Last year, in Providence Business News’ first Business Going Green special section, business leaders made the case that going “green” was not only a responsible thing to do, it was a smart investment. Sure, the payoff may be long term, but there is no doubt that environmentally responsible management is a guaranteed hedge against the rising costs of energy and raw materials, as well as the volatile nature of those markets.
READ MORE
More special section stories
Rhode Island may not rank high among states in other business-related categories, but many energy experts say there’s one area where the Ocean State is near the front of the pack: Financial incentives for going “green.”
With the overhead lights switched off during daylight hours last month in Vision 3 Architects’ Providence office, the firm relied instead on natural light.
Ask John Nickson, president of OmniColor Printing, how his company is going “green,” and he will show you a plastic menu that will last longer than the prices listed on it.
Jeff Marhall and his wife, Susan, bought their Budget Blinds franchise about three years ago as a way to work for themselves in interior design. The couple quickly learned, however, that customers’ interest often goes beyond aesthetics to improving energy efficiency.
Two years ago, Forbes magazine ranked Rhode Island No. 8 in the country on a list of “green” states. The Ocean State was praised for its energy consumption – the lowest per capita in the country – its clean-air and energy-efficiency policies and its tiny carbon footprint.
What the Providence Geeks did for information technology, Jo Lee would like to do for renewable energy in Rhode Island: Encourage local clean-energy advocates to “network and learn from each other,” just as the Geeks do, at informal once-a-month meetings.
Industry to industry, businesses can have wildly varying carbon footprints – roughly defined as the amount of greenhouse gas put into the atmosphere – dependent on internal energy use, but also on the energy used by the products they create.
|
|
|
Yahoo U.S. News · 7:04 PM, Friday, 7/3
Yahoo U.S. News · 6:51 PM, Friday, 7/3
Yahoo U.S. News · 6:22 PM, Friday, 7/3
|