Small business can go easily go green. Learn thirteen ways to go green.

Going green is all the buzz these days. Small business - from home offices to small manufacturing companies - can easily compete with big business when going green.

Going Green Is Going Well

According to The State of Green Business 2008 report compiled by www.greenbiz.com, big businesses seem to be competing with each other in the race to go green. Companies like Dell Computer, HP, Coca-Cola, Xerox and Google all are participating in green projects. From changing truck fleets to hybrid vehicles to zero plastic bottles going to landfills campaigns, big business is making it their business to help preserve the environment.

Businesses do not need to have millions of dollars to invest in green projects. Small business can be just as competitive in this race.

Big Ways Small Business Can Go Green

GreenBiz Radio recently reported that 26.8 million small businesses have found ways to turn their companies green. Thirteen of the many ways small businesses can participate are listed below.

1. Buy energy efficient office products and equipment such as energy-saving light bulbs. There is a plethora of electronic equipment and appliances that boast they are green friendly and athe cost is getting more and more responsible.
2. Buy green products for cleaning around your company. There are many green options for hand soap, detergents and dish soaps. Using environmental friendly cleaning products reduces the amounts of pollutants going into streams and rivers.
3. Use less paper – try extra hard to run that paperless office that has been in the works for a decade or more. Only print one copy of a report and distribute throughout the office if everyone needs to read it. Print only the emails that need to be kept as record. Forward as much email as possible. Proofread on the screen more and print fewer drafts of reports and letters.
4. Recycle paper products including newspapers, magazines, printer paper and grocery or other bags. The demand for post-consumer - recycled office products is much higher than the supply which keeps the prices high on post-consumer paper products. Recycling not only saves natural resources - it reduces tons of waste entering the landfills.
5. Consider allowing some employees to telecommute and telecompute from home one or two days a month. Employees have been found to be just as - if not - more productive when working from home - this is a viable option for many companies and can save on gasoline consumption as well as preserving air quality and road maintenance.
6. Recycle old computers and peripherals. Many computer companies such as Dell and HP have implemented “asset recycling” programs where they take back old stuff when you buy new. Staples and Office Depot are also offering e-waste recycling programs.
7. Check with the building landscapers and lawn treatment companies to see if they are or can use green products. Many lawn treatment chemicals are becoming green friendly and the cost is not much different in the long run.
8. Try creating a niche in the green market and produce or provide products and services that are environmentally friendly.
9. Buy biodegradable office supplies. Again, more and more of these products are entering the green arena providing more options and lower prices.
10. If applicable, switch company-owned vehicles to hybrids. In addition to the contribution of saving the evenvironment - switching vehicles or switching fuels can qualify for tax breaks anywhere from $400 to $40,000 depending on the vechicle or the fuel source.
11. When constructing new buildings, build green. Environmental building supplies is a fast growing sector and many new products are entering the market regularly.
12. Buy organic food or raw materials to use in manufacturing other products. Organic food sections are widening in most grocery stores and include everything from vegetable and produce to potato chips and health and beauty products.
13. Get green educated. There is a list of resources below that can help companies find all the ways they too can go green.

Going Green Resources

As with most things in business, research comes first. To get green educated in a hurry, try some of the resources listed below:

• www.greenbiz.com
• Green Guide Magazine
• Look for green books and resources in local bookstores
• Watch national and local news programs for features on how companies can go green
• www.ourearth.org
• www.nature.org
• www.nbc11.com/goinggreen

Going Green Helps in Other Ways

All of the going green movements help the environment but they also help in other ways. Going green at work sets an example for employees so that they will go green in other areas of their lives. It also shows customers and clients community commitment. Plus, it supports the larger companies that are putting time and money into greening up their own business practices.