One business-savvy place to start is by assessing and reducing your energy consumption. Electricity bills are rising everywhere in the world. So everything you do to use less energy helps both the environment and your budget.

LED lighting 
Retrofitting your entire business to LED lighting will save significant amount of energy every year. The initial costs of this can mount up but they will pay for themselves in energy saved in the first two years, so that for the rest of the estimated 10 year life-span of an average LED light bulb you are saving money hand over fist! Check out any incentives offered in your area, either by the government or by the electricity providers. You may find that there are rebate schemes to support small or large businesses who commit to reducing their energy consumption.

LED signs 
The electricity consumed by signage can vary tremendously. If you have one small neon sign outside a shop, switching to an LED sign may not save more than a few pennies in electricity consumed. But if on the other hand your business uses multiple lightboxes, a raft of lighted signs outside and so on, sourcing LED signs and lightboxes to replace old ones will make a difference. Don’t forget to look at your EXIT signs as well. These can easily be replaced with LED versions.

Switching Off 
Many energy saving practices cost nothing. Make sure lights are turned off when a room is not in use. Switch off all office equipment outside business hours or when not in use for long periods. Make use of natural daylight when possible to light workspaces. Switch off outside lights during the daytime. There are a host of small measures you can take to save small amounts of energy; lots of small savings add up to larger ones over time.

Upgrade 
Most businesses will have their own particular energy guzzlers lurking; perhaps it is an old machine that still works but is less efficient that it could be; or an old fridge in the employees’ kitchen that ices up regular and needs de-frosting. Make a note to service machinery and appliances regularly, so that they are not straining and overheating, and replace older models with new energy efficient versions as soon as you have the budget available.

So start with just one, or all, of the suggestions above and your business will have taken its first steps towards being carbon neutral.

If you are passionate about making a difference in our world, why not consider starting a green business that doesn’t require a lot of start-up costs. There are many green businesses to choose from but what about starting one that will have a direct and positive impact on the environment and our eco-systems.

Here are 5 excellent businesses you can start that will keep the planet rocking and sustainable.

1. Green Eco-Consultant. Eco-consultants teach and train people from all walks of life to become more environmentally friendly and eco-conscious. They work with individuals or businesses to help them save money by adopting simple sustainable practices.

For example, a $99 service fee for a “Green Home Makeover” by a trained eco-consultant consists of inspecting a home or business and then proposing specific changes and products that can save energy, water and money. They recommend and sometimes even shop for a variety of eco-friendly products, helping customers avoid the confusion, time and trouble of finding these on their own. Eco-consultants will often calculate and show their clients returns by purchasing eco-friendly products and implementing green strategies; for example over 7 years you can save $7,000 by installing a $150 two-bathroom water conservation kit. As an eco-consultant you can also offer green makeovers for an office charging $250-$500 depending on the size of the office and the number of employees.

As businesses look for ways to improve their efficiency and respond to calls to reduce carbon footprints, people who can advise existing businesses are and will be much in demand Green Irene is a great place to find and check out eco-consultant companies and to learn how to become one. They have a business model that provides flexible hours, low start-up costs and the ability to work out of your own home.

Minimum start-up cost: $450

2. Home Garden Consultant. Millions of people grow food supplies in their home garden every year. But are they making the most of their available land? Are they planting the right plants? Do their state, region or provincial laws allow residents to have an urban farm? These questions and more can be answered by a Home Garden Consultant.

An average household can save a third of their grocery bills by developing home grown produce. In fact many people are even turning the family lawn into a vegetable patch. You can run this type of business from home or a nursery. As a consultant you can advise on which land can become arable and which plants to grow. Tips on water conservation and use of organic techniques can also be included. Having an affiliate with a nursery is beneficial with sales of seeds, tools and other gardening supplies. Check out this video here from Tree Hugger TV, where some locals hit on the idea that unused lawn space can be turned into a productive and edible gardening site

Minimum start-up cost: $150

3. Landscape Gardener. People love gardening but some of us are not able to do heavy work or lack ideas and knowledge when it comes to starting or changing our garden. A landscape gardener can give you all sorts of ideas to help make your world beautiful and at the same time do the right thing for the Earth by using organic products.

Shade, water supply, low-maintenance and native flora to attract native birds can all be arranged by a knowledgeable landscape gardener. If you have the skills to perform this work, you will be much in demand. If you live in a climate where recycling water and the use of outdoor compost are practical, your employment prospects are excellent. Landscape gardening can be a company or a single person business. Your best advertising is your work. Anyone who sees your green gardens will want to know who created it. Look for examples of green landscaping gardening websites. If this is something that arouses your passion, then the opportunities are many and blooming.

Minimum start-up cost: $350

4. Green lawn care and mowing business. The value of your home is increased by a beautiful and well-kept lawn. But many people don’t know which seed to sow or in which quantity. Then there is the lawn maintenance such as organic fertilizing, cutting, trimming and watering.

Summer evenings having a picnic or barbecue beside your lovely grassy area is a wonderful experience. More people are busy with work today and having someone take care of their lawn is a real time-saver. If you can provide people with the lawn in the first place and then offer a regular service to maintain its health and growth, you will have a solid business which can only grow. Remember that there are a variety of weeds, insects and other bugs which can cause disease and damage to your lawn. Giving the complete lawn service using eco-friendly practices and staying away from toxic chemicals is a strong business opportunity. Check out the Weed Man for a possible business opportunity.