Recently I rented a car with Enterprise and found for a mere $1.25 I could ease my conscience by purchasing a carbon offset. What comes to mind when I hear the term carbon credits are guys in suits paying undisclosed amounts of cash to keep the smoke stacks spewing. After a brief investigation I found that I confused carbon offset with carbon credits. They are in fact, different. Carbon credits are regulated emissions trading; carbon offsets refer to funds donated to not-for-profit carbon off-set providers. There is controversy about offset programs, some believe these programs give people a license to pollute and that real change needs to be on a broader scale. I can’t argue that we need change in the way we stomp all over this earth. But we need to start somewhere and Enterprise made this easy for me. There are a growing number of offset programs, projects and service providers to choose from so I was happy that Enterprise did the leg work for me; as well as match my donation. When you buy an offset when renting with Enterprise the funds go to TerraPass and Enterprise will match funds up to one million dollars. TerraPass supports a number of US based alternate power projects, wind farms, farm power and landfill gas emissions reduction. For me $1.25 is a small price to participate in balancing the scales of Co2 output as I travel the planet, count me in. Jill

Caring for the planet isn’t just for tree huggers anymore. Green is going mainstream. And growing markets for green services and products reflect that attitude. Green is good business meeting good values.

But let’s be frank. If it doesn’t save much money, many companies won’t put going green at the top of their priority lists.

– Green Means Opportunity –
This green movement is just beginning to gain real momentum. It means a change in the way we are doing business, but as important, it is also creating opportunities. The market is now reflecting the belief that saving our green planet can also help generate another kind of green – $$$ – money. When you do good, you do well.

Innovative companies are already doing just that. They’re profiting and gaining decisive competitive advantage – and their leaders and employees are feeling better about what they do, too. Leaders of these companies are thinking holistically. They see the responsibility and opportunity of green going beyond the products or services they offer, and extending into their overall business processes..

They seek like-minded business with which to work. This presents considerable opportunity for companies offering support services and products. For example:

– Green Internet Design and Support Service –
A local web designer has found ways to increase the green benefits of the Internet. Idelle Fisher of IJ Design (www.ijdesign.com) specializes in green web and graphic design. She says, “Using the Internet is a great way to be green. Websites provide a way to become paper free and provide clients with up-to-date information.” IJ Design has taken that concept a step further by setting up client websites with a green web hosting company, which is 100% solar powered. “This wasn’t available until recently,” states Fisher. “Now we can run on the sun.”

– Green Communication –
Leslie Fera, principal of Connexion Creative (go to www.connexioncreative.com), a green design and marketing firm, says, “We try to get creative in terms of delivering the message. It takes a lot more time and leg work, but we’ve found that the challenge of finding more sustainable delivery methods has led to innovative solutions that get noticed.” Connexion Creative recently created a USB wristband loaded with information for conference attendees. The promo item was well received and saved exhibitors, attendees and conference planners from dealing with huge amounts of paper. It was a great success.

In terms of delivery, Connexion Creative now works only with printers that are FSC certified and use PCW recycled paper and soy or vegetable-based inks. Additionally, they have increased their digital design team and look for alternative ways to deliver messaging, such as online, on USB drives, in alternative packaging, etc.

Whether you are passionate about working toward a sustainable future, pragmatic about saving your company some green $$, or determined to generate a new stream of revenue, green means green.

Green Convene Strategies, LLC is a meeting planning and management company that is committed to partnering with clients to determine the right strategic approach to reach financial and logistics goals, while incorporating green practices into every meeting, conference, convention, and event that we help plan and market.