Do you have mixed feelings about recycling?

You’re not alone.

Recycling saves energy and resources, and helps reduce the amount of material going into our already-overflowing landfills.  And, in New Jersey at least, it’s the law.  But that doesn’t make it easy.  Like every industry, recycling has its challenges. Read the full story

BusinessWeek had an excellent article on the benefits and challenges of greening a building. The article provides some payback data for some of the better upgrades – lighting, variable-speed drives, and upgraded windows. It also introduces one of the biggest challenges that building owners face in going green, particularly in multi-tenant buildings – there is not an alignment between who pays, and who benefits. A great article.

With a late-spring weekend approaching, I felt it was a good time to let go of some frustration so that I could head off to my weekend without the baggage. I have been thinking of some of the things that really bother me about company practices around sustainability, and thought I’d throw out a list of a few of my favorite ‘unacceptables.’  I am focusing this list on tactics. I could do a larger list on issues of strategy but I’ll save that for another day. Enjoy the weekend! Read the full story

When it comes to sustainable development, Canada is yet to set a leading example for the world. Although it has set carbon reduction targets, Canada is still struggling with ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read the full story

Do you want your business to become energy efficient, but don’t know where to start? We have put together a guide to help you figure out how to conduct energy audits as a means to assess your potential savings opportunities. Read the full story

NY State offers a multitude of incentive programs for small businesses that pursue energy efficient technologies. Details related to these programs can be found at The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) website. We’ve summarized several of the programs that are relevant to small businesses. Read the full story

New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program offers businesses numerous opportunities to save money through installing energy efficient technologies. The program offers rich incentives for varying projects. Please see below for details about some of these programs. Read the full story

Telecommuting has become a popular choice for business owners who are looking to increase efficiency, morale, and cut back on costs. According to a report from the American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research, telecommuting has the additional benefit of reducing wear and tear on the environment. Read the full story

A growing area of interest to eco-minded entrepreneurs is the “green” franchise. The website ”Franchise Direct“  advertises “green” franchises “that will earn you money, while caring for the Earth.”  One such green franchise that has demonstrated rapid and tangible economic results is Pizza Fusion, an up-and-coming restaurant franchise whose menu includes organic food, including pizza, sandwiches, salads, and even a selection of organic beer and wine. Read the full story

Are you interested in implementing some quick sustainability practices at your office and not sure where to begin? One way to get started fairly easily is to create a green purchasing program. First make a list of all the products you purchase and think about how you can begin procuring sustainable items. Following are some ideas to get you started. Read the full story