From the supermarkets to gas stations, businesses are going "green" by adopting more environmentally-friendly policies and practices. But don't be misled: the best thing about making your business more green isn't a good feeling or even the global environmental benefits. Often, the right choice for the environment is also the right decision for your business over the long term. Many green tactics require only a small upfront investment to create a long-lasting payoff.

"Greening" your business can take many forms: using less energy, consuming fewer raw materials, producing less waste, or recycling more used materials. The effort can range from tiny changes in your day-to-day behaviors to rethinking entire business processes. Here's a look at two different types of changes that can simultaneously do the right thing for your finances and the planet.

In the office

Changes in the way you run your office are the most visible to your employees. These types of changes don't make a substantial impact on their own. However, as businesses across the country and the world start adopting green policies, the impact adds up to a massive savings of energy and raw materials in day-to-day business.

• Turn off the lights! It may seem trite, but one of the most straightforward ways to reduce electricity usage is simply to turn off the lights in empty rooms. Consider installing motion-activated lights in meeting rooms and other areas that are only occasionally in use.
• Do away with disposables. Paper and plastic items that are used once and thrown out are great candidates for replacement. Instead of buying disposable coffee and water cups, encourage employees to bring in their own reusable containers. Go one step further and give your employees company-branded mugs or water bottles — the one-time expense will be worth it over the long run.
• Switch your bulbs. Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs produce the same amount of light as incandescents while using 75% less electricity. They're available in shapes to fit almost any fixture. CFLs cost more initially, but make up for that cost by using less electricity and lasting longer. Don't ignore existing fluorescent lights, either: look for slimmer tubes that use less power.
• Get employees thinking green. With a little encouragement, your employees can be the best source for green ideas. Ask workers to submit ideas for reducing energy usage or recycling waste materials, then recognize the best suggestions.
• Clean green. Make sure your cleaning service uses environmentally safe products where possible. Also consider reducing the cleaning frequency if it makes sense.

In your business processes

Changing the way your business operates can require more creativity and larger investments than simply switching light bulbs – but the total opportunity is much larger. One company unafraid to think big when it comes to green practices is New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado.

This craft brewery puts a huge emphasis on good environmental policies, both large-scale and small. For example, the brewing process produces a large amount of "spent" grain – instead of throwing out the used barley, the brewery turns it into cattle feed. They buy their electricity from a wind farm to reduce their CO2 footprint. And they use as much natural light as possible in their production facilities.

One of the most significant changes they made was around water usage. Brewing beer traditionally creates large amounts of waste water, and New Belgium wanted to reduce that waste. First, they reduced their overall water usage through process improvements in both brewing and cleaning. Second, they created their own treatment facility that not only cleans waste water, but actually captures methane from the treatment process to be used as fuel in a plant that provides about 10% of the brewery's power needs.

Not every business can effectively turn their wastes into assets. But the success of companies large and small in finding creative ways to cut costs while helping the environment shows how going green really can be the right choice for your business.

Have other suggestions on green strategies that save money and energy? Let us know in the comments below!

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