Several businesses these days have already realized the efficiency of using cloud computing. As it turns out, the benefits of cloud computing may also include lowering your company’s carbon emissions and helping achieve any sustainability goals you’ve set.

Cloud computing, the process of running computer applications from remotes servers like the Internet, helps reduce energy consumption in a few ways. It makes telecommuting more accessible for more employees as they can access information via the cloud versus an internal company server. It also lessens the need for office space because of increased telecommuting and because it eliminates the need for physical data rooms. Read the full story

You may be committed to doing less harm to the environment in your personal life, but when it comes to business operations you’ve resigned yourself to the fact that you have no control. But is that really true? With an arsenal of green knowledge and tools at your disposal there’s no reason you can’t make suggestions to your superiors or even implement your own steps towards eco-friendly enterprise. So when it comes to business travel, here are a few things you may want to try.

1. Skip the trip; telecommute! Is there any business tool more eco-friendly than a phone or computer that allows for teleconferencing? These days there are so many options for connecting with colleagues and business partners that there’s practically no need to waste time and money on business trips. Plus, telecommuting is a great way for employees and companies alike to go green, which is not only good for improving brand image, but also for the green benefits that come with reducing one’s carbon footprint.
2. Look for green lodgings. You may be surprised to learn that more and more hotel chains are developing an environmentally-sound attitude for operation. While you might not have an easy time locating LEED certified lodgings on your trip, you can check in with the Green Hotel Association to find establishments that promote conservation, reduce waste and pollution, and generally take steps to ensure that their businesses do less harm to the ecosystems and communities that support them. And the best news is that they may even pass some of the monetary savings along to their guests.
3. Support local businesses. Whether you’re seeking a meal, sending out laundry, or looking for gifts to bring back to your kids, do your homework to find vendors that offer local wares. You can often find restaurants that use local or organic foodstuffs. And there are probably plenty of locally-owned stores that feature unique gifts made by artists and craftspeople in the area. This not only means you’re helping to support a community (rather than a corporate entity); you’re also cutting down on the massive amounts of pollution created by the shipping industry.
4. BYOB. Okay, so this normally stands for “bring your own beer”. But in this case let’s say that the second “B” in the phrase is bottle. You might go through untold disposable beverage containers on your trip, especially if you end up in a place where it’s not generally considered safe to drink the water. But instead of promoting this wasteful attitude, bring a reusable sports bottle that has its own filter so you can get the clean drinking water you want, take it with you on the go, and cut back on your waste. You could also consider bringing all your own toiletries in reusable travel bottles instead of opening the samples at the hotel.
5. Use mass transit. You may not be able to get to your destination without taking a plane, but once you arrive you need not rely on a solo vehicles (like a cab or a pricy rental car complete with assurance auto coverage, for example). Instead, get yourself a public transit pass for the duration of your trip and download a map (or an app for your smartphone) that shows you the routes and schedules. Or if your lodgings are fairly close to your office, see about renting a bike for a few days.

Creating a green business may not be easy, but there are so many ways you can turn your company into a proponent of the environment. It’s easy enough to institute a recycling system, conserve water and energy, and even purchase renewable energy certificates. And many companies are willing to shell out the money for even greater environmental concessions like alternative energy sources (solar, wind, water) or a LEED certified facility. But for most small business owners these expensive endeavors are beyond the realm of possibility, regardless of how strong their eco-sensibilities are. And yet, there is one option for green-minded business owners that is eminently eco-friendly and that larger companies could never hope to take advantage of: a virtual office. Read the full story

Small Business owners are always looking for ways to trim costs and fatten their bottom line. But in recent years a new concern has started to slowly make its way towards the top of the list: being green. Environmental sustainability is a buzz word in many circles, as well as a legitimate concern for everyone on the planet. Businesses are one of the biggest dangers to our environment, with all the waste created for the sake of higher profits. But small business owners are beginning to find that green initiatives don’t always come with higher costs. It is possible to save money and save the environment at the same time. And the banking methods you use for your small business are a great place to start. Here’s a look at how you can do your small business banking in a more eco friendly manner, while saving time and money in the process. Read the full story

While traveling on the highway, most of us have experienced days when we’ve seen an electronic sign telling us that the air quality in our city is low. The reason why we notice those while commuting is because it’s a way of letting us know that we might want to find a less traditional way of going back in forth; that in order to keep the toxins in the air down (the ones that often come from our individual cars), we might want to be proactive in looking for greener ways for going back and forth. In doing so, it’s not just good for the environment, but in this economy, it can also be great for your bank account as well. Read the full story