Show Me the Green: Green Practices for Small Business
What do they know that your business and community doesn't?
These days, the word "green" shows up almost everywhere. But what does it mean to everyday commerce? Which products and services make sense for your customers and employees, and why?
How do all these issues fit together? Customer service. Local knowledge. Understanding the market. Environmental science. Energy conservation. Ethics. Profit. Benchmarks. Managing costs. Tools for collaboration and competition.
With rapidly rising utility bills and transportation costs, new government regulations and tax incentives, now is the time to find out.
Learn how to:
- Increase savings, profits and market share
- Reduce energy use, waste and water use
- Find new customers
- Maintain a healthier work environment
- Reduce risk exposure for your employees, customers, and the community
- Get financial help, technical assistance and support through tax incentives, investments, grants and loans
- Real-world "best practice" solutions that make sense in purchasing, facility management, printing, marketing, and daily business operations.
Who should attend?
Business owners and managers; individuals and investors who have an interest in the "triple bottom line." Anyone interested in saving money and energy; ensuring a healthy workplace, products and processes which minimize adverse effects on the quality of life in their community, Wisconsin and around the globe.
Workshop topics
- Basic sustainability concepts such as The Natural Step, how to calculate your carbon footprint, LEED certification, permaculture, greenwashing and Fair Trade, and their relevance to day-to-day business operations.
- Advantages and techniques of eco-efficiency.
- Real-world 'best practice' solutions that make sense in purchasing, facility management, printing, marketing, and daily business operations.
Benefits of this Workshop
$50 savings and proven membership benefits from an updated a statewide network for services, problem solving and support. The Wisconsin Green Exchange will help you assess strengths and opportunities, get help when you need it, and tell your story to the rapidly growing green marketplace.
Local, statewide and national promotion. Sample materials and green products from Wisconsin.
Instructor
Rick Brooks is co-founder of the 330-member Dane Buy Local initiative, vice-president of Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility, board chair of Envest microfinance, and Outreach Program Manager in the Dept. of Professional Development & Applied Studies, UW-Madison. With more than 35 years of experience in business and community education, he specializes in marketing, health and social change. He has taught in the School of Human Ecology, School of Engineering, business and community development agencies throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Other presenters/panelists will include local business leaders with expertise in green building, energy conservation, entrepreneurship and sustainability issues.