50 Ways to Make Your Startup Eco-Friendly

Are you starting a new business? Are you planning to be “green”? The possibility of attaching a green label onto a business can add appeal as social demands for positive environmental changes increase. While the focus here is on Web site businesses, hosting providers and small tech startups, the following list can be applied to any business venture that wants to start and remain environmentally friendly.

The danger of going “green” is that the public is becoming more aware of what constitutes a green product or service. They have many ways to investigate your business on the Internet; so, with skepticism running high on green claims, you can seriously damage your brand and your sales if someone discovers your green claim to be false or contradicted by your other products, services or practices. When you present a business as green when it’s not, you’ll be known for greenwashing.

But, as a start-up, you have a chance to begin green from the get-go. The following list of 50 ways to make your startup eco-friendly can help you on your way. The items are categorized and in no particular order. We do not value one idea or Web site over another with this methodology.

First Steps

Building a green business is unlike building any other business, as green businesses need to enhance all green practices. One slip-up could destroy your marketing goals, as accusations of ‘greenwashing’ can put a dent in your progress. The following list is designed to help you start green and stay green:

1. Comply with Environmental Regulations: As a green business, it would help your bottom line if you practice what you preach. No matter your product or service, your company should comply with all current environmental regulations that apply to your business. You’ll be protecting the environment, but you’ll also avoid fines and legal action when you follow these regulations.
2. Build Green: If you’re lucky enough to open a business in a new or remodeled building, then take part in the process. You can learn more about green building through the USGBC, or the U.S. Green Building Council. This non-profit can help you with goals such as energy-efficient heating and air conditioning systems, appliances, equipment and lighting.
3. Lead with LEED: Along the lines of building green, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) offers information on how businesses can follow LEED. LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring building sustainability and the best way for you to demonstrate that your building project is truly “green.”
4. Investigate Green Building Elements: If you want to build or revamp your office environment, learn about advances in green and renewable building materials and local guidelines for creating green structures in different regions of the U.S., then stick with this blog to stay on top of new developments in this area.
5. Buy Green: If you’re going to be green, everything needs to be green, including your business cards. You can use this link to browse the National Green Pages to help become part of the green supply chain. And, you can list your business here as well - all part of your green marketing plan.
6. Practice Energy Efficiency: Although debates abound about which energy to use, the best use of energy is through efficiency. Prudent and conservative use of energy is one of the easiest ways a business owner can take to cut costs, increase profitability and create shareholder value. With potential high returns and minimal risk, energy efficiency can play a part in any business. This link takes you to Post Carbon Cities and their posts on energy use. Although the focus is on cities, businesses can learn how to cope within this environment through their information.
7. Conserve Water [PDF]: You, as a business owner, can help conserve this precious resource and cut your costs at the same time. This link takes you to a 10-step plan implemented by the Long Beach Water Department (LBWD), designed specifically for businesses. No matter where your business is located, you can follow their simple advice.
8. Prevent Pollution: This goal is all about reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying “production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and re-using materials rather than putting them into the waste stream.” Whatever type or volume of waste that you plan to generate, you generate bills. This guide helps businesses reduce or eliminate your company waste.
9. Investigate eWaste Issues: Four states have passed electronic waste recycling laws, and at least 23 more states are considering similar legislation. Regardless of your state’s policies, you can take responsibility to find a diligent recycler who can ensure that your electronics are recycled appropriately.
10. Investigate Every Resource: Web sites such as the Small Business Environmental Home Page can offer tons of advice about small business assistance, compliance, pollution prevention, funding help and more. Resources such as this one, SustainableBusiness and more can help you modify and enhance your green business plans.

Energy- and Money-Saving Computer Ideas

Since this article is focused on Web hosting, design and tech businesses, a list of energy-saving ideas is very appropriate.

