Green Business Practices - Sustainable Business with No Negative Global Impact

A major initiative of sustainable businesses is to eliminate or decrease the impact made on the environment by harmful chemicals, materials, and waste generated by processes to manufacture products and services. The impact of such human activities in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced can be measured in units of carbon dioxide and is referred to as the carbon footprint. The carbon footprint concept branched off from ecological footprint analysis, which examines the ecological capacity required to support the consumption of products.

The Gort Cloud, written by Richard Seireeni, (2009), documents the experiences of sustainable businesses in America and their reliance on the vast but invisible green community, referred to as the gort cloud, for support and a market.

One of the most common examples of sustainable business initiatives is the act of going paperless. On a higher level, sustainable business practices can include reviewing processes in order to eliminate or recycle waste, making all products recyclable, and eliminating the use of nonrenewable resources via alternatives energies.

Sustainable businesses also look at inputs to determine what products are harmful to the environment and try to find green alternatives that can function at the same or a better level and, preferably, at a lower cost. Company leaders also take into account the life cycle costs for inputs of items purchased. Inputs costs must be considered in regards to regulations, energy use, storage, and disposal.

A business's green initiatives can include conserving materials through remanufacturing, converting harmful gases into clean energy, generating greener power, and improving fuel economy. Designing for the environment (DFE) is also an element of sustainable business. This process enables users to consider the potential environmental impacts of a product and the process used to make that product.

Henry Ford was a pioneer in the sustainable business realm, experimenting with soy-based materials and ethanol during the days of the Model T. Ford Motor Company also shipped the Model A truck in crates that later became the vehicle's floorboard upon reaching its destination. This was a form of upcycling, a key element to DFE. Upcycling is the process of retaining high quality in a closed-loop industrial cycle.

Ford currently uses green fabrics and materials in the next generation of their vehicles-seat fabric made from 100 percent post-industrial materials, renewable soy foam seat bases, and the like. Ford executives recently appointed the company's first senior vice president of sustainability, environment, and safety engineering. This position is responsible for establishing a long-range sustainability strategy and environmental policy. The person in this position will also help develop the products and processes necessary to satisfy both customers and society as a whole, while working toward energy independence.

You probably know about how many miles to the gallon your car gets, but what about the plane you take to your next vacation? The answer may surprise you.

Today's newest jet engines produce as much as 127,000 pounds of thrust, but are more fuel efficient, on a per-passenger-mile basis, than almost every model of automobile. In fact, over the past 40 years, aviation has reduced its collective carbon emissions by 70 percent per seat-mile.

Now the international aviation industry says it's working to take environmental performance to the next level with such advances as alternative fuels and even more efficient engines and airframes.

Coupled with fuel-saving gains in operations, these improvements are designed to make aviation even greener than it is today.

You can learn more by logging on to the Aerospace Industries Association's new Web site at http://www.aia-aerospace.org.

As the Obama administration calls for cutting 80 percent of U.S. greenhouse emissions by 2050, a number of experts say the question has shifted from "why nuclear power" to "when."

Nuclear plants are the biggest providers of energy that don't produce any greenhouse gases. And as the arguments for nuclear energy-its outstanding safety record, environmental advantages, affordability and reliability-continue to grow, policy makers are eyeing nuclear for an additional benefit: It could power the economy.

In 2008, the nuclear industry estimated that it created 9,000 new jobs-from construction and parts manufacturing to plant workers. And since President Obama called for a $150 billion, 10-year effort to help build a "clean-energy" future, 17 applicants have sought government approval to build 26 new nuclear plants.

Nuclear proponents are further encouraged by the appointment of Steven Chu to head the Department of Energy. Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, has expressed a commitment to the construction of new nuclear power plants and supports accelerating a government loan program to help speed the efforts.

Just as important, Chu is in favor of finding new ways to process and safely handle spent nuclear fuel. "I think [nuclear fuel] recycling can be part of the solution," he told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. "This is a research problem."

Current U.S. solutions for nuclear-waste disposal involve "dry-cask storage," a method where waste is sealed in high-tech containers kept at nuclear plants. Other countries such as Japan and France reuse spent nuclear fuel. France gets almost 80 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy. Nuclear power produces about one-fifth of U.S. electricity.

Clean Supply, Growing Demand
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that demand for electricity will increase 50 percent over the next 20 years. America will need to build between 1,300 and 1,900 new power plants by 2020, which will require exploration of the pros and cons of all sources of power, including the latest nuclear technology.

According to Entergy, a company actively working to develop policies that address global climate change, nuclear energy is the only available method for generating large-scale volumes of electricity without emitting any greenhouse gases, air pollutants or precursors of acid rain.

