Transcript Have ‘You’ Considered Telecommuting?

Did You Know?
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Every year, North Carolinians throw away
enough trash to circle the earth twice?
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Every hour, North Carolinians throw away
enough plastic bottles to line the length of
Lowes’ Motor Speedway 22.9 times?
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The average family accumulates 60
plastic bags in only four trips to the
grocery store?
Discussion Topics
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What is “green” and “sustainability”
What is a green small business
How to achieve green sustainability
What is a green audit
What is Green Business Certification
Strategic goals
What is LEED
What is green?
What is sustainability?
You hear the terms “green” and “sustainable”
tossed around together with the words like
“entrepreneurship” and “small business” a
lot these days, but you may wonder:
What is it? What does it have to do with me?
My business and industry?
What is Green and
Sustainability?
Entrepreneurs and small businesses
committed to building profitable + green
sustainable enterprises in a manner that
minimizes the depletion of natural
resources, maximizes the use of
recycled material, improves the
environment, or any combination of
these outcomes.
What is a green small
business?
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Making intelligent use of resources
Uses less resources and energy
Green retailing and sustainable
entrepreneurship
Products that are both recyclable and
biodegradable
Innovative, game-changing sustainable
management
How small businesses can
achieve green sustainability
Sustainable entrepreneurship seeks to run
the business in a way which minimizes its
impact on the environment
 One way to minimize impact is through
recycling
 Another way is by creating green products
or services
 Using green audits and certifications
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Using a “green audit”
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Minimizing paper use
Using telecommuting and electronic
communication
Replacing paper copies with Web-based
documents
Buying products made from recycled
materials
Using products that are recyclable and
biodegradable
Green Business Certification
(GBC)
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GBC’s sustainable program defines key
areas and specific guidelines in categories:
Recycle or reuse materials
Water and energy conservation
Pollution prevention
Solid waste and chemical reduction
Environmentally friendly purchasing
Key Benefits of GBC
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Enhance your business image in the
community
Improve your business reputation with
current and new customers
Reduce operational costs
Differentiate your business from your
competitors
Demonstrate an environmentally aware
business
Strategic Goals
When it comes to being a leader in
community sustainability, preserving
resources, and protecting the environment,
some of the many ways we “go for it”
include:
 Create a green business environment
 Reduce / Reuse / Recycle
 “Stop. Think. Conserve.” Campaign
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What is LEED Certified?
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LEED stand for “Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design”
Certification standard from the U.S. Green
Building Council for buildings that are more
environmentally friendly
New source of sales and profits
New building designed to be more energy
efficient
Source: http://www.usgbc.org/leed
Get Green and Get Noticed
Get GREEN in your business practices
 Tell your GREEN STORY in the places
consumers are looking to read about it:
magazines, journals, newspapers, and
your website
 Know the story behind your GREEN
PRODUCTS and feature that story in
advertisements
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Green Business = Smart
Business
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Promote recycling and waste reduction
Energy efficiency and conservation
Purchase eco-friendly products
Use less water and improve water quality
Improve air quality
Promote green practices across the
community
Walmart Green Initiatives
For a Greener Good, Walmart’s strategic
frame work for the products, services, and
partnerships associated with becoming a
more sustainable company include:
 To be supplied 100 percent by renewable
energy
 To create zero waste
 To sell products that sustain people and the
environment
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Resources
Last year, the Institute for Sustainable
Development developed two guides to the green
economy for entrepreneurs and incumbent small
businesses: http://www.gogreenplus.org
 The two guides share examples of green business
ventures and include exercises an checklists to
assist you in discovering new revenue and cost
reduction business opportunities related to the
green economy:
 http://www.businesspundit.com/25-big-companiesthat-are-going-green
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“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may
be his willingness to sacrifice something
today for future generations whose words
of thanks will not be heard.”
Gaylord Nelson
Former governor of Wisconsin
Co-founder of Earth Day
Questions?