Tips from July 3, 2009 The Small Business tips today will be about how going green will save you money. Converting computers, printers, and copy machines to "hibernate" mode will save your business hundreds of dollars when the electric bill rolls around.  Not only are you saving money, but you are saving power by keeping your machines on, but in a state of hibernation. According to the Energy Star website, a compact fluorescent light bulb saves $30 over its lifetime and will pay for itself in 6 months! It uses 75% less energy and lasts 10x longer than an incandescent light bulb. Xerox found that 45% of paper printed in the office is tossed by the end of the day. Eliminate unnecessary printing and save your business hundreds of dollars per year by ordering fewer reams of paper and ink cartridges. Disposable coffee cups contribute to unnecessary waste. Spending $2 for coffee mugs with your office logo not only provides cheap... [Read Full Article]

Earth Day is an opportune moment for all of us – especially business owners – to think about how we can protect our planet. We can make daily efforts through recycling, conserving resources, preventing pollution and more. Simple steps are often all it takes. We just need to understand what those steps can be and how to take them. So, this Earth Day, I thought I'd share some ideas for going green. Support your local farmer’s market. When you purchase local produce, you help the environment, support the local economy and save money at the same time. Food that is locally produced and sold most often comes from small to mid-size farms. This promotes stronger ties between communities, better connections to the land and better protection for the natural world. Best of all, this reduces long-distance transport with its attendant consumption of fossil fuels and climate changing greenhouse gas emissions. Ditch the bottled water habit. Not only... [Read Full Article]