The company has stated a goal of reducing its own carbon emission to 20 percent below its 2000 level by the end of this decade. As more companies follow suit, America is expected to join countries around the world, including England and Canada, as it looks to nuclear power for clean, safe energy.

In 2008, the nuclear industry estimated that it created 9,000 new jobs.

With the current focus on increased environmental sustainability, conservation is quickly gaining momentum as a business necessity. Many companies are selecting green products to decrease their own impacts on the environment while saving money and resources. So, how can you and your office make green choices and make a difference? Here are some easy tips to help you get started:

Learn the Lingo - Plenty of eco-alternatives exist, from textiles and fabrics to wood substitutes and hemp, and it is important to know your options. For example, Staples offers paper supplies made from sugar cane waste. The final product, available in notebooks, memo pads and filler paper, feels just like regular paper.

Love the Labels - When purchasing computers and office equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR(r) label, which identifies products that are more energy efficient than comparable products. These items can reduce the cost to power your office space or home office by up to 80 percent. For paper and wood items, check for the Recycled and Forest Stewardship Council logos. And for cleaning products, look for Green Seal(r) and AP nontoxic certifications.

Use a "Green" Screen - For a better, clearer computer picture, use an LCD monitor. Older monitors contain lead and other toxic heavy metals and can be hard on the eyes. And don't forget to set your power management settings to put your monitor and/or computer to sleep after 10-15 minutes of inactivity. You'll help save money by reducing electricity use.

Make a Sticky Statement - Addicted to sticky notes? No worries. Use sticky notes made from recycled paper and enjoy the same great quality. Also look to "right size" your sticky notes to save paper and money.

Write with "Green" ink - Many pens and highlighters are available with refillable barrels and non-toxic ink, and some pens also contain recycled content. These eco-preferable essentials make brainstorming a more eco-friendly activity.

Print Smart - While many businesses now include a "Please consider the environment before printing" disclaimer in their emails, printing documents is sometimes unavoidable. When printing cannot be avoided, look to double side print and copy, only print or copy the pages you need, and use eco-preferable papers. Opt for 30 to 100 percent post-consumer recycled printing paper, available in individual reams, as well as in bulk volume for offices.

Trend set with "Green Décor" - New eco-friendly bulletin boards are now available, which are made from 100 percent recycled rubber and are much more durable than traditional cork. Also look for natural and fast growing sisal, bamboo, and other plant fibers for rugs and other desk accessories.

Recycle Old Office Technology - Companies often upgrade technology for their employees without considering what to do with the old ones. Staples offers everyday, in-store recycling for a wide range of technology products through its EcoEasy recycling program. There are also trade-in events at Staples stores throughout the year, where customers can upgrade and recycle old technology.

Ultimately, green business is good business for all parties involved. By adopting these simple practices for your workplace, both small and large offices can reduce their environmental impacts.

- Courtesy of Family Features - Reprinted from Green Living News Blog

Increasingly, the public perception of the nuclear energy industry is turning green--and many think that is a good thing.

In fact, because nuclear energy is the only available method of generating large-scale volumes of electricity without producing carbon emissions, many people are reconsidering the benefits of nuclear energy. That--along with a 30-year record of safely produced electricity--is getting many to see the industry in a new light.

Growth Means Good Jobs
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the demand for electricity will increase 50 percent over the next 20 years. According to industry estimates, we need to build between 1,300 and 1,900 new power plants by 2020.

New power plants and reactors means new jobs for many communities--good-paying jobs--both during construction and later during the operation of the plant.

Safety And Energy Independence
No one has ever been killed in a U.S. nuclear accident, a safety record unmatched by any other major energy source. Plus, unlike oil and compressed natural gas, nuclear energy is not dependent on producers in a volatile, unstable area of the world such as the Middle East or Africa.

Energy independence has become an important tenet in building and reviving the U.S. economy. President Barack Obama has placed it at the center of any economic stimulus package.

Providing An Example
Several companies considered by many to be industry leaders are demonstrating what success as a "green company" looks like.

For instance, Entergy Nuclear, the owner of the nation's second-largest nuclear power fleet, recognized the potential of nuclear power as a source that does not emit any greenhouse gases, air pollutants or precursors of acid rain, and pursued a strategy to grow nuclear assets.

In 2007, nuclear energy accounted for 73.6 percent of America's carbon emission-free generation. The other sources are hydro--22 percent--and solar, wind and geothermal at 4.4 percent.

The company has also demonstrated its desire to be a good corporate neighbor in the communities where its plants are located by partnering with various community groups and supporting green programs through a robust grants initiative.

As the new Congress and president push to create jobs as well as a clean-energy agenda, perhaps they will begin to hear the growing support for an industry that promises to deliver both.

To learn more, visit http://www.entergy-nuclear.com.