Consumers, Government & Businesses Go Green

Eco-friendly ?green? programs appear quite abundant as Earth Day, April 22nd, nears. Beyond the basic recycling of raw materials that is common in most peoples? daily lives, other environmentally & financially sound initiatives have been sprouting up like wheat grass.

Not too long ago, global climate change was still being debated as to whether it was the natural cycle in Earth?s eco-system or the result of mankind?s doing. The consensus of science and public opinion has been that we are definitely a contributing factor and drastic change must happen fast. People are now looking for more ways to reduce their carbon footprint and damage to the environment. Consumers, government, and businesses are now all on the same page with wanting to ?go green?.

Many consumers are finding that going green has also been saving them money. One obvious way to save money is to save energy; setting the thermostat a few degrees lower, changing to CFL, compact florescent light bulbs, and using a ?smart? power strip are all easy ways to consume less energy everyday. Recycling raw materials and electronics are great ways to keep hazardous waste out of our landfills. For the bigger eco-friendly investments, Uncle Sam has stepped in to help us.

Congress has extended the eco-friendly Energy Policy Act of 2005, which was set to expire at the end of 2007. Part of the recent $700 billion bailout plan included provisions for Homeowners who what to make their home into a ?green? house. Green consumers who wish to invest in solar energy system for their homes can get a tax credit worth 30 percent of the total cost. Those who install small home windmill systems can get up to $4000 or 30 percent of the installation cost. There?s even a $500 credit for installing energy-efficient windows, insulation or a central air system. The help doesn?t stop with government; businesses are also making it easier for consumers to go green.

On top of new government legislation and tax breaks, many companies have found it financially advantageous to go green and help their customers do the same as well. Many utilities and credit card companies offer this service for free. Companies such as Discover and Bank of America have been trying to get their customers to go paperless. All you need is your bank or debit card information and an email address to set it up once. You would no longer need to write checks and spend extra money on stamps. Online tax software providers like eSmartTax.com let you e-file your return electronically and have your refund directly deposited into your bank account. That?s extra time and money saved while cutting out needless piles of paper.

With all these ways to help the environment and save money, it pays to go green!

Environmentally sensitive practices are becoming increasingly important for many businesses and restaurant franchising is no exception. The environment is a hot topic and the public is becoming more vocal about what they expect from retailers, manufacturers and service providers alike. Environmental issues which are foremost in the public’s mind, and which restaurant franchises must now take into account, include energy conservation, recycling and organic locally sourced food.

In Britain, a government sponsored “Green Achiever Scheme” has been created to enable companies to demonstrate their environmentally friendly credentials to suppliers, customers and other bodies interested in green business. In the United States, federal tax incentives and recycling programs have been set up to facilitate those companies wanting to improve their green credentials. The number of restaurant franchises opting into such schemes in both countries has been steadily growing, as business owners take note of the public’s demands when it comes to the environment.

Consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of their personal choices and, when it comes to opting where to spend their cash, are increasingly influenced by ethical business practices. Restaurant franchises have started to realize how important green credentials are to customers and investors alike. Environmentally friendly practices are gradually being introduced into every aspect of the restaurant franchising businesses. These practices range from installing solar panels, reducing carbon emissions and using non-toxic cleaning products to eliminating non-recyclable packaging and reducing the amount of all packaging used, filtering cooking oil for reuse and sourcing local, fair trade or organic produce.

Although no official data yet exists on the number of green restaurant franchises, the green market is definitely growing, according to the International Franchise Association, the industry’s largest trade group. The association has seen an increase in inquiries about green restaurant franchises, as well as a bigger presence at trade events. The green phenomenon has been seen across the board, which is to say that existing franchises are becoming greener and also that new franchises are starting up who are basing their whole concept on being environmentally conscious. Although the green concept has been with us for at least 25 years, it is only in recent years that this trend has become mainstream.

However, it would be hard to beat the eco-friendly credentials of one new restaurant franchise, which has taken the whole green concept to a new level. All of its fixtures and fittings are environmentally friendly, from seat cushions made from soybean oil to counter-tops made from recycled detergent bottles. Utensils are made from potatoes and containers from cornstarch, both of which biodegrade in 30 days. Ninety-eight per cent of all food served is organic and discounts are offered to customers who return pizza boxes for recycling. The building even meets environmental standards created by the US Green Building Council. Whilst this may be an extreme example of eco-friendly restaurant franchising, all the trends point to more businesses following eco-friendly policies.