11. Hibernate Your Computer(s) It seems logical that when you shut down, or put your computer to sleep or send it into hibernation, you conserve more energy than when that computer is running at full tilt. But, hibernation is the best option, as the computer uses less power during this phase. Every modern operating system has power settings, so open the power settings of your computer and set them for optimal energy use.
12. Use Firefox and Aardvark to Save Ink and Paper: Use the Aardvark extension with your Firefox browser to eliminate unwanted elements in a page before you print. You’ll save tons of ink, and the extension is free.
13. Go GreenPrint: This free software helps to eliminate that ubiquitous wasted page before you print. Not only can you save trees and paper; you can create PDFs with one click and track pages and money saved.
14. Try LocalCooling for Windows: If you run Windows OS, you might want to check this tool out. It’s a free download that helps you monitor your system and optimize energy savings. When you consider that the CO2 emissions from 15 computers are equivalent, in energy terms, to the gas consumption of one car, you might be interested in this tool.
15. Use Laptops When Possible: Laptops consume about 45 watts, compared to a desktop computer’s 120 watts. While many designers can’t get by without a desktop environment, use laptops for business. This makes sense since laptops also are portable, and you can take your business part of your work on the road with you when needed.
16. Pull the Plug: Granted, Web host providers can’t pull the plug on their servers. But, if you’re a tech person, designer or marketing don or diva, you can pull the plug on computers, peripherals, lights and other devices when you leave the office. If you use power strips, you can turn off a number of electrical tools at the same time. Remember - even cell phone chargers suck juice when they’re plugged in an not in use. This link also has a number of other good energy-saving ideas.
17. Go Digital: If you’re building a startup, then you need to read this recent article from ReadWriteWeb. All the goodies are listed here, from the best laptop to the “Unnecessaries but Oh So Cool.” This is the first in a five-part series, so be prepared to have a wishlist. Going digital means that you can control paperwork, control your electrical bill (turn it all off!), and be in charge of your marketing with the latest and therefore greenest gadgets possible.
18. Go Paperless: Digitize your files and create an e-signature for important documents. Send proposals, contracts and invoice via email as PDF attachments. Clients then can e-sign the documents and send them back. Digital documents eliminate the need for file cabinets and paperwork, and backups create the secure legal needs.
19. Bank Online: You can bank online with just about any local bank, but what if you want to go global? PayPal merchant accounts have become mainstream, and they’re easy for you and for your clients to use. Plus, you eliminate paperwork as you can invoice clients through this service, maintain a record of each transaction, and accept credit cards without a hassle.
20. Stay Informed About Green Computing: GreenerComputing is the place to go to stay on top of news about green computing. This is a fast-paced and every-changing field; so, if you’re in this industry, use this information so you’re not caught with a greenwashing label.
21. Stay on Top of Green Tech News: CNet offers a wide-ranging set of news stories about the changing field of tech in general. This, along with GreenerComputing and other resources helps techies stay informed.

Shape Your Green Marketing Environment

As a startup, you may be wary about spending money marketing to the wrong crowd. And, that’s a legitimate worry, especially in today’s financial environment. But, you can follow the list below, become involved in green communities, and build a network of peer support and customers before you know it. All it takes is some time and effort on your part, so you can make these activities part of your daily routine.

22. Eliminate Greenwash: Companies that decide to go green also need to face issues about transparency in the market. Tilde Herrera provides insight into companies that have faced charges of greenwashing, and offers some tips on how to be truly green.
23. Participate in Green Events: This link leads to a calendar of green business events listed at GreenBiz.com. Many other events are happening nationwide, and many are local. When you participate in these events you can create a network of like-minded individuals.
24. Create Green Events [PDF]: When you create green events, these activities become a vital part of your marketing efforts. It builds top-of-mind awareness about you and your brand both globally and locally. Whether it’s hosting an a local gathering for Earth Day or creating your own event, this linked document can help you maintain your “green-ness” throughout the affair.
25. Become a Green Resource: When you provide resource information to your customers, it legitimizes your goals as a green company. It builds trust and confidence in your products and/or services. Use your Web site or other means (always green) to provide information, articles, guides and tools to help your customers become more comfortable with your company. This link creates a bridge to the LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) market.
26. Create Peer Community: Sometimes it’s good to reach into marketing that works and shape it to fit the ‘greenosphere.’ Guerrilla Marketing techniques, such as Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communities are part of the guerrilla tactics. Share advertising, co-opting services and share information to help each other gain a market share. You can learn many of those techniques when you join this site for free.
27. Participate in Green Communities: This link is to the ‘greenexchange,’ a community designed specifically for green businesses. But, you also can join communities that fit your particular niche and reach out for marketing potential.
28. Create Interaction on Your Web Site: KickApps is just one tool you can use to build audience participation with your Web site. You can build community, use photo and video sharing, create widgets and more with this tool. Use their custom venue or just utilize the widgets on your own site to create an interactive experience with your peers and/or clients.
29. Create Your Own Green Community: Use this ‘White Label Social Networking Platform” comparison chart to help you decide a social networking platform to use to build your own community. This TechCrunch project can help save time and frustration as you determine which applications would work best for your efforts.
30. Go Tribal: Social and business networking sites have changed the face of marketing forever. While these tools don’t cost anything financially to participate, they do eat up your time as you engage people to build community and identity (online and offline). No one can show you better how to do this than Seth Godin, a progressive marketing pro.
31. Share Your Knowledge: Become involved with a wiki such as Green Wikia, where you can add information, change entries and communicate with other like-minded individuals on green topics.

