Sunday 30 October 2011

Green Business - Need of the Hour

Well , doing a green business , you will not only earn the good amount of money but also can contribute towards saving the environment.

Some of the green business I could think of are :


1. The Healthy, Local Food Movement
Americans are increasingly concerned about food safety, childhood obesity, and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with transporting food long distances to reach consumers . This concern creates an opportunity for organizations offering healthy food grown
locally without the chemicals and pesticides that can damage human and environmental
health . Starting such an enterprise is a great way to support your local economy, promote
community health, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions . Urban farms and gardens also
provide much-needed safe, outdoor areas for kids to play and interact with nature .

POTENTIAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• Café or Coffee Cart: Sell organic, fair-trade coffee and tea at your own café or from
a cart at local events .
• Coffee Roasting: Roast and sell local, organic coffee .
Example: Sweetwater Organic Coffee in Gainesville, Florida
• Urban farm or garden
Example: City Slicker Farms in Oakland, California
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program: Grow healthy food, then sell
memberships (or shares) to consumers, who in turn receive a designated allocation
of seasonal produce throughout the farming season .
Example: Brick City Urban Farms in Newark, New Jersey
• Local grocery store or cooperative
Example: Oklahoma Food Cooperative in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma


2. Renewable Energy Alternatives, Green Collar Job Training, and Green Business Incubators

To curb global warming, we need to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and turn
instead to alternative, renewable sources of energy on a large scale (e .g ., solar, wind and
geothermal energy) . That will require a number of new policy regulations and tax incentives to promote the use of renewable energy by homeowners and businesses alike .
 
These governmental efforts, combined with general interest in clean energy, are expanding the market for such products and services . Emerging entrepreneurs can take advantage of this opportunity in a number of ways .
POTENTIAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• Solar Installation: Install solar panels or solar water heaters .
• Wind Turbines: Distribute or install small wind turbines .
Example: Mariah Power in Reno, Nevada, manufactures small wind turbines and is seeking distributors.
• Job Training: Whether as a for-profit business or a non-profit organization, train
low-income residents to be the green-collar workers of the future .
Example: Veterans Green Jobs in Denver, Colorado
• Green-Business Incubator: Support- first-time entrepreneurs aiming to solve environmental and social problems in their communities .
Example: Green Worker Cooperatives in the Bronx
• Expand Access to Renewables: Develop an innovative business model that increases access to renewable-energy technologies .
Example: One Block off the Grid in San Francisco harnesses community organizing to
purchase solar technology at reduced rates.
• Provide Renewables Directly: Partner with state or federal programs
 to provide renewable-energy alternatives to low-income communities, reducing their
electricity bills

3. . Green Transportation
Many forms of transportation (such as traditional, gasoline-engine cars) contribute to
climate change by releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere . Gas-powered cars also
create smog in our cities, which can harm overall public health . Starting a business that offers alternative transportation solutions can benefit both the environment and community
health. You can do this in any number of ways, from something as simple as fixing up old
bikes to something more ambitious like starting up a green cab company in your city .

POTENTIAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• Electric Bike and Scooter Dealership
• Refurbishing Bicycles: Refurbish and sell used bikes .
Example: Bikes 4 Life in Oakland, California
• Community Bike-Share Program
Example: SmartBike DC
• Green Cab Company: Use hybrid vehicles to help people get where they’re going .
• Promoting Alternative Transportation: Start a non-profit to find innovative ways
to promote alternative forms of transportation .
Example: Nuride offers rewards (e.g., restaurant coupons, retailer discounts, tickets to
shows) to online community members for transportation choices that reduce greenhouse
gases.
• Car-Sharing Program36


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