One of the most pervasive trends in business is the move to “Go Green.” To Go, Green, a company must adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly business practices. The move to Go Green, is popular with businesses of all sizes because it’s progressive and intelligent.
Here are five reasons why your company should go green now:
1) The Environment
The first and most important reason to go green is to protect the environment. You won’t be doing any business if there’s no planet to do your business on. Going Green means not only assisting our environment to recover from industrial damage (and prevent further damage) but also helping to recover natural resources.
2) Public Image
No company wants to hold an emergency press conference on the evening news, defending itself against bad publicity. But many corporations have found themselves in that position. In addition to this, environmental organizations are taking a stand against companies they believe aren’t considering their responsibilities, tarnishing their image. Greenpeace, for example, has staged protests where they’ve found companies using illegally sourced timber from protected forests. Choosing green puts your business on the other end of the paradigm, improving your public image. The move will also set a positive example for your employees, boosting morale and company loyalty. And if that’s not enough, your business will also be sought out by the younger eco-friendly tech generation that prefers to work with companies that have gone green.
3) Lower Operating Costs
Improving efficiency and lowering operating costs can save your business hundreds or thousands annually. For example, installing energy-saving lighting, heating, and ventilation in your offices can significantly reduce energy bills. Telecommuting also helps a company become greener; the elimination of your employee’s commute results in a reduction in gas consumption.
4) Increased Sales
Consumers and companies increasingly show their environmental awareness by dealing with responsible companies. So taking a green stance can give you credibility and a competitive advantage.
5) Lower Taxes
Finally, the government provides our businesses with more “green” tax credits and deductions. Upgrading your heating and air conditioning system to an Energy Star-rated system could qualify for a tax credit of 30% of the purchase price with a $1,500 cap. Installing a Geothermal Heating System can give you a 30% tax credit with no cap like a traditional heating/cooling system. On top of having huge savings on your energy bill, you could get 30% off the system’s total cost. And installing a solar or wind energy system will give you a 30% tax credit with no upper limit.
Conclusion
Small businesses need to go green for many reasons. Leaning towards Green can help to reduce the negative impact on the environment, improve the health and well-being of employees, and save money on energy costs. Small businesses can implement environmentally sustainable practices such as reducing energy and water consumption, recycling materials, using local and organic products, and promoting eco-friendly transportation. By doing so, they can also improve their public image and gain a competitive advantage as more customers are becoming aware of the importance of sustainability and are looking for businesses that share their values. Overall, being green is not only the responsible thing to do but can also benefit small businesses in various ways.
