Compared to most big companies, and especially to industrial concerns, most small businesses consume relatively little energy. As a result, there aren't many big impact steps that the average small business can take to dramatically reduce costs.
An exception exists, however, for the small business that owns its own building or office. If you own your own building, there are more dramatic steps that you can do to reduce your energy costs.
Before we get to the specifics, let's dispel a myth. In the "old" days--which as fast as green technology is developing and is being embraced can refer to only a few years ago--the term "green building" conjured up the image of some odd-looking structure that a monomaniacal environmentalist had developed at great financial cost. But it shouldn't any longer. Today, green technology has advanced so far, and the costs have come down so much, that major U.S. companies have taken steps to green their buildings because it makes financial sense to do so.
What is a green building?
A green building is one that is constructed in such a way that it reduces energy use and waste. It has less of an environmental impact than traditional buildings, often by using renewable resources. Thus, for example, a green building might use solar panels for generating electricity or it might include a mechanism for capturing and reusing rainwater. In addition, the materials used in constructing the building are often environmentally friendly, such as recycled or renewable materials.
A green building, however, is not simply a mish-mash of eco-friendly technologies. The construction of a green building is an effort to harmonize the building with its environment, at least to a greater extent than has been previously considered.
ENERGY STAR
In looking at what can be done for your building, perhaps the best place to begin is with the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR program. For more on what the EPA offers, see Federal Government Resources. Under the ENERGY STAR program, buildings are rated on their energy performance on a scale of 1-100. Buildings that rate at least a 75 achieve the ENERGY STAR designation. The EPA promotes the ENERGY STAR designation as "the national mark of excellence in energy performance."
Why join ENERGY STAR? The EPA's position is that small business owners who join the program and who partner with EPA to develop an ENERGY STAR building will reduce their energy consumption, save energy costs, create a healthier working environment, and pay for the changes in relatively short order. The EPA's goal is to reduce energy consumption by commercial and industrial businesses by at least 10 percent, which, according to the EPA, would save $20 billion a year in energy costs. It's also a noteworthy target because energy use by commercial and industrial businesses accounts for 50 percent of the U.S.'s annual greenhouse gas emissions. For more specifics on the program and additional information, see the ENERGY STAR website.