly encouraging. But business owners don’t have to wait for government to show them the way. There are plenty of things they can take right now.

The David Suzuki Nature Challenge at Work is an easy-to-use toolkit full of fun activities that can go on the job anywhere. Inspire your colleagues, customers and suppliers to green their lives. Click here and download your free copy today and start reaping the benefits of going green!

One Day Vancouver also has some great ideas, including simple things like enabling Energy Star features on your work computer is one option. Turn off machines and lights that aren’t being used. Put photocopiers into low-energy mode. Close window blinds in the summer to reduce the need for air-conditioning. Purchasing carbon credits to go carbon neutral is another option.

Quite often, the greener option is also the most cost-effective option. For small businesses that need to keep their eye on slim margins, green is good.


Jonathon Narvey is Principal consultant at WRITEIMAGE. 
He blogs about politics and life in Vancouver at Currents.