- reduced commuting expenses, no hefty commercial property leases to pay,

flexible work hours, and so on.</p><p> </p>

<p>But operating a home-based business also means that you have

a responsibility to ensure that your home office has a minimal impact on the

environment and on your household's bottom line! </p><p> </p>

<p>Many small business owners however, especially those in

charge of home-based businesses, have for many years been reticent about the

benefits of 'going green' - viewing the 'green' movement as costly to implement

and best left to bigger businesses and manufacturers whose perceived carbon

footprint may be larger. </p><p> </p>

<p>But with the advent of cost-efficient and readily available

green technologies coupled with government incentives, more and more small

business are embracing green purchasing decisions and the three R's of the

environment - reduce, reuse, recycle.</p><p> </p>

<p>Environmental and cost savings aside, you might also want to

consider the branding brownie points you can earn from customers and prospects -

if you market your 'green' practices properly.</p><p> </p>

<p><strong>Ways to 'Green' Your

Home-Based Business</strong></p><p> </p>

<p>There are many ways for home-based businesses to 'go green'.

It might start with simple actions like recycling used paper and ink cartridges,

and powering off electrical equipment when not in use. In fact, 'going green'

is limitless - for example, a home-based child daycare business might consider

reducing its carbon footprint by using cold water wash cycles for laundry,

buying furniture and toys from thrift stores and garage sales, and using

reusable dishes at mealtimes. </p><p> </p>

<p>Here are some additional ways to 'green' your home-based

business:</p><p> </p>

<p><strong>1. </strong><strong>From Office Equipment to Paper and

Furniture - Set up a 'Green' Home Office</strong></p><p> </p>

<p>It doesn't matter what you do, if you operate a home-based

business you will need an office-space. Maintaining an environmentally-friendly

home office is somewhere where you can also realize immediate cost-savings by

preserving resources and using green technology options such as e-bills instead

of letter mail, duplex printing, remanufactured toner cartridges, and

energy-efficient equipment (for example, an Energy Star labeled computer uses

70% less energy than computers without this designation). </p><p> </p>

<p>Check out this <a href=' unindentedlist='' www.energystar.gov='' www.epa.gov=''>Green Business Guides - Read more about

Efficiency for Home-Based Businesses</a> and learn about <a href=' www.business.gov=''>Green Commuting Options - From Teleworking Programs to Transit and Ride Share Tax Incentives