by Christina Pomoni

Created on: April 02, 2010   Last Updated: April 06, 2010

Environmentally friendly businesses are becoming increasingly popular. Preserving resources and eliminating waste is not only an efficient way to save money, but it also contributes greatly to the preservation of the environment. Besides, it is very easy to develop and adopt energy efficient lifestyles, whether you run a home-based business or a corporation of thousands employees. The whole point is in really wanting to reduce your business’ impact on the environment.

Starting a green business or making an existing one greener may be overwhelming. Yet, by integrating environmentally conscious practices into your workflow from scratch, you are more likely to start off on the right foot and keep taking steps towards sustainability.

Here are some tips to operate a green business:

1)      Recycling

Recycling is one of the first things that you should consider when thinking about a green business. Every day you get a bunch of junk mail, which usually you don’t even read. You just put aside or throw directly in the dustbin. Recycle those letters! Don't throw them away! You may contact your local recycling center, and get information about junk mail recycling. You may also ask them about recycling electronic equipment that you don’t use anymore. Also, throwing away electronic equipment is dangerous because they end up in a landfill. So, you’d better ask your recycling center what’s the best thing to do with them.

2)      Heating and cooling

Heating and cooling is responsible for a large percentage of energy consumption. In summer, turn the heat 2 degrees up to reach an average thermostat temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. In winter, turn the cool 2 degrees down to reach an average thermostat temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that each degree below 68 in winter or above 78 in summer can save 6% - 8% in energy consumption.

3)      Unplug unused electronics

When you’re leaving office at night or turning off your pc at home, unplug it. The same goes for your printer, fax machine, coffee machine and any other type of electronic equipment you use in your business. By unplugging your electronic equipment you can save up to 25% in energy consumption. On the contrary, every computer left turned on overnight consumes electricity and costs your business a lot of money.

4)      Don’t let taps dripping

Make sure you don’t

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