Do you doublecup your starbucks?

by Myron M. Cherry

There is an increasing awareness of environmental issues worldwide.

The polar ice cap is melting, parts of China and India look like smokestacks from the U.S. Industrial Revolution and everyone wants a new car. Increasing the standard of living in developing countries starts with electricity, and as the demands for increased standards of living rise, so does the continued dependency on our carbon-based society.

While countries like Ethiopia and Brazil are attempting to use non carbon-based fuels for transportation, and many countries in Africa are analyzing solar power- based electricity, we have a long way to go.

Here in the United States, we contribute almost 40 percent of the CO2 in the atmosphere – this percentage is heavily inverted compared to our population. We are only scratching the surface regarding the use of smaller and more fuel efficient cars, for example, because we, as a nation, have not forced our government and our industrial producers to factor the environment and its protection into profit-making scenarios. Consider where we would be if, ten years ago, all U.S. state agencies demanded and only purchased cars that could get 50+ miles to the gallon. By now, you might be asking yourself, "What does this have to do with small business making a profit?"

A continual ignorance of environmental costs affects all of us in a very direct way. Think in terms of something simple – for example, refusing to dispose of your garbage every day. Eventually, you have increased odors and uncleanliness, and possibly the amount of little animals running around your home or business.

Here are a few tips you can use in your small business to help the environment, preserve energy and directly decrease local, national and international costs.

Take the time to perform an energy audit of your home and business. Find out if you can decrease your carbon footprint by repairing windows and doors, using energy efficient lighting and installing insulation. Ask your landlord if he or she will participate with you and give you a break on your rent if you reduce his or her electric bill. Read a few articles about this subject and discuss the topic at length with five of your friends.

Save paper clips and buy recycled paper products. Take a look at your printer or copier and find out if you are using recycled printing cartridges. If you are not using these cartridges, find out where you can buy them as they will help save you money. My son and two of his friends recently started such a business, and although there are many of them, you can find information on his website at www.inkedup.com.

Check your transportation usage. Are you a bulk buyer? Can you make an impact by making demands on your supplier? Can you schedule your day so that your automobile usage is more efficient? Can you do the same with your employees? If you reimburse employees for mileage, can you offer a higher reimbursement if they drive a more fuel- efficient car?

Check your suppliers. Have they evidenced an interest in energy-efficient methods or products? If not, look for one who does and reward that vendor with your business. If you are a supplier, do the same by marketing your energy-efficient methods or products.

When you are buying or selling a business, factor in requirements in the contract that focus on energy efficiency.

Make your vote count by writing to your senators and representatives asking them to report to you regarding what they have done about these issues in the last five years.

Stop using non-refillable plastic bottles of water. Reward people at your place of business who do the same by buying a pizza once a month.

Don’t print e-mails unless you have to. Read them and delete.

Buy a bike and actually use it.

Ask each of your employees to give you five ideas focusing on how to improve the energy efficiency of your business. Then, have a company meeting, pick the best three, four, or five ideas and implement them.

Those additional "costs" may have been avoided if you had a more enlightened view of garbage disposal to begin with.

You still might say this doesn’t have very much to do with running your small business as you can’t control China, and Ethiopia and Brazil are simply places you might send charity or travel to. But most experts agree that new technology in energy, packaging, transportation and water quality will come from the ingenuity of the United States in response to the demands of its citizens.

That means us! If we expect General Electric to produce a more efficient light bulb, we have to demand it. The way in which we operate our small businesses will directly impact our communities, local economies and the economy as a whole. Additionally, as we produce more environmentally sensitive concepts and products, we will sell them to various countries which are just starting to increase their standard of living.

Moving away from a carbon-based economy toward a cleaner environment will also help politics. Tom Friedman of the New York Times estimates that as oil prices increase beyond the price of $40 per barrel, oil-producing countries are less receptive to democratic principles due to the fact that everyone needs oil. Also, if Americans buy a gallon of refined gasoline, we are not only financing the political backwardness of these oil-producing countries, we are also giving some of them the funds to finance terrorist activities.

Ace Greenberg, one of the modern founders of Bear Stearns, a large investment banking concern, started a habit long ago of recycling paper clips. Over time, Bear Stearns was buying fewer clips, and this move alone caused the company to become more efficient and economical overall.

The title of this article is not as facetious as it may seem. One morning, I purchased a coffee from Starbucks and, because it was hot, I asked the clerk to double-cup it. Even though I had a little more comfort in handling the cup of coffee, I began to realize I was contributing to waste so I stopped this practice. Do you double-cup your Starbucks?

I would like to leave you with one final example. Everyone has something special which they save and protect from injury and destruction. In your home, it might be that dish from the 19th century your Aunt Ida gave you; in your city, it might be a playground that is saved notwithstanding urban expansion; in your state, it might be a state park or beach; and in your country, it might be a national forest. Now, think of the polar ice cap and ask yourself it is an international treasure? Let’s wonder aloud together why the world isn’t saving it. We are all part of some affinity group and are fast becoming world citizens. Therefore, what we do does matter to someone else.

Think about it!

If you have a particular subject that you would like me to cover in this column, send me an e-mail. I would be interested in your comments. Until then, be well and good business.