Voluntary Green Standards

As you build your business, you’ll want to continue to carry your green standards forward. At this point, you can repeat the mantra, “reduce, reuse, recycle and repair,” as you maintain your green office environment. Below are some ideas on how to maintain your progress, which is reflected in your public image and overall efficiency and productivity:

32. Participate in Global Recycling Efforts: Usually a tech business, hosting provider or Web business can count on waste consisting of electronics, paper, glass, plastic and used commercial goods. If you want to know how to dispose of or recycle these items, try this directory to find resources near you.
33. Prevent Waste: When you build a business plan, you might not think about how to reduce waste from the get-go. We’re talking telephone books, junk snail mail and packages. The National Waste Prevention Coalition can help you streamline your goals so you can spend more time on business and less on waste management.
34. Use Local eCycling: As the current tragic situation about eWaste unfolds, more and more eCycling centers may open. Use this link to stay on top of eCycling centers near you so you can recycle those computers, iPods, monitors and other electronic tools.
35. Recycle: This list of recycling resources can help you plan your business recycling, no matter where you’re located. You might try a little recycling business on the side to help with marketing, local goodwill and status as a knowledgeable green business owner.
36. Reduce Carbon Emissions: When you fly, drive, use electricity or gas, you cause CO2 emissions. EcoBusiness Links provides a list of companies that can help you offset your CO2 emissions.
37. Practice CD and DVD Recycling: Few high-tech businesses can say they lack a pile of unwanted CDs and/or DVDs. Why not develop a sideline where you can help the entire community recycle their discs? Freerecycling offers a way for businesses to provide full service for CD and DVD recycling that attracts customers who are environmentally responsible and want a secure place to dispose of their discs.
38. Slow or Stop Junk Mail: Imagine the look on the mailman’s face when you - as a green business owner - receive mountains of junk mail. That would go against the green grain just a tad. Learn how to make junk mail go away for free through Ecopreneurist.
39. Redirect Your Snail Mail’s Purpose: Mail represents only 2.4% of American’s municipal waste stream (paper in general makes up 35% of the waste stream). But why contribute to that waste when you can get the snail mail you need? Direct mail helps you find out about new products, services and money-saving deals. DMAchoice.org can help you find the mail you need from credit offers to catalogs, magazine deals and other mail offers. Use their services to receive and stop direct mail deliveries.
40. Look to User-Generated Reusing: Lost your user manual for your Acer computer? Need to know how to tweak your iPod? Instead of running out to purchase a new user’s manual, try to find that user manual online. If you don’t have any luck, try this link for User-Manuals.com. For the same price as a new manual (maybe less), you can download a PDF file that helps you use your tools to their best advantage.
41. Learn How to Repair: The days of tossing that power tool in the garbage and buying a new one are, basically, over. Learn how things work and then how to fix those things through the links provided on this site.
42. Become a Freecycle Freak: Even businesses can benefit from this service, a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of “people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns.” If you were at this site a year ago, try it again. It has grown rapidly into a great give-and-take social experiment where recycling truly has become a way of life.

Join Industry Stewardship and Incentive Programs

Sometimes it may feel as though owning a green business is an uphill struggle. New standards, new laws, market perception and expensive “green” supply chains might get you down. But, never fear: incentives are here! Take advantage of some of these offers, all designed to prod and poke green businesses into becoming greener. Companies that combine thorough research with creative thinking about how plans align with relevant government policies usually are the most successful in obtaining incentives.

43. Be Rewarded for Energy Efficiency: Use DSIRE, a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives, to search for incentives by renewable energy or by energy efficiency.
44. Seek Incentives: You can find incentives for your business and home through GreenMadeSimple, a site dedicated to finding and offering nationwide green incentives such as tax credits for advanced vehicles. You also can find energy-saving news at this site.
45. Create a Public Policy Search: This site is very useful, especially if you’re building or remodeling an office building to meet LEED standards. But, you also can find policies regarding tax abatements, grants and more by date, incentive, performance standards and more.
46. Recognize that Preparation and Creativity are Key: This article at AllBusiness provides an excellent foundation for business owners who seek incentives and tax breaks. While not totally focused on green incentives, you might learn how and when to implement government programs from their advice.
47. Join the GENI: According to many sources, linking renewable products and services between all nations could mollify conflicts, grow economies and increase the quality of life and health for all. GENI, Global Network Institute, provides an avenue for this interaction. You can help by volunteering, making a contribution or by becoming an evangelist for this organization. While participation might not help your bottom line, it may not hurt it, either. GENI provides a venue where you can meet many like-minded individuals.
48. Seek Green Power Incentives: The EPA spells it out, with a list of organizations that offer incentives specifically for greening small and large businesses, inventors and industry. Look to the right for a list of partnership documents, tools and calculators and resources for on-site projects.
49. Be a Leader: According to this article, businesses — especially tech businesses — seek more incentives to go green. If you’re planning a start-up and you can’t find the right incentives, you might think about going green anyway. Lead the pack, do what’s right and you might find a broader market share through less competition.
50. Seek Niche Market Incentives: This list, provided by the Green Network, can stir your creative juices, as it provides information about every green issue imaginable. From carbon footprints to young people, you can learn more about how to green your business and how to expand your greening possibilities. Demand often dictates supply, so your willingness to be a vital part of business greening is key to creating new incentives for the future.