"Green" For Less Green

Posted At : July 4, 2008 8:21 AM | Posted By : ISBDC Manager
Related Categories: Environmental

In the current business environment, alternative energy sources have moved from being an occasional blip on the radar to a regularly addressed issue. Many corporations, like HP , are investing in renewable energy technologies and even providing incentives for employees to be likeminded at home. However, technologies like solar and wind power generation are expensive. The federal and state aid is limited. So where does that leave equally motivated, but smaller budgeted small business?
 
There is an alternative. There are a growing number of firms that are developing renewable energy projects and then offering the environmental attributes as renewable energy credits (RECs) or carbon offsets to the market online. An individual or organization can then purchase a variety of increments of these offsets. For example, a firm might want to offset the company travel for the year or the power used at the production facility. After calculating the amount needed, (many sellers provide a calculator), the firm is able to purchase the amount needed. This can even be done on a monthly basis to keep the expense even smaller.
 
So don’t let the high costs of self installation deter you or your business from being green minded. There are options available. Visit the Bonneville Environmental Foundation or 3 Degrees for an example.

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Recycling Technology

Posted At : April 10, 2008 10:58 AM | Posted By : ISBDC Manager
Related Categories: Business Practices,Environmental,Regulations

I recently had a hand blender and a taco press give up the ghost. My first thought was, what do I do with them? Do they just go in the trash or can they somehow be recycled? The second thought was that they only lasted five years give or take. While I thought this was short life span, in the technology world, this is an eternity.
 
According to the EPA, the average life of a cell phone is 18 months. Computers are too “outdated” after three to five years. These old computers and monitors contain mercury , lead and brominated flame retardants. The Department of Environmental Quality measures the average 17 in. monitor to contain 2.2 lbs of lead, which over time will leach into the ground water. Older batteries also used mercury and newer ones contain nickel and cadmium.  All of these heavy metals are harmful to the environment and harmful to people if they get back into our food or water cycles.  Fortunately, unlike my kitchen equipment, there are alternative methods of disposing of technology.
 
Organizations are available to help the environmentally conscious dispose of their equipment in nature friendly methods. The EPA provides a list of resources, such as Earth 911, that can connect you with recyclers or organizations that will accept donations. 
 
If the item no longer meets your demands, but is still usable, then donating it to charity is the best option. Not for profits, schools, kid centers, and others are excellent choices and are more than willing to put your used equipment to good use. If donating the equipment is not an option, then recycling is the way to go.   Many retailers and manufacturers offer buyback, exchange or other return avenues for used items. Dell, HP , IBM , Gateway , and MPC Computers have computer equipment recycle programs. If you don’t want to ship the items, Staples, Best Buy and RadioShack can help you recycle used electronics, including batteries and cell phones. Click to read more on disposal options and ideas from the EPA or green computing store Verdant Computing .

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Carbon Footprints

Posted At : January 22, 2008 1:00 PM | Posted By : ISBDC Manager
Related Categories: Environmental

Just like every person has a fingerprint, every business has a carbon footprint. A carbon footprint is the impact on the environment of CO2emissions from an entity. Joan Meitl, the Environmental Assistance Coordinator, for the Idaho SBDC, has calculated the footprint for the state office, including transportation, building, and paper consumption impacts as a model for other small businesses. From her report, we have learned the following.
 
The State office’s total footprint is 35.17 CO2eq (metric tons). Seventy percent (24.9 metric tons) of our total was caused by our building. The Department of Energy reports an average office in a 2000 sq. ft. building generates 18 metric tons in the Pacific Northwest. Our total emissions translate into any one of the following equivalents:
  • 7.61 passenger cars driven for one year
  • 4,006 gallons of gasoline
  • 4.51 household electricity use for one year (number of households)
  • The amount of carbon sequestered in 29 acres of pine or fir forests in one year
  • 0.29 acres of forest preserved from deforestation
The good news is there are many ways individuals and small businesses can make a difference by lowering their emissions. Some of these include programmable thermostats, effective use of natural lighting, alternative transportation, duplex printing, office supplies with recycled content, paper/plastic/metal recycling, double-sided printing, washable cups/utensils, and lighting reduction options. There is a wide array of emission calculators available varying in level of sophistication, but here are three to sample. 
For the full report, click here . If you have other questions, contact Joan Meitl in the state office. The business symposium to be held on January 30, 2008 will be another opportunity to learn about the impacts climate change and carbon emissions are having on small business practices. Click to register.

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Tis the Season

Posted At : December 20, 2007 3:57 PM | Posted By : ISBDC Manager
Related Categories: Environmental

The holidays generate an extra 25 million tons of waste. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is encouraging you to reduce your waste and conserve energy this holiday season. At this time of year, many employers decorate their premises, host parties, and give gifts to their employees, so these are useful ideas for us all.
 
The biggest culprits are all the extra paper in gift wrapping, cards, catalogues, and packaging. The DEQ suggests using recycled paper and paper that can be recycled. Even better; use reusable gift bags. Some packing facilities will take recycled packing peanuts. If you have to use disposable dishes and napkins for the party, buy products with recycled content and recycle them after the party. Reduce energy use by using timers for your holiday lights and carpooling. Mulch or compost your Christmas tree.
 
Visit the Pollution Prevention  page on the DEQ’s website to read all of their suggestions and more on reducing pollution year round.

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Energy Efficiency

Posted At : October 19, 2007 12:13 PM | Posted By : ISBDC Manager
Related Categories: Environmental

Joan Meitl, the Environmental Assistance Coordinator for the Idaho SBDC, helps small businesses comply with environmental regulations and find bottom line benefits to reducing their environmental risk. She is building resources for a new area - energy efficiency. She provided the information below on incentives from the two major power companies in Idaho - Idaho Power and Avista Corporation.

Idaho Power offers three energy efficiency programs for commercial and industrial customers. The Easy Upgrades, Building Efficiency, and Custom Efficiency programs provide financial incentives for new construction projects, simple retrofits in existing buildings and complex energy-saving projects. Idaho Power offers the Business Energy Analysis tool to help businesses better understand their energy usuage and ways to use the energy more efficiently. After answering a few simple questions, Idaho Power will provide you with easy ways to save on the energy expense of your business. You can also get a "model" estimate of how businesses similar to yours are using and conserving energy. All of this and more can be found in the Your Business section of Idaho Power's Customer Service.

Avista Corporation provides the Business Energy Analyzer for personalized cost-saving recommendations. Incentives are also available to customers who take the appropriate steps to make their facilities more energy efficient. This includes upgrading equipment for lighting, heating, and cooling, and other hard-wired improvements. Information about this program can be found on the Washington and Idaho Energy Incentives page on Avista Corporation's website.

For questions about environmental compliance or environmental risk reduction, contact Joan Meitl at JoanMeitl@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-1839.

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