Just in the last few days, I’ve seen several new tools, resources, and reports made available on the Internet that are helping to make it so much easier for all types of businesses to go green. The first is a web seminar I attended that featured Joel Makower, editor of GreenBiz, and Yalmaz Siddiqui, Environmental Strategy Advisor, Office Depot. The one-hour seminar was compelling because it provided practical, simple efforts that anyone could take starting today. Environmental sustainability can sometimes get too complicated too quickly, which can turn people off.

Also EPA’s Energy Star program launched their updated version of their Portfolio Manager that now allows various businesses improve their energy use and track their carbon emissions at the same time. The online tool allows businesses to set up an account and measure and track their performance. According to the site: “The tool allows you to streamline your portfolio’s energy and water data, and track key consumption, performance, and cost information portfolio-wide.” In addition to business offices, other sectors covered include supermarkets, retail stores, schools, and more.

Also available is a new report on the state of the pulp and paper industry. The report, The State of the Paper Industry, produced by the Environmental Paper Network, makes the case that U.S. paper use is a significant cause of global warming — all the way from the beginning when the tree is cut down and a source of carbon sequestration is lost, through production, use, and landfilling when the methane is produced as the paper disintegrates. (According to the report, methane has 23 times the heat-trapping power of carbon dioxide.) The report is also a resource for understanding how your paper buying habits can influence this industry. For example, demanding chlorine-free paper from you supplier could lead to safer manufacturing processes using less chemicals.

The more of these user friendly resources we have, the easier it will be for businesses to go green. There is now a wealth of information on-line, and more coming daily.

Elizabeth Striano
Consultant and writer on sustainability and the environment
www.agreenfootprint.com

Helping you leave a green footprint on the world…