SMB Blog: Green

Friday, August 06, 2010

3 Trends Currently Driving New SMBs

Let's face it, the American economy is still far from perfect. Even so, people are still starting small- and medium-sized businesses and some of those businesses are still thriving. Why? Simply because there are some business trends that are hot right now, even in this economy. The reasons vary, so let's take a look at a few of them.

1. Going Green. Going green is big business right now. Many companies now include some kind of environmentally friendly incentives in their sales pitch for their products and services. What can this be attributed to? Government incentives are one reason companies are clamoring to be green. From automakers to the electric industry companies are receiving millions of stimulus dollars that revolve around creating and using renewable energy. Also, people are now understanding the importance of clean energy. Overall, the public sentiment about saving the environment has changed over the last decade or so.

2. Senior Citizens. Our population is getting older. Baby boomers are becoming senior citizens. Right now there are over 37 million seniors and in twenty years they'll make up 20% of the United States population. They'll also be looking to spend over $1 trillion. If that's not incentive enough to get into the business of seniors, I don't know what is. From anti-aging cosmetics and senior dating services to nursing homes and technical assistance if you're thinking of starting a business, you may want to turn to your elders for guidance. As a matter of fact, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics says aging-services - home health care, elderly and disabled services, and community care facilities - make up three of the top ten fastest growing businesses.

3. Buying Local. There's a desire to buy locally grown and made products sweeping the nation. That means more mom-and-pop stores. Farmers' markets seem to be at the heart of this movement; there are currently about 5,000 across the United States and over the past five years that number has been growing at a 5% rate. Almost 60% of consumers say they try to shop locally. National chain stores like Wal-mart have tried to gain more business by adding "locally grown" sections to their grocery departments. The USDA has launched a program called "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food," which encourages people to buy locally, and several cities, such as Orlando, Florida have been starting "buy local" campaigns.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009

10 Ways to Make Your SMB "Green"

1. Adjust the AC. Once you've adjusted your office temperature to where you want it, turn it back a couple of degrees. Two-three degrees won't really make a whole lot of difference and will definitely save your company money in the long run.

2. Check your light bulbs. When it's time to change the light bulbs, it's recommended you opt for more energy-friendly ones. They may cost slightly more but in the long run, they'll save you money as they last up to ten times longer and work just as well.

3. Choose furniture wisely. Invest in furniture that's going to last and won't have to be changed every time you redecorate or get new technology. Good heavy duty, neutral furniture is yet another money safe.

4. Turn Your Computer Off. Lots of people leave their computers on over night and let them go into standby mode. This means your computer is using as almost much power as it did when you were using it throughout the day. Turn it off and better yet unplug it. Do the same for printers, copiers, and monitors, too.

5. Don't over-light. If you have large windows in your office, take advantage of sunny days. Forego large overhead lighting for practically placed lamps. Don't leave your office in the dark, but there's not need for your lights to be so bright they're blinding.

6. Look for the energy star. Most appliances have an energy-efficiency ratings these days. Always ask about that when purchasing new equipment. Some computers even turn themselves off after certain bouts of inactivity. Laptops are also cheaper to use as they can consume up to 90% less power than desktops.

7. Turn the lights out when you go. Make it a habit to turn the lights out whenever you leave a room, especially if you're going to be gone for a while. No sense in wasting electricity and it really does make a difference on your power bill!

8. Motion Detectors. Another way to save money and not waste electricity is to install motion detector lights that turn on when someone enters a room and goes off when the room is free of motion for a certain period of time. These are great for bathrooms!

9. Control your outside lighting. If you have signs or lights outdoors that you forget to turn off or that run for long periods of time, have a time installed so that outdoor light doesn't stay on on a 80 degree sunny day.

10. Find other ways to keep your office cool. Have a fan installed or make sure you have blinds or screens over your windows. These can knock a room temperature down several degrees and keep you from blasting the AC before you need to.